Pa. governor releases list of state polling places

[Rose Siding]

Source: Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell on Friday rescinded a state policy that had kept Pennsylvania's list of polling places hidden from the public because of fears that terrorists could disrupt elections in the state.

Rendell's abrupt decision came amid criticism from Republican legislative leaders one day after The Associated Press reported on the policy, which was implemented in 2004 as a result of terrorist bombings that occurred just days before Spain's national elections.

The governor's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, said ordering the State Department to make the list public was the right thing to do because the information is already available through county election offices. Voters can also look up their local polling places on the state's voter-services Web site.

"The governor believes that revoking the policy will not have a material effect on Election Day safety," Ardo said.

Department of State spokeswoman Leslie Amoros said Thursday that the agency made its earlier policy decision in consultation with state police, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the state Office of Homeland Security. At the time, the agencies agreed that not releasing the list would help ensure voter safety at the polls, Amoros said.



Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-55/1193427563207310.xml&storylist=penn

[Sukie1941]

1. ALL of this is unnecessary!

Oregon has had vote-by-mail for years and years. I just completed my ballot for two state measures and it is in the mail already.

I guess people like to trapse to the polls through winds, rain and snow. Then wait in line for a booth. Or try to find a ride if they don't drive.

It works! It WORKS!

[movonne]

2. I live in Oregon to and it is the best...I just don't understand why all

the states have not picked this type of voting...you have plenty of time to look it over and read the different measures...

[sense]

3. Oregon's vote by mail

Third Oregonian checking in. The other states don't have it because it makes so much sense.... and there's a paper trail.....

Can't have that when you want to cheat.

[atreides1]

5. and there's a paper trail

But mail can be intercepted and modified, or misplaced, and just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that someone hasn't thought about it.

[Sukie1941]

6. There are built-in checks for many of your points

Completed ballots go into "secrecy" envelopes....other than write-ins, nothing is written on the ballot itself. the secrecy envelope is sealed by the voter, then placed inside a mailing envelope. This is pre-addressed to the County elections office.

The voter must SIGN the back of the mailing envelope; these signatures are compared to the sig on the voter's registration form which the voter completed and which is on file. The ballots are not counted until electon day, along with any ballots that were delivered to pre-authorized delivery points (such as libraries or postal-type drop boxes).

I have a p.o. box, so I don't worry much about mail being misplaced or intercepted or modified. I can ask for another ballot. First we get our ballot booklets (one for people running for offices and one for the measures). A couple of weeks later we get the ballot in the mail. We have plenty of time to sit down, grab some coffee, and fill it out. My 94-yr old mother wouldn't have it any other way.

If someone in your household modifies the ballot, it is a felony in Oregon. You can't even help a disabled person sign the ballot without prior permission through proper channels (same as at a polling place).

Oregonians, did I cover everything? Or mis-speak on anything?

[0rganism]

9. in fairness, there are problems with Oregon's system too

One thing you're "guaranteed" in a voting booth is privacy. This isn't the case with absentee voting. When two or more ballots are delivered to a single residence, there's a real chance that one person can coerce the votes of others directly.

Furthermore, our ballots are read and tabulated with the same proprietary systems (IIRC, it's ES&S) used in other optical-scan ballot states, so we haven't solved the election fraud problem this way either.

But it sure as heck is convenient, and overall our election participation has risen over 25% since we went to mail-in, which is healthy for democracy.

[dbt]

4. "decision came amid criticism from Republican legislative leaders"

So where were the Democrats? Keeping even MORE powder dry--or WHAT?

[Ian David]

7. All Your Polling Places Are Belong To Us! n/t

[ohio2007]

8. I originally thought the story was about the West Bank/Gaza strip "PA"

seems they are in a civil war tinder box and secret polling station locations would be normal operating procedures , not expected in "The Keystone" state.


hmmm.not somethiong I would expect from a blue state