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[Kyne]

In Texas, standing behind an older white fellow and an older Hispanic lady. Both voting Hilary.

Feels good.

 

[NeOak]

Na I'm pretty sure I know what happened, it's a combination of the type of voting machine not being super intuitive and user error.

You use the turning wheel thingy to select who you want to vote for. I can see not tech-savy people fucking up and switching their vote accidentally while trying to move to the next page.

Austin confirmed worst Texas city because of traffic and that abomination.

No, machines can vary according to the county. So those aren't the ones everywhere. Just your county most likely.

 

[Zoe]

The worst thing about electronic voting machines (and the old mechanical machines before them) is that they limit the number of people that can vote at any one time. With optical scan paper ballots, you can (and I have) vote on any flat surface.

They're still going to set up private space for everyone.

 

[OdysseusVA]

Is that made for Ants?

In NJ we have these behemoths
http://www.redbankgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/photos/2008/11/03/voting_booth.jpg[/im]

Almost impossible to not see what you did.[/QUOTE]

I guess it could look small for some but I believe the screen is about 15" diagonally (maybe larger). Worked well enough when I used it for the primaries

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Na I'm pretty sure I know what happened, it's a combination of the type of voting machine not being super intuitive and user error.

You use the turning wheel thingy to select who you want to vote for. I can see not tech-savy people fucking up and switching their vote accidentally while trying to move to the next page.

What in the fucking hell is that thing? What's wrong with pen/pencil and paper?

 

[Meier]

What in the fucking hell is that thing? What's wrong with pen/pencil and paper?

Well, with this thing you just turn the scroll wheel to a selection and hit enter to select "party ticket" and immediately see all your selections filled in. You flip through the pages with previous/next and then can scroll to individual races if you want to change your vote or whatever. I don't know if I've ever voted with a pen and paper to be honest. I assume it is a much slower process though if you're bubbling in like 30-40 things.

 

[SoRuffShoNuff]

Na I'm pretty sure I know what happened, it's a combination of the type of voting machine not being super intuitive and user error.

You use the turning wheel thingy to select who you want to vote for. I can see not tech-savy people fucking up and switching their vote accidentally while trying to move to the next page.

Why would any county choose that voting machine? The one i voted on was basically a touch screen computer.

 

[SerArthurDayne]

What in the fucking hell is that thing? What's wrong with pen/pencil and paper?

It's pretty bad. But other than realizing that you spin with the wheel and click with the enter button it isn't difficult. Also you have to continue to each page by scrolling after you press enter and your selection is indicated, and a final page displays all selections and requires you to verify and go back. So while it isn't super intuitive, it takes about 30 seconds to master and is fairly foolproof.

Yes, touch screen would be much better. But counties are cheap and it still works.

 

[this_guy]

The worst thing about electronic voting machines (and the old mechanical machines before them) is that they limit the number of people that can vote at any one time. With optical scan paper ballots, you can (and I have) vote on any flat surface.

At my voting location, there were 40 electronic voting machines, but only 3 people to check registered voters in. So at any one time maybe 20%-30% of the voting machines were being used and thus the reason for the lines.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Well, with this thing you just turn the scroll wheel to a selection and hit enter to select "party ticket" and immediately see all your selections filled in. You flip through the pages with previous/next and then can scroll to individual races if you want to change your vote or whatever. I don't know if I've ever voted with a pen and paper to be honest. I assume it is a much slower process though if you're bubbling in like 30-40 things.

It's pretty bad. But other than realizing that you spin with the wheel and click with the enter button it isn't difficult. Also you have to continue to each page by scrolling after you press enter and your selection is indicated, and a final page displays all selections and requires you to verify and go back. So while it isn't super intuitive, it takes about 30 seconds to master and is fairly foolproof.

Yes, touch screen would be much better. But counties are cheap and it still works.

Asking non-tech savvy people to learn a UI in 60 seconds is an easy way to promote mistakes. Have we already forgotten why the Wii and iPhone took off? Old people don't have time for this nonsense.

 

[Meier]

Asking non-tech savvy people to learn a UI in 60 seconds is an easy way to promote mistakes. Have we already forgotten why the Wii and iPhone took off? Old people don't have time for this nonsense.

Dunno what to tell you. It's been in use here in Austin for many years now. I've never heard any complaints personally.

 

[Mr_Antimatter]

Austin confirmed worst Texas city because of traffic and that abomination.

No, machines can vary according to the county. So those aren't the ones everywhere. Just your county most likely.

I voted in new counties in the past, both used that particular machine.

 

[Leunam]

In line to vote early in Harris County. Not a bad line and moving pretty steadily. Might even have time to squeeze in lunch still.

 

[Piggus]

What in the fucking hell is that thing? What's wrong with pen/pencil and paper?

Pencil, paper, and the comfort of your own home. No turdbag "poll watchers" or waiting in line, and as much time as you need to research candidates and ballot measures.

 

[Zoe]

Why would any county choose that voting machine? The one i voted on was basically a touch screen computer.

