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>The goal is not 100% security, 100% correctness, or something equally silly. The goal is a system where either every major party has a justified belief that th

>The goal is not 100% security, 100% correctness, or something equally silly. The goal is a system where either every major party has a justified belief that the elections were legitimate and fair, the reported results are mostly correct, and there was no substantial fraud. Or at least one party questions the results due to widespread fraud. You want to trust the results, even when you can't trust the people running the elections. Right. Which is why in all 3500+ elections (and yes, every county has a separate election, with separate ballots, separate rules and separate groups of folks managing the elections. In fact, it's your neighbors who manage and staff the elections in your county) every election day, there are generally representatives from each candidate and party involved in each race, from city council member, animal control officer, coroner, mayor, congressperson, etc., etc., etc. at each polling place and counting center (where different) who are there to make sure their candidate is not shortchanged. This happens everywhere, ever time and is nothing new. IF there are claimed "irregularities," recounts are performed and lawsuits filed and adjudicated. But don't believe me. Go ahead and work at the polls. They hire and train folks to work at polling places during the elections. See for yourself. Or is that too much work and you'd rather rely on someone else (you trust them, but not anyone else?) to tell you what goes on at the polls? Please.

jltsiren 1y ago
In the system I'm familiar with, votes are counted twice. The first count is done on site, by the same people who staffed the polling station. It's important that the votes are counted and the results are published before those people leave and before the ballots are moved. Then there is a second count that produces the official results. That count is done at a higher level (county-equivalent for most elections and city/municipality for local elections), largely to ensure a more uniform treatment for various edge cases.

jltsiren 1y ago

In the system I'm familiar with, votes are counted twice. The first count is done on site, by the same people who staffed the polling station. It's important that the votes are counted and the results are published before those people leave and before the ballots are moved. Then there is a second count that produces the official results. That count is done at a higher level (county-equivalent for most elections and city/municipality for local elections), largely to ensure a more uniform treatment for various edge cases.