The right to elect one ’s public congresswoman is the foundation upon which our republic is built . So if you think Hurricane Sandy is go to stop Americans from choosing the next leader of the free world , ask a recount . Here ’s a spirit at the technology everyone over 18 can expect to obtain in a ballot booth on November 6th , 2012 .
Under normal circumstances — and in every state not recover from stark storm terms — Americans vote using one of four vulgar types of equipment :
ocular Scan Paper Ballot Systems look and work suspiciously like an SAT trial . voter use a pen to fill up in ovals or plug into pointer on the balloting indicating their choice . The voting is then fed into an ocular scanner , either at the polling shoes or at a central counting position , which tabulates the suffrage . And just like the SAT , you ’re going to want to occupy in each response in darkness and completely — no hug drug ’s or moderate marks — to ensure that the machine accurately count your choices .
Direct Recording Electronic ( DRE ) Systems influence much the same way as Optical Scan but substitute the physical newspaper ballot with a touchscreen interface and keyboard for write - ins . DREs store the submitted voting data on a secure flash crusade which is remove after the polls close and send via police ship’s officer to a primal counting station . Since touchscreen voting gimmick are still pretty new - fangled , specially for the AARP vote bloc , these machine offer thorough on - cover instruction . Just labor the on - CRT screen start button and survey the counselling .
Ballot Marking Devices are designed specifically to enfranchise handicapped voters . They operate similarly to DREs , employing a touchscreen user interface and tot up audio / visual aid , but instead of saving the vote onto a trice drive , the BMD mark a forcible ballot . The paper ballot is then optically scan or hand - counted . Yes , hand - count . It ’s an archaic exercise , but many municipality ( I ’m looking at you , New York City ) still consider their ballots by deal , even in presidential election . I mean , pens and eyeballs ? Really ? What is this , 1985 ?
The Punch Card Ballot is the fourth primary type of voting equipment . You might remember these — and their notorious “ hang chad ” from the Presidential clusterfuck election of 2000 . Luckily , the act of counties using these devices has dwindled to just four since that fateful airstream . Unless you live in the boondocks of Idaho , you are in all likelihood never to see one .
In the wake of Sandy , it ’s tough to say exactly what type of technology you ’ll chance in some East Coast vote booths . New York and New Jersey promoted absentee balloting while the elections board assessed damage to polling places .
In the NYC metropolitan surface area , handiness now depends on the borough — you cancheck hereto see if your intend polling position move within the retiring 48 hour . Throughout the metropolis , officials ’ power to operate the normal polling places depends on the condition of the buildings . The Board of Elections has the latest information on theNY BoEorNJ BoEwebsites .
Update : According toNBC News , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has just signed an executive order allowing any New York occupier to vote at any polling shoes . However , voters in Rockland , Westchester , Long Island , and NYC will have to vote in their home precincts to participate in their local races .
[ avow Voting – WNYC ]
Top Image viaBureau of Trade . Optical and BMD image courtesy ofMadison , NY BoE. DRE trope courtesy ofVelvet Revolution . Image of poke card ballots good manners of AP Images
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