QuoteOriginally Posted by The Charleston Gazette
More W.Va. voters say machines are switching votes
In six cases, Democratic votes flipped to GOP
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Three Putnam County voters say electronic voting machines changed their votes from Democrats to Republicans when they cast early ballots last week. This is the second West Virginia county where voters have reported this problem. Last week, three voters in Jackson County told The Charleston Gazette their electronic vote for "Barack Obama" kept flipping to "John McCain".
By Paul J. Nyden
Staff writer
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Three Putnam County voters say electronic voting machines changed their votes from Democrats to Republicans when they cast early ballots last week.
This is the second West Virginia county where voters have reported this problem. Last week, three voters in Jackson County told The Charleston Gazette their electronic vote for "Barack Obama" kept flipping to "John McCain
".
In both counties, Republicans are responsible for overseeing elections. Both county clerks said the problem is isolated.
They also blamed voters for not being more careful.
"People make mistakes more than machines," said Jackson County Clerk Jeff Waybright.
Shelba Ketchum, a 69-year-old nurse retired from Thomas Memorial Hospital, described what happened Friday at the Putnam County Courthouse in Winfield.
"I pushed buttons and they all came up Republican," she said. "I hit Obama and it switched to McCain. I am really concerned about that. If McCain wins, there was something wrong with the machines.
"I asked them for a printout of my votes," Ketchum said. "But they said it was in the machine and I could not get it. I did not feel right when I left the courthouse. My son felt the same way.
"I heard from some other people they also had trouble. But no one in there knew how to fix it," said Ketchum, who is not related to Menis Ketchum, a Democratic Supreme Court candidate.
Ketchum's son, Chris, said he had the same problem. And Bobbi Oates of Scott Depot said her vote for incumbent Democratic Sen. John D. Rockefeller was switched to GOP opponent Jay Wolfe.
"I touched the one I wanted, Rockefeller, and the machine put a checkmark on the Republican instead," Oates said of her experience Thursday.
She said she caught the mistake, called over a worker in the county clerk's office and was able to correct her vote. But she worries other voters may not catch such a mistake.
When asked if she is sure she touched the box for Rockefeller, she said, "I'm absolutely positive."
Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood said on Saturday that he is upset there are "so many negative stories out there and not enough positive ones. We want people to vote. People need to know the facts.
"But we haven't had any major issues. We try to explain to voters how the machines work then they come in," Wood said.
In Putnam County, early voters have the option of asking for either touch-screen machines or optical scan ballots -- paper ballots on which people mark in their election choices.
Wood said some voters might not realize that touch-screen voting machines may take a few seconds to record their choices.
Sources:
http://wvgazette.com/News/200810180251
http://wvgazette.com/News/200810170676
Am I the only one who finds it suspicious that every time there is a "programming error" or "human error" that it always seems to work out in favor of the republican candidates? It sounds like its 2000 all over again...
I'm a democrat and I personally think these are rumors or instances of people being dumb, voting wrong, and not realizing it until after their vote is cast.
I'm one of the few people on Earth who think 2000 was a loophole, and yes it was unfair, but it was a result of the shitty way the electoral college is set up, it wasn't a conspiracy.
Even if 2000 was fixed, we fucked up the notion that we might not want Bush when we legitimately voted him back in in 2004.
Quote"I pushed buttons and they all came up Republican," she said. "I hit Obama and it switched to McCain. I am really concerned about that. If McCain wins, there was something wrong with the machines.
There's no way that McCain will win because more people voted for him. If he wins, it was definitely the robots.
I know these robots. They are crafty. They have switched my vote, and they will switch yours.
Everybody needs to stop talking to crazy ass old people.
Quote from: Flux;1430602Even if 2000 was fixed, we fucked up the notion that we might not want Bush when we legitimately voted him back in in 2004.
Well, to be fair, weren't there problems with electronic ballots, and something about Florida and Ohio reporting more votes than voters?
Howard Dean said that if Kerry had disputed it, as Gore did in 2000, the dems would have taken Ohio and the election.
edit:
yeop.
Maybe the Dems thought that there was nothing they could do
honestly does anyone think obama will carry west virginia anyway
the whole state is full of ignorant morons that won't vote for him because theyre racist/xenophobic
I'm glad this is coming out in the news this time. Vote switching is not only a problem in the elections, but regular votes as well. That's how the ban on gay marriage was passed in Texas, not to mention the hundreds to thousands of dumped votes by door-to-door vote collectors.
Quote from: Blackmagic;1431025I'm glad this is coming out in the news this time.
As if that would actually do/change anything if this stuff is true.
News: "Votes are getting changed!"
People: "oh."
News: "Really they are!!"
People: "well what do you expect me to do about it?"
News: "Uh..."
McCain: "
My friends, there is no voter manipulation."
People: "i guess not..."
Obama: "
Well uh look."
