Judge Orders Paper Ballots in Pennsylvania
By Bd200789
@Bd200789 (2994)
United States
October 30, 2008 3:31pm CST
Because of long lines and many broken down machines, a judge in Pennsy;vania has ordered that paper ballots be issues in precincts where half the machines are broken down. Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro Cortés originally said he would only allow paper ballots to be used if all the machines were broken down. He also said that changing the rules this close to the election would create confusion, but U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III ruled Wednesday that poll worker hotlines and other existing procedures should prevent problems. Distributing paper ballots to voters in that circumstance “is compelling to protect their constitutional right to vote, and no state interest has been advanced to reject it,” his ruling said.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/judge-orders-paper-ballots-in-pennsylvania/?nl=pol&emc=pola2
I think this was a good idea because if many machines are broken, some people wouldn't be able to vote. What do you think?
2 people like this
6 responses
@andnowtheres2 (47)
• United States
8 Nov 08
i love the way of coloring in the dots and then feeding it it through a fax machine type system. It's quick and easy. The only thing is the long lines for them to look up your name and to hand out the ballots. thank god I went early to the polls ti vote this year.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
they should have thought of those problems before they decided to go electronic. We still use paper ballots in canada, and we do just fine! We had an election earlier this month, a federal election as a matter of fact. I put an X on a paper ballot, dropped it into the box, and all went well.
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I can't open your link. Too bad, I was curious to read where they expect the malfunctions since I live in Pennsylvania. I don't really think it will affect me though. I live in a small town and voting is usually pretty smooth. It would be an interesting thing to try though. I've never voted with a paper ballot. Just don't want to ever use a ballot with those damn hanging chads.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
30 Oct 08
Those that can't vote because they can't make it should have their ballots brought to them and not by a person wearing a t-shirt swaying to one side or the other. If either party wants the votes then they will get the ballots to the people.
