Insist on Using a Paper Ballot and Sign It!

bitsyf

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I found this on the internet. If you put your signature on the paper your vote can be verified if a question arises.

FreeWest Blog - Around the country almost every precinct with electronic voting also offers a way to vote with a paper ballot. Insist on the paper voting option.

In the past few weeks, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding vote fraud - especially from the Ron Paul camp. I personally believe that there is a high probability that the voting machines are cheating voters out of a fair election.
In order to keep a closer eye on the situation, I signed up as a Poll Manager.
I learned that ANYONE can refuse to use the electronic voting machines, and that they will be allowed to vote using a paper ballot.

The idea occurred to me that it would be a good idea to use the "Ron Paul Network" to get this information out quickly.
I imagined a few interesting things that might happen.



Every voter who votes for Ron Paul should INSIST on a paper ballot.
Those votes would NOT be tallied by the close of the polls and would therefore come in many hours after the polls have closed.
This simple tactic would not only get a great deal of local publicity, it would also get national attention. As the word spreads, the public could nullify the "Diebold factor" without waiting until the next election cycle.
This would also assure that there was a clear paper trail that could tracked. It would be very unlikely that they would lose the evidence. In a recount situation it would be harder to falsify fraudulent voting as well.
This is a simple, cost free solution to the vote fraud concern.
By the next voting cycle, If the media reports on this, voters for all candidates might adopt this idea and derail the attempt for unscrupulous individuals to steal our elections by tampering with the Diebold machines.

So it's simple, If you want your vote to count, avoid the electronic machines and ask for a paper ballot.
 
I haven't researched this but it would be a great idea, if it is true, for vote fraud activists to set up tables outside of precincts w/info about vote fraud, history of vote fraud, and free paper ballots they can use instead. I bet more than one person out there wants to be sure their votes are counted.
 
In Washington, I believe it is illegal to sign a ballot, and your vote WON'T be counted. I'm not sure about SC, but I believe this is the case.
 
One problem. Would there be someone there to publicly see that vote counted?

Do you know if this is a law-the insistence on a paper ballot? I am in WVa and I intend to demand a paper ballot also since we have machines here.
 
Zogby Poll - 92% Against Secret Vote Counts

An excerpt from http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=92147 (please see)

"...Congressman Ron Paul has been a consistent defender of Constitutional rights. Will he speak out about the blatant violation of South Carolina’s Constitution? Will he take a stand to protect our fundamental right to have our vote counted accurately? After all, without the right to have our vote counted accurately, what does the right to vote mean anyway? Hitler let the Germans vote. Stalin let the Soviets vote. Dictatorships usually do allow their subjects to vote. But of course, the counting is done in secret, and the powers that be always win the secret count"...

Sounds like this issue is too big for a regular SC citizen without standing to file a petition for an emergency injunction hearing (even though relatively quick, 1 day or so process), courts will probably (unfortunately) ignore it according to Mr. Adams...he has an attorney standing by in SC to file TOMORROW, and makes a very good case this would do nothing but boost Ron Paul's Presidential candidacy as a Constitutional Champion...(as well as dealing the sharpest blow against secret electronic vote counting across America)...requires someone that the media would have to cover...perhaps even a major (or up and coming) celebrity...Mr. Adams has already sent a letter to Ron Paul...possible opportunity of a lifetime...(and the tipping point in this campaign)...

This is a campaign, not an intellectual, issue. If I were Ron Paul or his campaign manager (I'm not), I would step up on this one and file Friday (~1 hr. process per Mr. Adams), because the upside is potentially HUGE, and the downside is very limited in this case, IMHO. (Esp. after seeing what is starting to come out of grassroots NH recount). This is a unique, historical opportunity and challenge for principled leadership to do the right thing. The grassroots will support it...but proactive, consistent leadership, I believe, is necessary on this one from the very top. (Having said that, I respect the campaign's decision either way, and will continue to support RP for President as long as he is still in the running, even though it's possible my vote might not be counted).

Mr. Adams encouraging RP supporters to contact SC and National RP HQ with requests...

I believe the time is NOW...

From http://www.zogby.com/templates/printnews.cfm?id=1163 :

"Asked whether Americans have the right to view and obtain information about how elections officials count votes, 92% of respondents concurred.

"The 92% support for the public's right to view vote counting and obtain information about it is a very strong political value of transparency and against secret vote counting outside the observation of the public," said Paul Lehto, a lawyer and sponsor of the survey. "To put this figure in context, support for election transparency exceeds the support for tax cuts, exceeds the approval of Pres. Bush immediately after 9-11, and virtually all other political values being measured." Mr. Lehto is counsel in the 50th Congressional District election contest in California."


http://www.ronpaulvotecount.com
 
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Hey guys - better Idea:


Canvass your butts off, and work your polling locations (1 in 10 people walking in to vote are still deciding! have literature if anyone shows that they are undecided or wavering).

Then take your own exit poll (print up 'ballots' yourself, ask people if they would like to take a survey on their way out). Then you know if your precinct is being counted right (assuming you get a 'random' sample), but they are usually pretty close even if you only had about 50 respondents.

And don't whine about the media, the pollsters, or Diebold. Talk about wanting to phase out taxes and IRS, talk about getting our troops home in a time-frame of weeks. Talk about ending the drug war, about restricting gov't spending, or about whatever they say their top issue is - if they disagree with Paul, tell them to have a nice day - you wont win.

If they express concerns about him being able to win, talk about certain exit-poll numbers from CNN:

54% of those Independents who Caucused as Republicans in Iowa voted for Paul
Paul polls as high as 30% in the under 30 age group.
Half of those in MI who thought that Paul would do the most good as president Didn't vote for him - because they thought he couldn't win - if those were voting, he would immediately be above 12%, and then only have more credibility.
 
So, I was wondering if revolutionaries are planning on doing exit polling after casting their primary votes? I for one plan to. Try to be one of the first at your precinct and after you vote, go to the proper distance from the polling place and start asking people questions such as:
Whom did you vote for?
What issue was the deciding factor on making that decision (you can give them a listing like economy, war, privacy, etc.)?

You can present it as an exit poll and collect data if for no other reason than to ensure against vote fraud. After the polls close, you can post your results here. Anyone think it's worth pursuing?
 
What keeps them from simply losing the paper ballots?

I for one am focusing on campaigning for Ron Paul.

Transparency, accountability, and confidence in the voting process is not going to happen this election, it's a battle for another day.

If there is one.
 
I live in Florence, SC....guess what NO PAPER BALLOT available unless you do an absentee ballot. :( I was disappointed, but I don't trust the absentee ballot anymore than I do the electronic machines.
 
get a receipt when vote

I was told not to leave without getting a receipt of my vote proving who I voted for.
 
CNN is covering the ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES on Lou Dobbs Tonight! Fri,01/18/07
 
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