McCain: "
JOE THE PLUMBER FUCKING HATES YOU"
Obama: "
SHIT"
News: "HOLY SHIT LOOK WHAT SARAH PALIN IS WEARING"
People: "VOTING TITS '08!!!"
It's never too late to use paper voting.
Quote from: Blackmagic;1431028It's never too late to use paper voting.
And thus be manually counted? That requires people to actually work how outrageous Loki you are out of control
I think it is obvious there is false voting going on; Why wouldnt it?
Electronic votes are easy to manipulate and if you are losing the worlds greatest race why NOT manipulate them?
I would.
I can't tell who in this thread is gullible, ignorant, or sarcastic...
Isn't it funny how Democrats have always claimed voter fraud on the Republicans, yet Republicans want voter ID and Democrats oppose it vehemently?
Oh, and of course half the country is stupid like me huh?
Quote from: RomanClock;1431066I can't tell who in this thread is gullible, ignorant, or sarcastic...
Isn't it funny how Democrats have always claimed voter fraud on the Republicans, yet Republicans want voter ID and Democrats oppose it vehemently?
Oh, and of course half the country is stupid like me huh?
Multiple members of my family and friends of mine have had it happen to them. I'll take their eyewitness accounts over your dismissal any day.
Quote from: RomanClock;1431066Isn't it funny how Democrats have always claimed voter fraud on the Republicans, yet Republicans want voter ID and Democrats oppose it vehemently?
Always and vehemently, eh?
By the way, "Voter IDs" wouldn't stop programmed vote fraud, and you already need an ID to vote so it wouldn't stop people from voting multiple times or without citizenship, either.
Quote from: RomanClock;1431066Isn't it funny how Democrats have always claimed voter fraud on the Republicans, yet Republicans want voter ID and Democrats oppose it vehemently?
I'm a democrat and I just said Bush won legitimately. Through a loophole in 2000, but the loophole is right there in the law, even if it wasn't fair in the slightest it was still legitimate. As for all the supposed conspiracies in 2004, I think if there was really any hard case for them, the election would've been challenged and fought until it was all taken care of. Being that this is the internet it's a wonder I haven't been burned at the stake yet.
Also voter ID is fucking dumb. If there is no voter fraud, then that aspect of the system is just fine. So why fix something if it isn't broken?
Oh no guys, my vote just got switched to Nader!
mccain is a 1337 hacker
I hope mine doesn't get switched to Dukakis again.
Quote from: TreeClock;1431165Oh no guys, my vote just got switched to Nader!
Quote from: PirateClock;1431182mccain is a 1337 hacker
these
Why is this even a big deal if the popular vote doesn't matter hmm hmm hmmmmmm? So far this election it's been like this:
"Your vote doesn't even count."
"My vote doesn't even count."
"I don't even bother, it's not like it counts, it's the electoral college that matters."
"Fuck, they're changing our votes! This is crazy, we're going to have an illegitimate president!"
Quote from: RomanClock;1431066Oh, and of course half the country is stupid like me huh?
Far more than half the country is stupid like you. Being a republican might indicate some general level of mental deficiency (or evil), but that doesn't mean you can't be a democrat and an idiot. Most people are idiots. Idiots can be tricked into believing
anything, not just lies.
That said, I'm not a Democrat. They're just the most convenient wall I've found to erect between myself and the Republicans.
Oh and my vote doesn't count for the presidential election, Massachusetts always goes Democrat. It does, however, count for the decriminalization question. :D
Quote from: RomanClock;1431066Oh, and of course half the country is stupid like me huh?
Quoted for truth.
Quote from: Flux;1431548Why is this even a big deal if the popular vote doesn't matter hmm hmm hmmmmmm? So far this election it's been like this:
"Your vote doesn't even count."
"My vote doesn't even count."
"I don't even bother, it's not like it counts, it's the electoral college that matters."
"Fuck, they're changing our votes! This is crazy, we're going to have an illegitimate president!"
Maybe even the people who bitch about how their vote doesn't count are just able to shut the fuck up for a moment in light of a real problem surfacing?
Quote from: Blackmagic;1431740Maybe even the people who bitch about how their vote doesn't count are just able to shut the fuck up for a moment in light of a real problem surfacing?
If you don't think your vote counts, I don't see why you would care about it being changed.
It's like saying "I don't care if I get apples or oranges, because I'm positive you'll give me oranges anyway", and then flipping shit when you get oranges. You can't not care and care at the same time. Thus people saying they don't care about the election are only saying it to sound cool unless they can say they genuinely don't care about votes being changed.
Quote from: Flux;1431820If you don't think your vote counts, I don't see why you would care about it being changed.
It's like saying "I don't care if I get apples or oranges, because I'm positive you'll give me oranges anyway", and then flipping shit when you get oranges. You can't not care and care at the same time. Thus people saying they don't care about the election are only saying it to sound cool unless they can say they genuinely don't care about votes being changed.
