Photo: @smokey545/Daily Kos
Voting in Broward County, Florida.
They're still counting ballots in south Florida. Miami-Dade just finished. Duval, Palm Beach and Broward counties are still going. They're also trying to account for the hours voter spent waiting in order to cast a ballot. From the Miami Herald:
But Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes defended the work of her office as employees continued to process absentee ballots Wednesday.
"All of us who watch elections know when voters are interested in candidates and issues, we are going to have long lines," Snipes said.
As best I can tell, the Broward elections supervisor believes that long lines are the inevitable result of voters caring about an election -- in which case, I ask, why try to make the lines shorter? If you can't fix it, why try?
For those wishing to look closely at the problem, the Herald gets quite granular, as does Talking Points Memo. ADDING: former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio says she is "getting to work" on election reform, by which she seems to mean change.
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Liar.
1 voting booth for 1000 voters or 5 voting booths for 200 voters?
It ain't over 'til it's over.
Every public officeholder swears an oath of office. Ask yourself, 'What's the point of ANY additional pledge?' Follow the money.
Any officeholder who genuinely believes in representative government should have already publicly denounced the Teaparty/Taliban's efforts to disenfranchise Americans.
If you stood in line to vote, write your STATE legislators an invitation to the 21st century. Washington state voters had their ballots weeks before election day.
The Teaparty/Taliban are still afraid of women making decisions. (John 8:3-11)
Trickle down not only doesn't spur economic growth, it stifles it. It’s what led to the American and French revolutions.
"Corporations are people" = "He with the most gold rules"
Oregon Voters had their ballots as early as October 19, and my partner and I had ours turned at an official Elections drop-box the morning of October 22. so, yeah Oregon voters were getting their ballots in DAYS ago. (I would say "weeks ago, but we only had 18 days to examine, mark, and return our ballots -- postmarks don't count.)
Elections would be a snap, if it weren't for all the voting!
The right to vote should be a conservatively/Republican supported right. But it isn't. Hypocrites.
Make sure the voting machines bought are NOT from a BIASED COMPANY funny how far RIGHT the votes were in Tagg Romneys voting mecca was!
The idea of local control can be overridden as described in yesterday's interview with Rick Hasen, author of "Voting Wars".
The mechanism of reform is clear. We can federalize elections because Congress has the constitutional power to set federal voting standards for its representatives. When Pelosi has power again, we can set the following requirements
What did I leave out?
What are you some kind of Kenyan socialist?
/snark
No, but my son and daughter were born in Swaziland, have a LOT of melanin in their skin, Russian is regularly spoken at the dinner table, we effectively hold dual citizenship with the almost communist country of New Zealand and I married a woman born in the Soviet Union who got a ribbon for her speed in assembling and disassembling an AK-47 in the dark.
Does that count?
You must have very interesting gatherings at Thanksgiving!
Like your suggestions JohnMesserly, but might I suggest that WE move voting day to the weekend, I agree that 3 weeks out should be for early voting, but I would prefer to see that voting be held over the weekend - and yes it should be a holiday.
I also think that people that have served their time in jail (as long as it's not a violent crime) should have their voting rights reinstated - after all they have served time for the crime(s) they committed and it would help them to transition back to full citizenship.
@JohnM Those requirements make sense. I think taxing those who dont vote would be unconstitutional though. How would you verify that someone was registered to vote? How do you keep someone from voting multiple time? I would like to see a national voter ID card. You would need to insert it into the voting machine before you vote. The system would validate the card and keep people from voting multiple times plus each ballot could be stored electronically along with the voter ID number and people could go online and verify how they voted if necessary.
The problem with national IDs is the same as with other picture IDs - where would they be available and what documentation will be required?
Congress has unlimited power to tax. That was the basis on which the Chief Justice ruled the Obamacare mandate was constitutional.
Compulsory voting as in some countries is probably unconstitutional. This says you are free not to vote but if you don't, you pay $40 tax, scaled down for low income. In New Zealand, everyone gets the day off- including nearly all private businesses, but there is no fine. I think the Ozzies have fines.
The question of registration has no practical weight. If the IRS doesn't know about you, you don't have an automatic registration, and they wouldn't have any way to fine you.
I don't understand why the question of multiple votes is any more pertinent to the proposed change than the current system. It is currently exceptionally rare (some even say the figment- bogeyman of the Right wing's imagination).
There are additional innovations I think we should work on, but left off. One is online advisory votes on congressional bills, so that representatives understand prior to the official vote on a bill where the engaged voters in their district stand. Validation of identity would not require procedures much stronger or different than those people who use online banking are familiar with. Discussion and blogging by members of the district could be supported so that the representative or Senator could understand the arguments and possible confusion regarding the bill.
