For those of you who are unfamiliar with how voting works in other parts of the world, I'd like to describe the voting process in Canada. Registered voters (wh

For those of you who are unfamiliar with how voting works in other parts of the world, I'd like to describe the voting process in Canada. Registered voters (which is virtually everyone) receive a card in them mail telling them where to vote. They bring the card, along with proof of address and photo ID to their polling station on election day. Their ID is checked against a list by two poll clerks and the elector is given a ballot. They take the ballot behind a curtain and make a mark with a pencil beside their candidate of choice. They take the ballot to the ballot box, where an observer watches them place it inside. At the end of the night, the ballot box is opened by the two poll clerks, who are generally (but not necessarily) observed by several "scrutineers": one representative from each party. One of the poll clerks holds each ballot in turn, and announces who they believe the ballot was cast for. If everyone agrees, the ballot is counted. If it is disputed, a discussion takes place with reference to the printed rulebook. If there is still no agreement, it gets escalated. Once all of the ballots have been counted, the results are reported to the Deputy Returning Officer, who phones them in to Elections Canada. The ballots go back in the box and the box is sealed. It is delivered to Elections Canada and stored in case of a recount. Enough results are generally available nation-wide a little after midnight (polls close at 9 or so) for a winner to be declared and concessions speeches given, although the official results can take a little longer. The system seems to work. I don't see how electronic voting machines could do it cheaper, more securely or even very much faster. I understand an American election is more complicated and may require a more complex system, but truly I feel electronic voting machines are a false efficiency here. Source: Worked a few elections as a poll clerk. More details at http://www.elections.ca http://www.elections.ca