I generally agree with the statement about personal accountability regarding
making sure you voted correctly, yet let me add this:

In the area of Florida I voted, once the punch card is inserted into the
slot and you punch through the pinhole for a candidate, it is almost
impossible to see thru the mechanism to tell which hole has been punched, or
if any holes had been punched period.  After I went through the voting, the
only surefire way I could go back and "check my work" was to punch thru each
of my choices again to be sure.

Putting the issue of the invalid double-punched ballots aside, what about
the issue of the FL voters who registered legally and timely through the DMV
(Department of Motor Vehicles) yet were turned away at the polls due to a
screw-up at the DMV?  I had only heard sketchy details and have no idea how
many voters this affected.

Curt Cappell
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Simpkins, Terry
> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 9:53 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: Anatomy of a screw-up
>
>
> I'm sorry but I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who claims
> 1) that ballot was "confusing", or
> 2) voted for two people for President
>
> I have used ballots like that for years in Ohio and the arrow clearly
> directs
> where you are to punch.
> If you think you have voted incorrectly, or if you have a
> question, it is
> YOUR
> responsiblity to ask for help.  If you are too embarrised to
> ask for help,
> then
> you bear the responsibility for your mistake.
> This is just one more example of the loss of personal
> accountability in the
> country.
> No one wants to be held accountable for their actions (or
> lack there of).
>
> The proper/fair course of action is:
> - correctly completed ballots stand as is.  You punched it,
> you live with
> it.
> - ballots with two punches for President are invalid and not counted.
>
> No re-votes, no "do overs"!   (the boat has left)
>
> Maybe this will drive home two important lessons for voters
> across America
> 1) PAY ATTENTION, you are responsible for what you do
> 2) every vote counts
>
> ///////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> Terry W. Simpkins
> [log in to unmask]
> \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////
>