Political Roundtable Cosmic String of Cataclysm - Part V

[Benjammin]

No wait. Walked right in to vote around noon.

[Spence]

In Pennsylvania a voter machine turns Obama votes into Romney votes.

[closg00]

In Pennsylvania a voter machine turns Obama votes into Romney votes.

Then the fix could be in for Romney. Republican companies control/own the voting machines.

What % of voters casting their ballots in swing states, will not notice that their vote for Obama has been switched for Romney? These machines can be programmed to "flip" X % of votes cast for Romney. I wonder how-many "flipped" votes there were just at that precinct?

[montestewart]

In Pennsylvania a voter machine turns Obama votes into Romney votes.

Romney's last minute campaigning in PA will provide some cover.

[Severn Hoos]

And in Ohio, a voter machine turns Romney votes into Obama votes

[montestewart]

And in Ohio, a voter machine turns Romney votes into Obama votes

Obama's last minute campaigning in OH will provide some cover.

[Wizardspride]

Lots of shenanigans going on.

"Poll watchers" giving false info to voters in minority areas in PA.


Here we go again.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I've been thinking of the Reagan election and when George W. Bush beat Al Gore.

--I was really disappointed the day Reagan won. I hadn't followed the predictions and was surprised.

--When Bush won, like most who vote Democratic I couldn't help but question the authenticity of the results. It came down to Florida, the state where Jeb Bush was governor, some dimpled chads, controversy, and a state court ruling. Like JFK 40 years earlier, I think Bush got in by hook and/or crook.

I think Mitt is going to take this election, one way or another. Fortunately, my guess is no better than anyone else's.

[barelyawake]

Voted in NoVa. Took ten mins. My informal, anecdotal observances tell me Northern Va, and thus the election, heavily leaning Obama.

Playing Cocoa Tea's "Barack Obama" on loop today.

[Spence]

Deep Thought for the Day:

The problem with America is that rich white men just can't get a break here.

[nate33]

I found this in the comments section of a politico article but can't verify if it's real:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv? ... true#gid=0

The "source" indicates that Cook Political Report which is a legit publication, but I can't find it directly from their website.

If true, it's good news for Romney and bad news for Obama. Counties won by Kerry and Obama are trailing 2008 early vote totals by 4.1%. Counties won by Bush and McCain are surpassing 2008 early vote totals by 14.39%. Of course, we don't know if the increase in Republican early turnout is merely cannibalizing from Election Day turnout.

[dobrojim]

as a country, we clearly need to ditch these electronic voting machines
in favor of machines that can actually be properly audited/monitored.
There needs to be a paper trail.

Reading both links, I'm left believing that in the larger picture, there
will probably be no real effect. Each of the questionable machines was
taken out of service.

While we're at it, national standards should be established that mandate
that reasonable efforts be made that would ensure that no matter what
voting precinct you live in, your waiting time will be roughly equivalent
to other precincts that have different/opposite party preferences.

[Severn Hoos]

Thanks, jim - that was my point. To me it looks like some poorly calibrated machines. Not that that is in any way acceptable, but it's not the same as a grand conspiracy to disenfranchise entire blocs and steal elections. (It would be kinda obvious, anyway - it would hardly take some meddling kids to keep them from getting away with it.)

And I do agree with you on the paper trail. It feels a bit like taking the SATs, but there's something about knowing that paper exists.

Not sure I can help on the waiting time factor. Sounds like a nice-to-have that could cause enormous problems in application. (Imagine telling someone with no one in front of them that they have to wait 45 minutes before voting to "even it out")

[closg00]

Amen Dob

[fishercob]

Voted in NoVa. Took ten mins. My informal, anecdotal observances tell me Northern Va, and thus the election, heavily leaning Obama.

Playing Cocoa Tea's "Barack Obama" on loop today.

I heard the POlitico guy whose name eludes me this morning on Morning Joe. Says the prevailing thought is whomever wins Loudoun and Prince William will win VA.

[Mizerooskie]

Voted in Alexandria today, and at my voting location, the staff said that they normally project about 200 voters per hour. They were approaching 1200 voters just after 10:00 AM (opened at 6). good sign for Obama.

[dobrojim]

Thanks, jim - that was my point. To me it looks like some poorly calibrated machines. Not that that is in any way acceptable, but it's not the same as a grand conspiracy to disenfranchise entire blocs and steal elections. (It would be kinda obvious, anyway - it would hardly take some meddling kids to keep them from getting away with it.)

And I do agree with you on the paper trail. It feels a bit like taking the SATs, but there's something about knowing that paper exists.

Not sure I can help on the waiting time factor. Sounds like a nice-to-have that could cause enormous problems in application. (Imagine telling someone with no one in front of them that they have to wait 45 minutes before voting to "even it out")

My thought was more along the lines that the number of machines and/or the
ability to handle X amount of throughput needs to be proportional to the number
of people in each precinct. I would not be in favor of the scenario you raise.

Furthermore, we should have instant run-off voting in order to end the duopoly currently
held by the dems/pubs. In the current system, you'd generally be crazy to vote a third
party. Instant runoff voting would solve that which probably has something to do with
why I suspect neither major party supports it.

[Spence]

Freaking liberal media.

[Zonkerbl]

Went to use an electronic voting machine because I thought it would be faster -- they had just one though. It was faster to use the luddite "fill in with your pencil" ones, of which they had seven booths.

[Spence]

Here are exit polls being circulated by Republican staffers. They are based on waves one and two, except where noted. I treat these things with extreme caution and don't expect them to be accurate.

7:00 - Virginia - Tied
7:30 - North Carolina - Romney +1
7:30 - Ohio - Obama +4
8:00 - Florida - Romney +1
8:00 - New Hampshire - Obama +3
8:00 - Pennsylvania - Obama +4
9:00 - Colorado - Tied
9:00 - Minnesota - Obama +4
9:00 - Wisconsin - Obama +4
10:00 - Iowa (wave 1) Obama +3
10:00 - Nevada (wave 1) Obama +5