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.
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.
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.