Zora-
That's definitely one I forgot. Due to the high incarceration rate of latinos and blacks, one voter suppression scheme by the GOP would be to permanently bar felons and ex convicts from voting. Florida, Iowa, Kentucky and Virginia already do this for felons, and several other states have a partial disenfranchisement system.
But I don't think your proposal of gradually re enfranchising the person or excluding violent offences makes sense. If the person has paid their debt to society and is free to rejoin to community, they have all their other rights- including their constitutional right to run for President, Senator or Congressman. If they have those rights, then on what basis should society single out voting for restriction? If all their other freedoms are restored, then voting should too.
The easiest, least expensive to use and impliment is Vote By Mail. Easy, safe, virtually fraud proof. We've been doing it for over 10 years with no problems at all. No lines, no weather to brave.......And it gets the machines out of the way. Can't tamper with something that's not used.
We've had Vote-by-Mail in Oregon since 1998, and as far as I know, it has worked quite well. I know that Washington State also has VbM, but they allow for Election Day postmarks, while Oregon requires that ballots be IN by 8 p.m. on Election Day -- this is how we are able to have complete results by Thursday following Election Day.
Voting experts agree that absentee, mail in ballots are the most vulnerable to voter fraud, and have the highest number of reported cases
This fact has been ignored by the right since they are disinterested in suppressing republican voters, who tend to favor this form of voting.
nationwide standardized hack proof voting machines
One problem we have here john , is that we have a simple optical scanner system here , and we are not going to put up with some hot shot coming in here and setting up a fancy computer , and saying TRUST US , I know your a smart guy , and we know all voting is corruptible , and honestly , computerized voting is even more corruptible than most
We have the same issue with MAIL IN VOTING , someone is going to process the votes on something , I trust no one , but especially the gop , for me to mail in my ballot with a screwed up gop auditor in charge , it isn't gona happen , I know your over all plan will work , but were the system is not broken , there is no use wasting time and money breaking it lol
If you would have a problem with it, think of how joyful election workers in the deep South will be. Think of the indignation of being forced by Yankees to use machines they are unfamiliar with and seem to have an odd knack of communicating to the Federal authority every time that "maintenance" is attempted on them.
Simple fix, more machines and more days in which to vote. Seems simple enough to me
yes that's easy but one problem when this came to light after the 2000 election only thing that was done oh we'll put out electric voting machines that will clear up the problem it's that Florida put to many amendments on this yrs ballot in which case was up to 5-7 pages long
do what California did put polls up in laundromats stores library's court houses police stations hospital's in Florida especially in broward and dade counties
The provisional ballots are being counted in Palm Beach County, Martin County and St. Lucie County today. This is important for the Allen West/Patrick Murphy race. Murphy's lead is almost 2500 votes. There are 713 in St. Lucie County, which Murphy carried, 223 in Martin County, which West carried and about 2000 in Palm Beach which was about a tie. It is not known how many in Palm Beach County are District 18 votes which would affect this race, but it is most likely less than half. Palm Beach County began their canvas at 10:00 a.m. St. Lucie begins at 5:00 p.m. Not sure about Martin.
Although it would almost be impossible for West to catch Murphy with the provisionals it is more possible that it could bring the vote close enough to trigger a recount.
I am told oustanding military absentee ballots are negligible in number.
In Washington State every mail box in the State is a voting machine. These simple devices are widely available and cost nothing. They have never been known to switch the voters preferences.
I have never seen a line at one and no one ever has tried to intimidate me when I used one.
WTF is up with these other states?
Except Congress is doing away with the USPS -- hmmmmm -- yet another form of voter suppression ?
Yes, that's something else that needs to change, stop trying to privatize everything for their buddies! The U.S. Postal Service is valuable, necessary, and they get the job done cheaply. Neither FEDex or UPS will work for less than what the god ole Postal Service does!!
the problem in florida ballots have a way to dissappear,,,if we mail,,we are not sure they are even looked at,,,with bush last election,,many things happened,,,they have so many tricks to stall our votes,,the new breed of republicans is garbage,,scott in florida is garbage,,2 more years of him,,,than out please voters,,remember this election,,,it was not fair,,i think mr obama won the state and the republicans do not want the world to know,,they usually count half of it,remember republicans are not good in math,,but this year the voters did not put up with obstacles,,even the cheating was reported,,,,now they stall for some reason,,i think the reason is mr obama won big
The other great thing about voting in WA is that you can go online afterward and confirm that your ballot was received. And I NEVER trust the USPS with my ballot -- I deliver it in person to the county courthouse (which is one of many drop-off places around the county).
