I believe that there needs to be some kind of change when it comes to voting.
I think I would like to see touch screen with a print out.
I also think the way that people register needs to change.
What do you all think?

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 12:50 pm:

I agree 100%... there are so many issues with our current voting system, and it needs to be uniform, and there needs to be a system of checks and balances with it.

By Tink on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:15 pm:

I would have thought that the problems with the election is 2000 would have triggered some real changes in this part of the system. I am sorry to see that there weren't. We used the fill in the oval type ballots but the touch screens concerned me. There really is no way to make sure that they are correct and I have seen several concerns that the system used could be hacked into and the results changed. If it is this hard to determine accuracy on such an important issue, something should be done.

By Unschoolmom on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:30 pm:

Personally, I think you guys should have a standardized voting system across the country and go with paper ballots. I've worked election days here in Canada a few times and can't imagine how anything could be more efficient and transparent. 'Course I think you should reform your whole darn system and do something more like what we do 'cause I had quite a time trying to make sense of what was going on last night.

Anyhow, you didn't pick the president I hoped you would but congratulations all the same!

By Tink on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:41 pm:

Dawn, I may be packing up and moving up there with you after this election! I really don't understand why a computer screen system has been chosen that doesn't provide any kind of paper evidence that someone can walk away with as proof of their choices. It just seems like common sense after the issues we've had.

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:56 pm:

Yeah, me too Dawn... how's life in Canada? How's the job market for emergency medical services??

By Boxzgrl on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

Definitely need a change! I honestly prefer the paper and pencil ballot since we all learned to fill in the ovals in middle school! If people are going to whine about results, you've gotta treat us like kids, right?

By Cat on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 02:51 pm:

Everything has flaws. I do agree it needs to be tweaked. Especially with this news that my German sil was allowed to register! I wonder how many other non-US citizens were allowed to register and vote??? I don't have anything against it in theory, but I do feel it needs to be all or nothing. I wouldn't have a problem with people who've been living in this country for years and have a vested interest in the election voting. I would have a problem with people that have been in the country for a very short time, or people coming to our country just to vote (American politics are messed up enough as it is!) being allowed to cast votes as to who our elected officals would be. The voting process also needs some tweaks. There is a lot of room for error and possible tampering. I don't have a clue how to fix it though, and hopefully our elected officals will see the flaws and address them.

By Marcia on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 10:56 pm:

It all seems pretty complicated to me, too.
Just fill in the oval, and put it in the box. It's all we've ever done, as far as I know.
Also, you have to be a Canadian citizen to vote. My best friend has lived here for just over 20 years, but has only been able to vote for the past couple, since she got her citizenship.

By Missmudd on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 11:27 pm:

A while back in oregon we had on the ballot to go to an all mail in ballot system. I hated it but it passed, I thought as a citizen I should go to my polling place and show my fellow neighbors that I was voting. I wanted to show my kids how important it was that I was willing to wait it a line to do it. I still hate it but I think that it *would* solve alot of the problems other states have. They mail me a uniform ballot at an address that I am known to live it, I sit at my table and fill in my ballot, no one is there to intimidate me, I dont have to show myself my id. The ballot is fill in the arrows, I stick it in a plain envelope then in a green one that I sign saying I am the person that was addressed on the envelope. I drop it in the mail or at the library in a ballot box. I can vote the day I receive it or election day or anywhere in between.

By Unschoolmom on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 07:31 am:

Palm -I bet you could find a job pretty quick in that!

Cat - I personally think most of us non-Americans around the world did have a vested interest in this election.