Should voters insist upon a paper trail, despite the use of computers during elections?

Question

Since the disastrous election of 2000, and the many questions following the election of 2004, and since in both California and Florida, experts were brought in and proved they could hack voting machines in a matter of minutes, which would affect the results of any U.S. election, do you think that the public should insist upon a paper trail, to allow a recount of votes if needed, and to allow voters to see if their votes were recorded correctly?

Answer 1

Without a shadow of a doubt! *sm*

Answer 2

Why is this computer ballot thing such a problem?
A computer ballot should be designed to do the following three things
1) Electronically register your vote
2) Print a copy of your vote that you give the registrar as backup
3) Print a copy of your vote for your own personal copy that should be identical to the one you give the registrar
Before giving the copy to the registrar check it against your copy and make sure it is correct.
Is this really that complicated is it that much more expensive?
The paper copy is run through a machine that reads the vote and compares that reading with the computer. Wow, that would mean we had a system designed to be checked for accuracy.
Furthermore, for national elections all ballots should be identical (From Florida to Alaska) as per the decision rendered by the US Supreme Court in the 2000 election, otherwise my civil rights are violated if I perceive a ballot from another district as being better than the one I'm given.

Answer 3

You should dump the machines and use paper ballots. In Canada, we have federal elections for 30 million people and the results are in before the next morning. The U.S., while being a larger country, has the resources to do the same. The 2000 election made the U.S. a laughingstock across the world.

Answer 4

Some years back I kept a Praying Mantis as a pet, and they only eat live food! Consequently, I acquired the skill of GENTLY capturing live flies in flight, or off any surface, so that I could feed my Mantis uninjured and active prey. Most moving incident was late one night when on arrival home I found my Mantis shedding its skin. I watched, enthralled, for over an hour and I shall never forget seeing my Mantis gradually extend and spread its brand new rainbow-shimmering wings. Next day I released it onto a grapevine in my garden, the same garden in which I subsequently found a swarm of very tiny, recently hatched mantids! They are the cutest little creatures you could ever imagine.

Answer 5

Absolutely!! I have never figured out why the results of an election had to come within hours. Get the media out of the picture. They are ruining the voting process.

Answer 6

There should be a paper trail because machines are only as good as their programming, A paper trail makes it possible to conduct a re-count and fix any mistakes in the machine count.

Answer 7

Are you kidding? Do you think there is no way to create a fraudulent paper trail. Do you remember the Dem who got arrested in FL with a voting machine in his trunk? All it would do is cost tax payers more money and kill some trees.

Answer 8

Oh jeez.....then the politicians and special interest groups can follow you and make sure you vote the right way next time. What the hell are they teaching in school now days?

Answer 9

ABSOLUTELY!
And all voters MUST have photo ID to vote.
ANYONE stating otherwise WANTS voter fraud!
Be very suspicious !
Accuse all who seek otherwise of fraud and sedition.

Answer 10

Paper all the way.