IF the U.S. Postal service is eliminated, there are steal, locked drop boxes in many locations. As far as I know OR and WA are the only states smart enough to figure out how to run elections.
But our VBM will always be ignored. It's too simple, works too well.
a bit of humor: Michael Strahan said on Live with Kelly and Michael -- "we ought to check out the schools down there. They ought to be able to count better." Just adding some light-heartedness to what was an infuriating situation. i can say this: i am sure that there were republicans in those lines. if i was a republican (not) and was waiting for 8 hours to vote, by the time i got there i'd be ready to vote against the party that limited voting times and places. i'd also have had plenty of time to talk to the democrats in line. i suspect that the republicans lost some votes by the long lines.
Most Republicans haven't listened to anything beyond FOX or Heritage for 5 years. Pretty sure 8 hours in line wouldn't change anything. :)
Florida has continued to be a problem for the past 12 years. At what point do we hit up Spain or Israel to see if they want to buy it?
At what point do we call in the UN to oversee our voting?
Immediately, if not sooner, if the Florida counts take too long, or if they have to recount them 17 times.
Seriously, though, I think that the top elections official in any given state (Secretary of State, or whatever) should be 1) NON-PARTISAN, and 2) PROHIBITED FROM BEING INVOLVED IN ANY CAMPAIGN, WHETHER IT IS FOR AN ISSUE OR A CANDIDATE.
Three words: Vote By Mail!
I live in Oregon. We receive our ballot about 2 weeks before the election, along with the state-produced voter pamphlet, which lists all the candidates and measures on the ballot, and includes statements by the candidates, as well as statements of support/opposition to the candidates and measures provided by anyone willing to pay the relatively small fee to have their statement published. My wife and I sit down at the table one evening with a beverage of choice, our ballots and the voter's pamphlet, and any other information we might need to help us decide, and we discuss, agree, disagree and then fill out our ballots with our (separate) choices. Next day the ballots either either go in the mail, or, if its too close to the election to make it in the mail, dropped into one of the many ballot boxes placed around Portland where we live.
This is how we all should vote.
And, it works. The Oregon Secretary of State is reporting 81% voter turnout in last Tuesday's election.
Unless something is completely disproportionate, it seems like the same—or less—people voted this year than 4 years ago, but the lines were significantly longer in many places this year. I think the primary reason for longer lines was voter suppression (Less machines, less days of early voting, and less places to vote)
This map allows comparing between the 2012 and 2008 elections:
http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/
1. No election should be done on touch screen devices. All should have a paper trail.
2. No election should be certified unless and until a truly random hand count of a variety of races on a variety of counting machines verifies that the count is accurate.
3. Projections are not prevented by verification but vote switching by machine is.
Im from Broward, I voted on election day in my neighborhoods club house (huge neighborhood) and it had close to thirty people spread about. It took less than 15 minutes to go in, vote and leave. Was basically a seamless ordeal and I will thank the City of Margate for always putting their citizens first when crowds are expected.
In my opinion, people did not take advantage of early voting and absentee ballots as the were expected to. I also had an absentee ballot and changed my mine and physically voted. But the lines have nothing to do with the Elections Dept., it has everything to do with the voter. Two specific ways of avoiding lines were set in place for Floridians and yet, complaints are heavy.
I'd like to know why they did not vote early and why they did not opt for an absentee ballot. The republican party sent two absentee ballots to my home, did the democratic party not do the same? People need to take responsibility for themselves and meet their city halfway on these issues because options were there. Early voting, absentee ballots.... you had a choices.
In PB County many voters requested Absentee Ballots (sometimes several requests) but never received the requested ballots. Several problems surfaced: Misprinted ballots, errors in barcode, etc. I was one of the voters who did not receive a requested ballot. So I was in line at 6:30 am on the first day of early voting. It was 45 minutes for me - but there was a line around the building by the time I was leaving, so everyone else after me had a much longer wait. A friend who works in a medical office had to get out of line to get to work. She was another voter who never received her requested absentee ballot. In my years at GE we had a "Best Practice" program - search inside and outside for the best process to accomplish a task. We should look at other states and other countries (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) for the best process - and then implement it. What we have today is myriad of state systems that fail the "best practice" test in a variety of way - most notably that they are susceptible to partisan influence.
Seems we can't leave this to the individual states, especially for Federal elections. I suggest a set of minimal federal standards that have be be met by all states: 14 days early voting, poll hours 7 am to 7 pm. Voting machines need to give a receipt that reflects your voting choices or a number that can be mapped back to the ballot. States could allow more time or days, but none could offer less. Standardization of the voting machines and software code must be able to be reviewed by a non partisan agency approved by the government.
