Benefits of Paper Ballots

Ask any computer professional which voting system is best. We expect that almost all will tell you that paper balloting is the way to go.
Here are common-sense benefits of paper ballots:

• A paper ballot is a real thing which can be observed.
• A paper ballot cannot be filled out in advance.
• A paper ballot can be inspected to be blank.
• The ballot box can be watched by the average person.
• Election observers can see the entire process.
• Paper ballots give the public confidence in the election results.
• Paper ballots improve voter turnout
• Paper ballots can be counted by hand.
• Paper ballots can be recounted by hand.
• Paper ballots are cheap.
• Pencils are cheap.
• Paper ballots do not malfunction.
• Paper ballots require no trained technicians.
• Every voter is comfortable with a paper and pencil.
• Voting with paper is fast.
• Fifty voters can fill out their paper ballots at the same time. Or, even a hundred!
• Long lines can be eliminated.
• Suppression of voter turnout can be stopped.
• The voting station is a table and chair.
• The voting station is cheap.
• Paper ballots can be counted by machine.
• Paper ballots can be re-counted by machine.
• Paper ballots can be re-counted by different machines.
• Machine counting can be compared to hand-counting.
• Training of election workers is easy.
• Transport of polling equipment is easy.
• Set-up of each polling place is easy.
• Cost of storing voting equipment in a warehouse is almost zero.

The Miami Story

Miami-Dade County officials are unhappy with computer voting. The solution is paper ballots, they recommend. It is almost unthinkable that computerized voting ever got adopted in the first place. There are many show-stopping negatives. The voting process should give you the basic respect you deserve.

Have you heard about lines that make you wait 6 or 10 hours to vote? How many voters with children or senior citizens saw the line and just went home? Those lines are caused by machine voting. Let your county officials know that you oppose the use of voting machines. Equally important, you the voter cannot ever have confidence in the result . . especially in a close election. The Sun-Sentinel reports . . .

Election Chief Wants Switch to Paper Ballots.
Independent Audit is Critical.
Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition.