U.S. Voting Technology: Problems Continue
Linked by Howard Fosdick on Thu 8th Nov 2012 20:12 UTC
Editorial In the United States, state and local authorities are in charge of voting and the country uses more than a half dozen different voting technologies. As a result, the country can't guarantee that it accurately counts national votes in a timely fashion. This article discusses the problem and potential solutions to the U.S. voting dilemma.
E-mail Print r 2   · Read More · 93 Comment(s) http://osne.ws/kh6
Thread beginning with comment 541492
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
A sad state for the US to be in
by shotsman on Thu 8th Nov 2012 21:13 UTC
shotsman
Member since:
2005-07-22

Many of my US Friends are sick to the death with the US Electorial system. From Hanging Chads to Denying a large percentage(mainly black) of the population the vote on very dubious grounds and the endless phone calls at all times of the day and night over the past two years it is a very sad state.
Like the USPTO (boo hiss) it needs urgent reforming but there is very little chance of that happening this side of Armageddon.

Some of us count ourselves lucky to live in places that have a very different electorial system. Whilst most systems have their own issues, I hope that people who advocate reform of our system take note of this disaster and say to themselves, 'There but for the grace of god go we!'

Reply Score: 3

kwan_e Member since:
2007-02-18

Australia gets laughed at for its mandatory voting at the Federal and State levels, but I think it's worked well. Yes, mandatory voting in a democracy is a logical contradiction blah blah blah.

Reply Parent Score: 3

unclefester Member since:
2007-01-13

Voting isn't actually mandatory in Australia. You are merely required to attend a polling booth and get your name marked off. What you do with the ballot paper after that is your own business.

Failing to attend a polling station attracts a very small fine. Nothing happens if you don't pay the fine.

Reply Parent Score: 3

Read more of this thread... >
sgtarky Member since:
2006-01-02

haha, yeah blacks were denied the right to vote and Obama lost, right? where else in the world can non citizens vote, since there is not voter ID requirement. I am thinking about visiting other countries and voting in their elections, see how far I get.

Reply Parent Score: 2

zima Member since:
2005-07-06

Some of us count ourselves lucky to live in places that have a very different electorial system. Whilst most systems have their own issues, I hope that people who advocate reform of our system take note of this disaster and say to themselves, 'There but for the grace of god go we!'

The US system does put some perspective on some efforts of major parties (in my recent-EU-memberstate place), which trying to introduce a variant of "first through the ballot" in parliamentary elections...

Reply Parent Score: 2