We've always had the punch cards, but after the "chad" fiasco last time, we've gone to blackening oval boxes, then a computer reads the votes. It's so strange! Where I grew up (large city), we had actual voting machines, where you pulled a lever to close curtains, then after flipping down little levers to vote, the big lever would register your vote and open the curtains again. My mom always worked at the polling place, and as a child I would play there...I loved looking at all the legs under the curtains! LOL What method do you use?

By Kathy on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 11:32 am:

Having just moved to the area, I never voted here before. Where I grew up, they had the voting machines as well. I even remember the school demonstrating them and you were able to test them as a kid. So I was kind of surprised when I found out that I would be voting this year with paper and a pencil!

By Emily7 on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 11:33 am:

We use the punch card, we have used that system in every election I have voted in (started voting in 1992).

By Colette on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 11:36 am:

We do the blackening of oval boxes too.

By Sunny on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

We use voting machines, but I know other parts of the state use different methods.

By Vicki on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 12:21 pm:

punch card

By Cat on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 12:29 pm:

Black out ovals.

By Kate on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 01:29 pm:

Voting machines.

By Melanie on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 01:33 pm:

We black out the ovals as well.

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 01:36 pm:

black out ovals

By Mommmie on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 01:40 pm:

Early voting used touch screens.
Today's voters are blacking out ovals.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 02:20 pm:

We connect the lines to make an arrow! LOL! The arrows are broken and you use a black marker to connect the line on the ones that you want.

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 02:44 pm:

We had the lever booths. When I voted absentee in the last election, we had the lines connecting the arrows.

By Jelygu on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 03:05 pm:

We have the lines connecting the arrows

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 03:06 pm:

We use voting machines here.

By Kernkate on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 03:11 pm:

Fill in black ovals here to ,thought I was the only one with that...lol. seems so out of date with the the high tech things.

By Kate on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 03:28 pm:

I can't believe how many low tech methods there are! No wonder we had a problem back in 2000!!!! One of the most important decisions our country makes, and people trace arrows and color in ovals and punch cards?!?!?! That's scary!

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 03:36 pm:

It seems strange to me too, I've never voted any other way, other than the voting machine. I guess it all depends on what you're accustomed to, but I agree, no wonder we have problems.

And in the greater New Orleans area, there have been all sorts of problems today with machines not working, people not having the keys to unlock them, etc., and I've already read online of several locations in the nation where machines had a number of votes in them before the polls opened.

I don't think there's such a thing as honest elections/voting anymore, if there ever was, which is doubtful......

By Andi on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 03:48 pm:

I used a Voting Machine a few months ago for one election but this time I colored in the ovals. I like the ovals the best, seems like they can't mess up anything when counting the votes.

By Tunnia on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 04:18 pm:

We have the computer voting machines here. You get a little plastic card and slide it into a slot on the machine and it brings up everything you need to vote for and you touch the screen to check the box you want. When you touch the "cast your ballot" box then it records your votes and your little card pops back out. Very quick and easy.

By Conni on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

We punched cards...

I had a 40 minute wait.

By My2girlygirls on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 04:43 pm:

Computer voting machines here also. You get a card, like a credit card, and then insert it into the machine and then everything is touch screen. It shows you all of the votes you have cast before you touch "Cast Ballot". Easy enough!

By Missmudd on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 04:44 pm:

Mail in ballots, fill in the black arrow, dh finished ballot 2 weeks ago and turned it in. I waited til yesterday and dropped it at the election office.

By Gammiejoan on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 06:37 pm:

Computer touch screens here.

By Katherine on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 06:40 pm:

I just got home from voting and I waited 3 HOURS!!!

We completed the arrows, too. (kinda funny, huh?)

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 09:31 pm:

We used touch screens.

By Pamt on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 10:58 pm:

Touch screens

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 12:46 am:

We use voting machines. There is a flashing light beside each candidate. When you press your choice, the other lights for that race go out so you are sure what you voted for.

It's just amazing to me that for something this important, that our industrialized, computerized country does not have everybody doing it the same way and in a way that is not confusing and is safe.

By My2cuties on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 04:29 am:

Ditto Debbie, only I didn't know what to call it, that is what we used here very quick and very easy, then you push a red button to cast your vote. Interesting I think the last time I voted we did the arrow thing. Interesting!

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 07:13 am:

This year we had computer touch screens. Those are new. Last time it was the voting machines with the lever to open and clost the curtains. And the little levers inside to place your vote.