I agree completely, but you know the GOP would would cry foul at such BIG GUBMENT interference (of course the real reason would be that it make it more difficult for them to screw with voting procedures).
I believe that's "BIG GUMMINT!".
Ahem.
We want everyone to vote as long as they vote republican the GOP voting rights act of 2012.
In time everyone will use the vote from home technology. Plenty of time to research all the props, candidates, and positions. Trying to guess what will be on the docket before you get there doesn't always work. I haven't stood in a line since the 80s, but then I live in a Blue state.
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/108185/blue-states-are-scandinavia-red-states-are-guatemala
If I am willing to stand in line for my Welfare Check and Food Stamps. Then a wait to vote for the guy that makes sure I get these is fine with me. (Sarcasm at it's best)
The welfare and food stamps have been automated to the point that a great amount has been saved in administrative costs and lowered fraud. Our voting system is like food stamps 40 yrs ago.
Anyone who was alive and aware in 2000, or, has any familiarity with how these things work in Florida, who expected anything else when Republicans were put in control of the governor's mansion, the legislature and the secretary of state's office in 2010 was dreaming.
The 2010 Florida voters got precisely the 2012 voting experience they voted for in 2010.
I wonder if they counting dimples and chads. Disney need to take over elections in Florida. You will have different lines - for AARP, express, slow people, inpatients, pregnant woman. You vote say Hi to Micky, have your picture taken when voting - extra income for State and if you lucky, you get two for one you my vote again same day.
Use the optical scanners we use in Rhode Island, and have more polling places and booths, it isn't rocket science or brain surgery!
all the long lines, delays, etc can be attributed to Gov Scott's attempts to place obstacles in the way of people wanting to vote for Obama. If he thought voters were going to vote republican he would have installed drive in window polling locations. This is just another attempt to disenfranchise Obama voters-young, old black, latino, etc.
Nice try governor, see you in four years if you're still around. I wonder if you ran your business the way you ran election voting sites.
this year in florida the only place a judge authorized to be open longer hours for early voting,after the democrats complained ,one place,,and it is a republicans neighborhood,,,very few democrats,,,what does that tell you?
that two can play this game. When ohio gov cut back days for only dem counties we were ready and went to court to force the same standards for every county.
It really boggles the imagination to think that in 2012 Florida still has many problems with the voting machines. Having voted in Manhattan for 30 some odd years without any voter problems, the problem with Florida is the voter fraud and those who want to suppress the vote. We took our Vote By Mail Ballots and proactively filled them out and drove them to the Supervisor of Elections here in Palm Beach. We then followed up with countless calls to make certain that our ballots were counted. Now that President Obama has been elected, I will turn my attentions to fixing the voting problems and working on ousting republican Rick Scott as govenor because he totally contributed to the voting suppression. Let's hear it for our new Democratic leaders and President Obama.
Broward isn't the only county in Florida putting up lame excuses for election day issues. Lee County (just 2 counties to the north-west of Broward) had waits as long as 7 hours with the last ballot cast at 1:30am on November 7th. Luckily, it only took me a little over 2 hours to vote. Early voting in the county had similarly ridiculous wait times, and I thought election day would be better. The election commissioner, Sharron Harrington, has not taken responsibility repeated saying there was nothing she could do, which on the day of was true. But, she failed to plan and failed to anticipate the way all of the other counties around us did. She instead, chose to be the fiscal hero by giving back $1.8 million to the county instead of investing in an adequate amount of scanners and adequately trained personnel (she said they had no one to re-program scanners they used in early voting, leaving 20 or so scanners un-deployable on election day). Totally and utterly pathetic and incompetent. http://www.news-press.com/article/20121108/NEWS0107/311080033/Voters-call-Lee-County-election-supervisor-s-resignation-over-long-lines
Thanks for that story, Cindy Lyn. I would not have seen it otherwise.
Fla is getting ready to put the whole amendment on the ballot and not just the summary including all deletions and changes. This should make the ballot look like War and Peace. Rick Scott needs to go.
CNN just covered our NE citizens still without power, water in homes & people afraid to leave their homes due to looting. Now that the election is over, can we refocus our attention to the continuing crisis? Are the Red Cross & other relief agencies overwhelmed? A resident spokesperson is begging for plumbers & electricians.
The majority of problems were caused by our Gov Rick Scott. He's been preparing for this election for quite awhile.
I think that this is something that needs to be evaluated on a Federal level.
It would be so easy for either party to suppress votes simply by not having enough voting machines available.