Touchscreens are prone to fat-fingering and calibration issues, as we've seen with these "vote-changing" accusations.

It's pretty bad. But other than realizing that you spin with the wheel and click with the enter button it isn't difficult. Also you have to continue to each page by scrolling after you press enter and your selection is indicated, and a final page displays all selections and requires you to verify and go back. So while it isn't super intuitive, it takes about 30 seconds to master and is fairly foolproof.

Yes, touch screen would be much better. But counties are cheap and it still works.

You don't have to scroll through each selection. You can just hit the next button.

I've been voting on those machines for 16 years. Don't knock it till you try it!

 

[drspeedy]

Pencil, paper, and the comfort of your own home. No turdbag "poll watchers" or waiting in line, and as much time as you need to research candidates and ballot measures.

I'm officially stealing turdbag. That's gonna be my Switch account user name, Turdbag2016

 

[pokeystaples]

Harris county. Also Galveston county. Old people showing up in droves. It's not a good thing. I personally don't think Trump stands a chance, but people are seriously deluding themselves if they think Texas is going to make any progress turning blue this year.

I'm in Harris County as well. Live in the med center and work downtown. Harris County went blue in 2012 so it would not surprise me if it went blue again. The rest of the state is up for grabs, but definitely would not surprise me if Harris went blue again.

 

[Version 3.0]

I hear this shit every time there's a major election. You'd think people would get more creative.

Or the rest of the dumbass country could just join us (Colorado, Oregon, Washington) in having all mail in ballots.

That may be, but this election there's so much talk of "rigging" that these reports could get more attention and do more damage.

And, of course, it was only a matter of time before Trump started parroting it, since he's always on the phone with Hannity:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1301423

A major party candidate putting every little shitty conspiracy theory on the national stage is not something that happens every election.

 

[Squirrel Killer]

They're still going to set up private space for everyone.

Sure, but there's no law that says you, as a voter, have to wait for them. When I voted on a wall, it was because all the private spaces (cheap corrugated plastic screens) were all occupied.

At my voting location, there were 40 electronic voting machines, but only 3 people to check registered voters in. So at any one time maybe 20%-30% of the voting machines were being used and thus the reason for the lines.

That's great that your polling location had enough voting machines, sounds like your election officials have just moved the bottleneck. They should fix that, however, there are plenty of other reasons to move away from electronic voting machines.

 

[SoRuffShoNuff]

Touchscreens are prone to fat-fingering and calibration issues, as we've seen with these "vote-changing" accusations.

The touchscreen machines I have used have giant fonts. I could use three fingers to make a selection and I still wouldn't come close to selecting the wrong candidate.

 

[Zoggy]

I'm officially stealing turdbag. That's gonna be my Switch account user name, Turdbag2016

Trump will sue you for stealing his image

 

[mugurumakensei]

Voted today in Carrollton. Did my part and voted CK over Toilet Paper ticket .

 

[The_Inquisitor]

Just finished early voting in Dallas. Was in and out in under 15 minutes.

 

[Anton Sugar]

Voting in Austin tomorrow morning!

 

[Applesauce]

WTF is this shit?

you guys vote like that?

That's the voting machine I used in Harris County, it really is pretty easy to do esp. if you vote straight ticket. Even if you go box by box you will literally only be using 3 or 4 buttons. It took me all of 2 minutes. I mean yeah there are probably better designs out there but this machine isn't difficult to use.

 

[RumblingRosco]

Pencil, paper, and the comfort of your own home. No turdbag "poll watchers" or waiting in line, and as much time as you need to research candidates and ballot measures.

Yep, nothing beats filling out a ballot in your own home. There's still time to request mail-in ballots in my state even, so I bet you can in quite a few states.

 

[Lebron]

It's always a damn line when you go to early vote here in Houston. Never seen that before, so I'm not surprised.

 

[Random Painted HIghway]

Na I'm pretty sure I know what happened, it's a combination of the type of voting machine not being super intuitive and user error.

You use the turning wheel thingy to select who you want to vote for. I can see not tech-savy people fucking up and switching their vote accidentally while trying to move to the next page.

This plus people who usually straight ticket are going back and unvoting for someone at the top, either trump or the da (more unpopular with churchgoers than even trump is) here in Harris co. And things are getting unclicked unexpectedly.

 

[Jarmel]

Democrats thinking Texas is going blue are the equivalent of Republicans thinking Pennsylvania is going red.

 

[Nosgotham]

Harris county. Also Galveston county. Old people showing up in droves. It's not a good thing. I personally don't think Trump stands a chance, but people are seriously deluding themselves if they think Texas is going to make any progress turning blue this year.

it's not a good thing that people vote? regardless if you agree with their choice, everyone voting is always a good thing

 

[Chumly]

Any updated numbers?

 

[Cerium]

Democrats thinking Texas is going blue are the equivalent of Republicans thinking Pennsylvania is going red.

Not the same thing, because Democrats have not built a serious strategy that requires Texas.

 

[stanis]

i did early voting yesterday...why the hell are trump and pence 1st on the ballot.

