June 19, 2006
Survey 1: Difficult to understand for people who are not computer literate. Difficult to record choices on write-ins. Difficult to record choices on write ins. Expensive and very time-consuming. Checking the printout requires physical movement.
Survey 2: Some security problem as with other DRE’s we have seen, ie., one unit guarantee that the interfered computer program hasn’t been tampered.
Survey 3: Proprietary voting systems mean voters will be skewed.
Survey 4: No instructions about checking the paper record as I voted. I went to check at the end and it was too late. $10,800, vendor admitted to me that we’ll need “a lot “ more DRE’s at $10,800 each than PBOS (at $5,000-$5500 each) plus Automark (at $5000 each) he said counties will but enough DRE’s for off years and then realize they have to by many more for presidential year. Fatal flaw-paper record has to be checked after each vote not at end as a summary. NOTHING ANYWHERE pointed out even the existence of the paper print out.
Survey 5: I found the paper to check your choice is confusing and requires that the voter check after each entry. I don’t think most voters will remember to do this.
Survey 6: Paper backup not adequate position. Display of ballot was good but complicated instructions on some screen. Required heavy touch on write-in screen, heavy 300 pounds expensive 10,000 blow up screens did not show all candidates at one time, required 2 separate screens.
Survey 7: Too much stuff to read
Survey 8: Machine plays ballot as you mark each candidate not at the end so it is very hard to check your paper ballot as you vote.
Survey 9: Flash memory good for power problems, hackability? Scroll as paper trail almost unusable.
Survey 10: The voter verification window requires you to set up and look after each vote. You can verify all at once on the screen but its too spread out.
Survey 11: I have general concerns about the possibility of tampering with electronic voting machines.
Survey 12: I have no faith in these DRE machines, they have proven unreliable all over the country.
Survey 13: Although it was easy to see/confirm my votes on the “review voter” screen, it was only possible to see what was being registered on the paper record by moving way over to the side to look at it one vote at a time. After that it disappear into the machine and cannot be viewed again. It would be very inconvenienced to move back and forth so many times to check the paper and unless this is done one would not know whether the paper was correct. In any case, how could officials ever handle the paper trail still in the event of a record?
Survey 14: While the touch screen voting process is easy, the paper print out that forces the voter to move form the screen to the printer after every single vote or not verify their vote, unable this machine unusable in my eyes.
Survey 15: I do not trust computer voting. There have been instances where fraud has occurred with similar machines. We must be sure that each vote is counted correctly and no one can change it. I am also concerned about the time the voter will need in the voting booth to complete the task and how slow the lines will be.
Survey 16: How can I be sure that what is printed is the same as what is sent to the central counting? Looks like multiple possibilities for hacking unknown to voters. Cost more (almost double) the optical scanner and may need more than one machine/precinct $10,800 per machine takes too long for voters lining up. So much technology may discourage older voters or sooner people not conversant with computer.
Survey 17: Touch screen has way too many possibilities and will surely confuse a lot of voters, especially people not used to high tech. Voting process would be too long with possibly long lines. The cost of these machines prohibited.
Survey 18: I like scanners better
Survey 19: I like that it gives a running print out of what you’ve selected. The only thing is that you can’t really review the whole print out after you made all your selections. I think that it doesn’t require paper ballots. Which saves trees, I do think that having it all on such a large screen, with so much information, might overwhelm some voters, particularly elderly voters, or those who may have reading all issues. Paper ballots are easier to read for these groups.
Survey 20: It was very simple but the Sequoia ‘s more since it’s a NY manufacturer.
Survey 21: I do not trust this print system
Survey 22: It’s a bit complicated for folks with disabilities and not as self explanatory as the mark ease.
Survey 23: Type very small machine can have misc. extra ballots. Can keep track of order of record and can be matched against sign in sheet.
Survey 24: Machine was not set up properly, seeing source code and stuff flash up on the screen finding that instructions on machine didn’t work. NO CONFIDENCE! Like all DRE’s SLOW (once it got rebooted). Paper trail print WAY too small to use (only liberty and Avante are large enough. Between the DRE’s the DRE’s the entire optical scan ones are ok of course). Privacy curtain exposes paper trail on the side.
Survey 25: Optical reader not good. Electronic can be programmed to have props at the top. Can be programmed to require deselecting an improper candidate prior to changing to the proper candidate. Can be programmed to require separate democrat and republican passwords to open machine ( not needed here, but I can think of places it would be!) In case of interrupted voting as in the 9/11 primary the votes could be kept and new ones added. Does give you a chance to correct or finish voting prior to the final vote being cast. Bad things, The only way to check if the right ballot is there prior to the first voter is to check the printed list with the ballot, and then actually look at the screen when the first voter comes in. Votes are registered when an area is touched, and printed. Then if a change is made the original vote is listed as deselected and the new one is printed. This could cause royal confusion if a recount is needed. No way to program it to do it all at once. Cannot blow up font on the printed sheet - many people would need a magnifying glass to read it - will discourage checking to be sure the sheet matches the screen. If a voter leaves without voting, the system for fixing the screen to cancel the vote involves a series of numbers being pushed in after you manage to get to an administrative screen. The people showing it suggest that we should just cast the ballot ( two election inspectors involved in this) They state that the state has not decided whether the ballot should be cast as
shown or cancelled??????