A surprise at the polling station

[matt819]

Small town in SW NH. Used to have paper ballots, which from my perspective should have been a point of pride. Plus, I was confident that my vote was counted and allocated correctly. Total voting age population in town? Maybe around 1,500. Not exactly an onerous counting job.

And yet. . . Imagine my surprise when I was confronted by an electronic ballot reader. (Should have attended town meeting, I guess.) Confidence level now compromised. Maybe the votes were counted correctly. Don't know. The guy overseeing the ballot machine proudly pointed to the prospective tabulated readout on the wall, assuring me, in a sense, that because it was a computer, it would be correct.

At this point I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Dixville Notch, with a voting population of under 15, has decided to go to electronic ballots.

[jpak]

1. Your paper ballot is saved by those machines

We use them all the time in Maine.

Not to worry

[Thekaspervote]

4. This

[Statistical]

2. Optical scanner with paper ballots is very common.

The paper ballot still exists for a recount if necessary. We have been using that setup for more than a decade now in Virginia and Virginia managed to flip blue.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. In NY state law gives counties choices, but ballots must be scanned and retained...

whatever they choose.

We have few problems other than paper jams and stupid voters, but the machines are 20 years old and showing their age.

We live in an age when you can deposit a check by taking a picture of it with your phone and people are going paranoid over voting scanners?