C comes before T

RIGGED!!!

nah but seriously i went after work yesterday, line was crazy long, its great seeing people going out there to vote.

vote down ballot as well people!!!

 

[Luschient]

Voted today in Carrollton. Did my part and voted CK over Toilet Paper ticket .

Hello neighbor!

Planning on voting today before lunch, the line at the library where the voting station is set up has been insane all week, no matter what time of day.

 

[my name is ed]

In line to vote today in Travis County

1.5 hr wait 😅

Democrats thinking Texas is going blue are the equivalent of Republicans thinking Pennsylvania is going red.

Texas is currently closer to going blue than Pennsylvania is to going red according to polling data. Given the general lack of good polling when it comes to the hispanic population combined with that same population's increased share as part of the voting population in addition to the number of legal residents attaining citizenship to specifically vote in this election and added with the deep dislike for Trump from those same growing minorities give it a chance to flip that you would have to be dumb to dismiss.

I mean, seriously, there's a lot working against the Republican nominee in Texas. No one is guaranteeing Texas will flip but there's a damn good chance we could see double digit drop in support for the republican nominee this election cycle.

 

[Hazmat]

What in the fucking hell is that thing? What's wrong with pen/pencil and paper?

Those machines do suck, but where I live (North Austin, Williamson County) they also have paper ballots, or they did in 2012. I just use whichever is available when I get to the front of the line.

 

[Zoe]

Any updated numbers?

Just have this for Travis County:

Travis County Early Voting - Day 4 
*********** Day 4 - Total - Percent
2008----- 23,191 - 108,266 - 17.7%
2012----- 8,918 - 74,809 - 11.7%
2016*---- 34,277 - 154,232 - 21.6%
*Includes 1,447 Mail ballots received today.

Slightly lower than Wednesday but still a record 4th day voter turnout and almost the exact same pattern from 2008. The question continues to be are more people voting earlier or are more people voting?

 

[onadesertedisland]

The voting machines are terrible. The touch screen is shit, the display is worse. I don't understand how this thing got sold to our government (just kidding I know exactly how...)

 

[Lupercal]

All those extra voters turning up to ensure a woman doesn't get to lead.

 

[Maxim726X]

Any estimates on which way most of these early votes are going?

Exit polling, maybe?

 

[rjinaz]

Not the same thing, because Democrats have not built a serious strategy that requires Texas.

Exactly. There is certainly not a history of Democrats actually seriously eyeing Texas and pursuing it. This election is an exception and even now not much work was put into it.

I agree with the sentiment though, it seems just as unlikely it will flip.

 

[BoosterDuck]

you can thank Trump and his goon squad for firing up everyone to get out there and make a stand

 

[PillarEN]

you can thank Trump and his goon squad for firing up everyone to make a stand

On which side? Both?

 

[BoosterDuck]

On which side? Both?

yep

 

[Kaleinc]

Any other country has early voting?

 

[Transistor]

Did my early voting this week. Took maybe 15 minutes in line. Montgomery County, here. Stood in front of two old white people who were quoting Rush Limbaugh and behind a black guy who was just laughing and shaking his head at anything they said.

 

[PillarEN]

Gotta say it's pretty nuts that it takes so long to vote in some areas. I only voted once in my home country for the presidency (not important. We just have a drunk who represents us around the world but doesn't do anything key) and I just dropped by a school for 5 minutes and was done. Can't vote in the States as I'm not a citizen but I always imagined there would be a bunch of nearby stations (at schools, libraries) or at least a place in each county where you could go vote within 30 minutes or less of arriving there.

 

[onadesertedisland]

I've had a few problems with voting this year in Texas. First was a notice that my registration, which has been fine for years, was deemed ineligible because my voter ID card did not include my middle name. After fixing that, I go to early vote and the registration stickers printed blank. A voting staffer fixed this, but I wonder if having to reprint this puts my ballot on some sort of contingency roster? Never had problems before.

 

[Transistor]

Gotta say it's pretty nuts that it takes so long to vote in some areas. I only voted once in my home country for the presidency (not important. We just have a drunk who represents us around the world but doesn't do anything key) and I just dropped by a school for 5 minutes and was done. Can't vote in the States as I'm not a citizen but I always imagined there would be a bunch of nearby stations (at schools, libraries) or at least a place in each county where you could go vote within 30 minutes or less of arriving there.

Election day generally has much more local voting stations. Early voting has far fewer, so you have to travel more. If I waited until election day, it would have been at the fire station about 1/2 mile away

 

[AndyD]

Gotta say it's pretty nuts that it takes so long to vote in some areas. I only voted once in my home country for the presidency (not important. We just have a drunk who represents us around the world but doesn't do anything key) and I just dropped by a school for 5 minutes and was done. Can't vote in the States as I'm not a citizen but I always imagined there would be a bunch of nearby stations (at schools, libraries) or at least a place in each county where you could go vote within 30 minutes or less of arriving there.

Early voting is in limited locations but you can vote at whichever you want (on the way to work or near shoping for example). Voting day voting is generally in far more places but you can only vote at your assigned precinct (close to home).