Poll: Big SNAFU: What kind of ballots does your area/state use?

Maximus · November 8, 2000

As we all might know by now, the issue is the "butterfly" ballot in the Palm Beach county in Florida that is at the center of contraversy now.

This butterfly ballot is one which contains two pages of candidates with the voting holes/check boxes in the center spine. This one in question has alternating holes, ie, the choice on the left has a hole/box, then the one on the right has a hole/box. It was done like this, they say, so it could have larger print for better visibility.

Palm Beach used a punch card.

Most of Florida used a write in paper ballot.

My state, Illinois, uses a Punch Card ballot, which to my knowledge, has never done the above mentioned "Buttlefly" ballot.

So just to get some idea of this situation, what kind of ballot did you all vote on this time.

Private Parts · November 8, 2000

I've got a Tiger Tank

Maximus · November 8, 2000

So what calibre gun did you use to punch holes in that Tiger? A 75, 76, or 90?

Daveman · November 8, 2000

I've never used a ballot. I've lived and voted in Delaware and New Jersey and both have used machines.

In these states, you go to a sign-up desk where they have all registered votes in a book. You tell them you who are and then sign off in the book next to your name. You're then given a slip or card that you then present before entering the booth.

In Delaware (last voted 4 years ago) the machines were, um, mechanical. There's a switch beside each candidate and you throw the ones you're voting for. When you're finished selecting you throw a big switch and you're done. In New Jersey the machines were essentially the same only they were electronic... buttons instead of switches. I suppose each machine keeps a tally and those results are printed out at the end of the day... I really don't know.

Is this about something I heard on the radio about checkboxes being close together and the theory that many may have mistakenly checked off Nader instead of Gore?

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"Whenever a mission ends and I still have a member of the red team standing, I have to ask myself: did I do enough to ensure my own safety?" - Old Man Murray review on SWAT3

Maximus · November 8, 2000

Hmm, interesting.

Well the initial procedure is the same as for siogning up, but instead of using a machine we just use a stylus to punch holes in the card.

November 8, 2000

In Maine we get a card and then connect the lines together next to the candidate we wish to vote for. Next to each person running for office is a black broken line with an arrow on one end pointing to the candidate. If you wish to vote for a certain person you just fill in the middle of the line with a black marker to complete the line. Easy enough and not very confusing.

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Never mistake motion for action - Ernest Hemingway

Pvt. Ryan · November 8, 2000

Here in Santa Monica, CA we go into a booth with a card given to us by the nice ladies at the desk, slip the card into the slot that says "slip card in here," then a nice man comes into the booth and tells us who to vote for... I mean... we open the ballot book which lists the candidates and other choices and punch a hole in the card that is next to our selection. When we are done we get a little sticker to place wherever we want so that everyone we come in contact with can ask us who we voted for. I told them I voted for Tom Greene of the Greene Party.

This whole mess is my mom's fault because she lives in Palm Beach County, FL and she didn't vote.

Mr. Clark · November 8, 2000

What is with all the different types of ballots??? Wouldn't you think they would be standardized???

Anyhoo, In my part of Illinois, we used the black marker to fill in large OVALS next to our candidates names.

Bruno Weiss · November 8, 2000

I prefer the 76mm ballot myself. It sends a distinct message that is hard to ignore. However, I have managed to make good use of the 75mm ballot for really close-in elections.

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"Gentlemen, you may be sure that of the three courses

open to the enemy, he will always choose the fourth."

-Field Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke, (1848-1916)

G4A · November 8, 2000

Is local politics on topic now? Cool!

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