For those of us who will be voting by machine for the first time...

[hiaasenrocks]

can those of you who have already done this tell the rest of us what to watch out for (i.e. fraud, mistakes)?

We have always had the paper ballots that you insert into a machine, but I am told we will now be voting with touch screen (or some other type of a machine). I just want to know what to be on the lookout for. I know I'll already be walking in there very skeptical as it is. :)

[napi21]

1. Make sure the lightlights or background color changes next to

the person you wish to vote for ON EACH SCREEN, and then make sure you check the summary page that shows you who that computer thinks you voted for BEFORE YOU HIT CAST MY VOTE!

All the problems I've heard of in the last few days have been associated with the machine either not recording a vote after the voter has touched or pressed his choice, OR the information changed when it got to the summary screen.

I listened to a representative of the Ca. State Department on the radio over the weekend. In response to several callers, she said "IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, CALL SOMEONE OVER TO FIX IT BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR VOTE! She said those attendants have the ability to cancel out everything and let you start over.

[DRoseDARs]

2. Not that you can ever see the inner workings or code...

But if there's a paper receipt for your review before casting your completed vote, review it closely. If something is amiss, take the option to redo your vote (there should be such an option). If you aren't given such an option, get the help of one of the volunteers: Perhaps you missed the on-screen option or there wasn't one to begin with.

We use Sequoia (bought out by Diebold I believe :banghead: ) and we get a little receipt machine on the side that scrolls the "recorded" ballot (again, we don't get to see the inner workings or code, so there's no way to know if the the paper before us reflects what was recorded electronically) under glass for our review. I haven't had a problem yet (knock on wood) but I've seen machines that went down or were otherwise giving voters trouble.

[MzNov]

3. many thanks nt