# Voting Problems - and so it begins...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [November 4, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087 "2008-11-04T17:33:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087/41 "2008-11-04T21:45:10Z")
We had little cardboard things set up on cafeteria tables. Not as private as the SATs were, even. And we were just handed a paper ballot without any folders or anything in them.
Yeah, I know. The other option would have been early voting, but early voting was all electronic versus the choice between paper or electronic ballots. There were no curtains around the electronic box, either.
The volunteer actually checked out the ballot to see if she could figure out why it wasn’t being accepted. I really expected she would just recommend the lady fill out another ballot and I’m stymied as to WHY she didn’t. Were they afraid we’d run out? They’re expecting record turnout, of course, but surely they have more than enough ballots and could get more from the county seat if there was a problem.
---
### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087/42 "2008-11-04T21:52:57Z")
> [@TroubleAgain](#):
>
> If I ever get to a Floridopefest, I’m totally buying you a beer for that.
For my healthy boner? Or for Alaska = Tonsils? 😃
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087/43 "2008-11-04T22:14:41Z")
Oh, and if it wasn’t clear: we put our own ballots into the machine. It looked like a huge laser printer and it tabulated… well, certainly the number of ballots as well as whether they were valid or not. Wrongheaded though her vote may be (;)) she has as much right to have it counted as I do. They were both standing at the ballot counter staring at it confusedly.
The election judge was sitting right there through the whole thing and got up just as the volunteer was jabbing the ‘Accept’ button.
We’re kind of ancient here in Precinct 264. I’m kind of surprised we don’t have a big wooden box with white and black pebbles. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087/44 "2008-11-04T22:53:09Z")
> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> I didn’t say our Founding Fathers, I said our forefathers. When we didn’t have the secret ballot we had Boss Tweed. Do you want Boss Tweed? _Do you want Rutherford B. Hayes to eat your babies_?
Uh oh. So that’s how we got Rutherford B. Hayes. Un-secret ballot.
I would like it if somebody bought me a drink after I voted. I guess I could have got a donut, except the nearest Krispy Kreme is a 45-minute drive away. Bummer.
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087/45 "2008-11-04T22:53:17Z")
> [@Fish](#):
>
> I prefer to think of Alaska as America’s breast implants.
Hey, if you look at the map, we’re clearly the head and beard and big, nobby nose of the nation.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-problems-and-so-it-begins/471087.md?page=2)