Ellection results

["Shahab Mesbah" <meteor2@moscow.com>]

Dear friends,

Could someone tell me why it is that a country as resourceful, rich and
talented as ours is using such archaic methodology for the election? Why is
this punch card technology even used in this country? It is established that
it is not precise. This fact is not in dispute. I was just listening to NPR
and they were talking to an official from another county in Florida that
uses a bubble sheet method (like standardized tests) and their recount was
the same as their first count. He was saying that the punch card method will
give you a different count every time you ask it to give you a count!! So,
it is established that this method (which we use also) is faulty. It is not
accurate. I am outraged that we use it. Why can we not just use a computer
kiosk setup with touch screens that can be very idiot proof? You can even
get such a system to have the pictures of the people you are voting for.
After you choose who you want, it can give you a summary of what you have
done... ask you if you are sure you want to vote this way and then have a
submit button that finalizes the vote. Now that is idiot proof. It also
gives you instant totals. You can have the system equipped with sound for
the blind, with graphics for the illiterate, and so on. You can even have
this database in a central location in the state so the results are totaled
nation wide on the fly. You will not need the stupid Electoral College, all
the paper, or all the mess. You would also save a tremendous amount of money
that is wasted now.

The idea that elections are the domain of the county is an outdated and
archaic idea. There should be a national standard ballot and the method of
totaling. I value the constitution but we also need to realize more
efficient and accurate ways of growing our democracy. It is unwise to not
improve in the name of blind tradition. It causes social decay.

I would also like to address the comments that any idiot can figure this
ballot out. As a teacher at the U I can tell you that when under stress (and
election booths are stressful) people often make "stupid mistakes"; this, in
fact, is what the graduate school admission tests are all about.
Furthermore, when the election is so close the normal standard deviation
becomes unacceptable. I have heard people talk about other elections in the
past but they were not close like this one. The closer the election the more
precise we have to be.

Yet, another factor here is the charge of discrimination against minorities.
The fact that people were not given the chance to get a new ballot if they
made a mistake is unthinkable. Running out of ballots? Turning people away?
Ballots that were taken home and showed up the next day? What the hell is
this? This is not what this country is about. I am resisting the thought of
foul play on behalf of the Bush brothers but I have to say that there are
too many charges and anomalies to brush off.

Your brother in arms,

Shahab...