3 ms·
I still think the California system is the best currently available: Votes are recorded by filling in the dots on a scantronic ballot form. The form is scanne
by johnea 1y ago
I still think the California system is the best currently available:
Votes are recorded by filling in the dots on a scantronic ballot form.
The form is scanned and the votes are tallied electronically.
The original paper ballot is archived, and can be re-scanned (or hand counted) if a recount is required.
This combines the best of both worlds: speed and accuracy of electronic tally, and the original hand-filled paper ballot is retained as a record.
- maxerickson 1y agoMost states use optical scan tabulators: https://ballotpedia.org/Voting_equipment_by_state https://ballotpedia.org/Voting_equipment_by_state
- johnea 1y agoThat's excellent! and I would expect that this tech is not vendor captured by patent or other means. Which means many companies can make the equipment/systems...
- delichon 1y agoFive weeks to count the ballots is a model system? https://calmatters.org/newsletter/california-certified-election-results https://calmatters.org/newsletter/california-certified-elect...
- ekr____ 1y agoThis is less about technology than it is about process. Specifically: 1. California allows mail in ballots to be counted if they arrive up to 7 days after the election. 2. California requires a 1% manual tally. This can take a really long time in a big jurisdiction like LA. Note that this doesn't mean you don't know the likely answer relatively quickly. The 5 weeks is about how long it takes to have a certified result.
- platevoltage 1y agoI cant help but notice that most people who are of the opinion that everyone should vote on Election Day, in person, and on a paper ballot that is hand counted, also have an issue with tabulation taking time.
- johnnyanmac 1y agoIf I had to steelman it, people think the counting should be fast and the verification is based on your ability to attend a polling station on demand. The trust the machine, but not the person. My charitable interpretation of that is that they have a huge blindside for people who need to work crazy hours, look after kids, or for disabled people who need to do a lot of planning to get to a physical location they don't frequent. Or simply people out of town or country that day (soldiers on tour are a big one, my parents are rarely in town to vote). They are so distrusting of mail they forget that people can't all be expected to be in a single spot for a single day.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- ekr____ 1y agoThere's not one California system. Each jurisdiction inside California picks its own system out of those which are certified. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ovsta/frequently-requested-information/voting-systems-used-counties/how-use-your-countys-voting-system https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ovsta/frequently-requested-... For example, LA uses Ballot Marking Devices.