Voting machines are switching votes to John McCain in early voters.

LuigiClock · October 20, 2008, 02:40:05 PM

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...

FluxCapacitorClock · October 20, 2008, 02:54:05 PM

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.

Slurpee · October 20, 2008, 08:17:09 PM

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.

LuigiClock · October 20, 2008, 09:12:50 PM

Maybe the Dems thought that there was nothing they could do

Biggskoo · October 21, 2008, 12:14:12 AM

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

Loki Clock · October 21, 2008, 12:55:11 AM

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.

FluxCapacitorClock · October 21, 2008, 12:56:52 AM

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!!!"

Loki Clock · October 21, 2008, 01:02:52 AM

It's never too late to use paper voting.

FluxCapacitorClock · October 21, 2008, 01:10:15 AM

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

PropagandaClock · October 21, 2008, 01:48:12 AM

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.

RomanClock · October 21, 2008, 03:33:47 AM

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?

Loki Clock · October 21, 2008, 04:33:15 AM

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.

Slurpee · October 21, 2008, 05:16:23 AM

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?

Loki Clock · October 21, 2008, 05:21:21 AM

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.

FluxCapacitorClock · October 21, 2008, 10:22:15 AM

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?

DeadTreeClock · October 21, 2008, 11:58:18 AM

Oh no guys, my vote just got switched to Nader!

PirateClock · October 21, 2008, 12:23:33 PM

mccain is a 1337 hacker

Marlin Clock · October 21, 2008, 12:26:52 PM

I hope mine doesn't get switched to Dukakis again.

RomanClock · October 21, 2008, 07:26:24 PM

Quote from: TreeClock;1431165Oh no guys, my vote just got switched to Nader!

Quote from: PirateClock;1431182mccain is a 1337 hacker

these

FluxCapacitorClock · October 21, 2008, 08:56:22 PM

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!"