And obviously that's the case here, so the people saying their vote doesn't count to sound cool are shutting up to devote their attention a real problem.
Guys, presidential votes only count in swing states.
Quote from: Flux;1431548Why is this even a big deal if the popular vote doesn't matter hmm hmm hmmmmmm? So far this election it's been like this:
"Your vote doesn't even count."
"My vote doesn't even count."
"I don't even bother, it's not like it counts, it's the electoral college that matters."
"Fuck, they're changing our votes! This is crazy, we're going to have an illegitimate president!"
You presumptuous cock. I've said nothing regarding this and I should: Popular vote doesn't matter, I don't give a shit if it shows 100% of people voting for Ron Paul or Obama or Mccain,
it still doesn't matter. Unless you replace all of the electoral colleges with machine voters, then
it doesn't matter.
Quote from: Emperor of Mankindclock;1431958You presumptuous cock. I've said nothing regarding this and I should: Popular vote doesn't matter, I don't give a shit if it shows 100% of people voting for Ron Paul or Obama or Mccain, it still doesn't matter. Unless you replace all of the electoral colleges with machine voters, then it doesn't matter.
Do you care if votes are being changed?
The popular vote does matter. It just happens to matter 51 times across 50 states plus D.C, instead of just the one time that it should.
The electoral college actually makes switched votes in swing states MORE important, because they have a much bigger pull than a single switched vote would otherwise.
Just don't vote since your vote is worthless.
My vote on the other hand...
I'm glad in Canada we just put an X in a circle. That's hard to fuck up.
Quote from: Lexington;1432026I'm glad in Canada we just put an X in a circle. That's hard to fuck up.
Yeah but your milk is in bags.
Quote from: CadillacClock;1432070Also hard to fuck up.
I say pretty easy. Like.. anything sharp is an enemy to your calcium intake. And when you pour it, you're holding it by something with only slightly more definite a form than the very thing it's holding.
I don't understand why the EC doesn't distribute votes based on localized popluar vote instead of states being winner take all. That would make a lot more sense.
OH 2000 HOW YOUR VOTING MACHINES SWITCH! OH 2000 HOW WE DON'T GET TO CHOOSE BUH BUH BUH. THE JEWS IN OH FLORIDA COULDN'T READ THE BALLET AND IF THEY DID IT WOULD BE DIMPLED YEAH YEAH! IT POINTS FROM ONE END TO ONE END AND THE GREEN PARTY ALMOST WON YEAH! THOUGH AL GORE CLEARLY WON IT, THE REPUBLICANS STOLE IT WITH THEIR RICH EVIL OIL COMPANY FRIENDS, YEAH! WHY CAN'T THEIR BE FAIR ELECTIONS OOOOHHH YEAH YEAH! FROM WATER GATE TO 2008 WE CAN'T MAKE OUR OWN CHOICE YEAH! NO MATTER HOW WE WANT IT THEY ALWAYS FUCK IT DOWN THE DRAIN, IN THE RAIN! OH HOW WE MISS A GOOD O'L FAIR ELECTION IN 2 THOUSAND 8!!!!!!
OBAMA 08 YEAH. copy right Boston inc. song/oil industries.
Makes sense, kinda. I don't see why you'd have to take multiple trips to the grocery store for multiple gallons of milk when it's in a jug but not a bag, though.
Quote from: CadillacClock;1432509I don't think I have ever had a broken milk bag in the way that you're describing. It's pretty sturdy plastic. You do not hold the bag when you pour it, you place the bag into a jug and then pour it from there.
The purpose of buying them in bags is for easier storage. You can buy 3 - 6 bags at a time and store them easily rather than taking multiple trips to the store.
I don't know about you, but buying it in bulk doesn't make a lot of sense when milk goes bad pretty fast anyway.
Also the bag-in-jug still doesn't look very convenient compared to a sturdy container.
Also how do you close up a bag after opening it?
Quote from: billiardball9;1432560I don't know about you, but buying it in bulk doesn't make a lot of sense when milk goes bad pretty fast anyway.
Also the bag-in-jug still doesn't look very convenient compared to a sturdy container.
Also how do you close up a bag after opening it?
my family drinks 6 bags of milk a week, and you don't close the bag, why would you?
it works quite well.
anyway, voter fraud seems to be really common in these elections, first there was a stupid loophole that put a loser in charge of the country, then broken voting machines in black neighbourhoods get him re-elected, and now john mccain might win the same way.
and the worst part, is that john mccain is complaining about
Acorn destroying the fabric of democracy.
Quote from: Maltese;1432606my family drinks 6 bags of milk a week, and you don't close the bag, why would you?
Well really if you think about it a bag with an equivalent amount of volume to our jugs is going to take up the same space.
How much volume is in a bag anyway?