When I voted in 2004 I punched holes in paper. Two years later, our old-fashioned voting machines have been replaced by pretty new compact little voting machines called MicroVote Infinity made by MicroVote Corporation Electronic Voting Systems in Indianapolis, IN. They look like something from a James Bond movie, little suitcases that unpack and unfold and voila! A voting machine. I was initially impressed, until all the problems surfaced on the front page of the Tennessean.
http://www.tennessean.com/...
In Williamson County, officials got two different vote totals and are trying to reconcile them for a final count -- particularly in two races where the difference affected the outcome.
When Williamson County Commissioner Mary Mills went to bed Thursday night, election results indicated she was the highest vote-getter in her three-candidate race. When she woke up, she was at the bottom of the three. Hers is one of the races in question.
Ann Beard, election registrar in Williamson County, said results that were reported at 9:09 p.m. Thursday did not match results reported at 2 a.m. Friday.
"It's more than likely a problem with the software or human error," Beard said.
Well, thanks for that, Ann. That sure narrows it down. At least we now know the irregularities weren't caused by swamp gas reflecting sunlight from Venus.
The new machines were purchased in accordance to the Help American Vote Act of 2002, in order to try to avoid the infamous hanging chad problems encountered in a few states that wish to remain anonymous. Is this a step forward? You decide.
Narrigan [from a local grass-roots group called Gathering to Save our Democracy] is concerned that the new, computerized equipment does not create paper ballots, making it more difficult to double-check votes that people cast.
"It's a real problem," Narrigan said. "There's no paper trail, no paper ballot for voters to look at. I don't know if there are any problems or mistakes. No one will ever know."
"I'm concerned about future elections," she said. "Voters need confidence their votes will be counted."
Voting officials, though, said that the problems that did exist were minor and they expect far fewer problems -- and certainly shorter lines -- come the Nov. 7 general election.
So...the problem of the 2000 election was that there was a paper trail. Problem solved. As for the long lines? At first this seems like one of the least important problems, but really it isn't. If you are relatively wealthy, or have a stay-at-home-parent, you can vote. The kids can stay at home with the spouse or the nanny while you wait in line three hours. But what about the single moms with young children? Waiting in line to vote? Forget it, won't happen. You cannot vote. Sorry.
But wait, there's more!
Other problems throughout the state include:
* Bedford County election officials, while not using new machines, were late getting their results out because of trouble with equipment at county offices. They were able to get results out by
1 a.m. Friday.
* In Hamilton County, some voters said marks on their double-sided ballots were bleeding through to the opposite side and they worried the voting machine wouldn't be able to read the result.
* A bomb scare slowed down voters at a polling site in Smith County for more than two hours. Sheriff's officials had to evacuate voters to a nearby vacant grocery store while authorities searched the building for any explosive devices. Police found no bomb and have no suspects in the hoax.
* In Sumner County, long lines were attributed to the new machines, as people asked questions about how to navigate the ballot.
"I hope the first-time voters won't be jaded," said voter and longtime Hendersonville resident Sundy MacKorell, who voted at Nannie Smith Berry Elementary School.
"But the older people who voted, they're patriotic. They'd wait to vote if the line were three hours long."
That's right, the older people who are patriotic enough to wait can vote. Never mind the fact that their kids have long since grown up and moved out, and that they can tape Judge Joe Brown or whatever TV shows they don't want to miss. Again, a slap at the people who can't wait three hours to vote. All you unpatriotic single moms should be ashamed of yourselves. Putting your kids before your country. Shame!
Snark aside, if you voted last week or if you vote tomorrow, and see these little machines, ask questions. If you don't see a story about irregularities later in the week, ask questions. If no one reports irregularities during the primaries you can bet they won't report them in November. Knowledge is power.