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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Joinfortmill

(14,135 posts)
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 08:51 AM Feb 2020

Voted in SC Democratic Primary this morning

A couple of things to note. Initially, they couldn't find me in the database. I had verified my name was listed before I went to the polls, so I knew I was in the database. They asked me for my voter registration card, which, thankfully, I brought with me along with my passport, in case there was an issue. They did finally locate me on the database and I continued to the voting machine. SC has new voting machines with a paper backup, so it's a two-part voting experience. At the first machine, you enter a voting card, make a choice from a list end print the card out. All straight forward, right? Well, not exactly. The names aren't in alphabetical order by last name. So, Biden isn't first on the list, Bernie is. WTF? If you're voting in SC pay attention. You can go back and make a change, which I did. Once you make your choice, print out the card and verify who you voted for. Next you bring the "paper ballot" to a scanning machine, which scans your vote and keeps the "paper ballot". That's it. Not too bad, but you will still need to stay alert.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Voted in SC Democratic Primary this morning (Original Post) Joinfortmill Feb 2020 OP
Ballots are randomized. gredinger Feb 2020 #1
In Texas there is a drawing for ballot order in the primary Gothmog Feb 2020 #12
That is correct for Texas, and each county has their own drawing yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #17
good for them yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #18
In our county in Indiana names are not in same order at each voting location. LiberalFighter Feb 2020 #19
now that is complicated!!! yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #27
Why would Sanders be listed first?? honest.abe Feb 2020 #2
??? gredinger Feb 2020 #4
That was what I was suspecting. honest.abe Feb 2020 #8
probably the random order is done at the county level yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #21
Many states have randomized listings for the names of candidates. Sloumeau Feb 2020 #3
Perhaps name position on the ballot is determined by lot? vlyons Feb 2020 #5
That is what True Blue American Feb 2020 #6
same here in Texas nt yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #22
I'm in SC and will be voting for Joe this morning. Laurian Feb 2020 #7
Laurian, thanks a bunch in advance! :) nt Sloumeau Feb 2020 #11
New Mexico has a Pre-Primary Convention duhneece Feb 2020 #9
we do this after the primary. I think it is March 21 this year yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #23
Mail in ballot in California . . . Iliyah Feb 2020 #10
My mail in ballot had them all on the same page. MrsCoffee Feb 2020 #16
Always bring your voting card onetexan Feb 2020 #13
the voter registration card is very helpful if you are yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #24
I voted in the SC Democratic primary on Thursday .. DemoTex Feb 2020 #14
and I thought Texas was crazy yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #25
Elizabeth Warren was at the very bottom of my ballot in Minnesota. warmfeet Feb 2020 #15
You didn't indicate why they had a problem finding you. LiberalFighter Feb 2020 #20
when that happens here, we call Elections Central yellowdogintexas Feb 2020 #26
California isn't alphbetical order either still_one Feb 2020 #28
I am undecided Frances Feb 2020 #29
I am voting for Biden for a lot reasons. The two main ones are his experience, and I becuse I still_one Feb 2020 #30
 

gredinger

(86 posts)
1. Ballots are randomized.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 08:53 AM
Feb 2020

Why would it be in alphabetic order? Seems like it'd be worth a name change to be at the top of a ballot.

As far as I know, ballots have always been randomized order (per ballot).

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Gothmog

(143,654 posts)
12. In Texas there is a drawing for ballot order in the primary
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:16 AM
Feb 2020

For the general election the party who holds the governor Is first. The state party is suing to change this law

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
17. That is correct for Texas, and each county has their own drawing
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:45 AM
Feb 2020

Here in Tarrant, we have it at the CDEC meeting, with most of the precinct chairs in attendance. The county chair conducts the draw, and there is a hat or bowl with numbered slips. For example, in our US Senate race, we have 12 candidates, so there will be an envelope with numbers 1-12 and each candidate (or a representative) will draw. That will be the ballot order.

Each contested office is handled the same way. It is a lot of fun because there are always supporters in the crowd and there is lots of cheering etc. Some of the candidates will make funny comments when they do their draw.

I have not attended a ballot draw in a presidential year, so it is possible that for the presidential line, the State Democratic Executive Committee does the draw so that all ballots in the state have the same order. I shall have to ask my county chair about that

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
18. good for them
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:48 AM
Feb 2020

Gothmog, do you know the answer to my question below?
I know that we draw at the CDEC for the Congressional, Legislative, county wide votes. Does the SDEC do the draw for all the statewide offices, so that every ballot shows the same order across the state?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

LiberalFighter

(50,343 posts)
19. In our county in Indiana names are not in same order at each voting location.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:59 AM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
27. now that is complicated!!!
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:30 AM
Feb 2020

Our system could never do that. It sort of gives me a headache to think each precinct has its own ballot order.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

honest.abe

(8,547 posts)
2. Why would Sanders be listed first??
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 08:53 AM
Feb 2020

That makes zero sense unless they have random list order for each voter.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

gredinger

(86 posts)
4. ???
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:04 AM
Feb 2020

That's what I said. It's random *per* ballot.

So, each ballot is in random order. For someone else, they'd probably have Biden first.

Why not actually read the names instead of just checking boxes?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

honest.abe

(8,547 posts)
8. That was what I was suspecting.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:19 AM
Feb 2020

It would be good to hear from others voting in SC to confirm that is the case.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
21. probably the random order is done at the county level
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:03 AM
Feb 2020

I know our machines are not designed to resort the ballot every time someone else comes up to vote. Our check-in generates a barcode which is scanned to produce an access code. The voter uses that code to open the voting machine, the proper ballot for their precinct displays and the voter uses the touch screen to make his/her choices. When the voter decides everything is the way he/she wants it to be, the voter prints the ballot and takes it to a scanner which is where it is actually counted.

The machine that assigns the code has no memory and that bar code only contains the precinct and the ballot form numbers. so the right ballot comes up. The actual voting machines have no memory either.

The scanner has memory; we print a ton of tapes when we close which show the totals, and that all goes to Election Central with the scanner and the ballots.

It is pretty slick but definitely not designed to give every voter a randomly sorted ballot.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Sloumeau

(2,657 posts)
3. Many states have randomized listings for the names of candidates.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 08:58 AM
Feb 2020

There is a reason why there used to be so many businesses named "AAA" in the phone book. It is because people used to just pick the first name that they saw. This is why so many states randomize the listings. I live in Arizona. The state randomizes names. Biden was at the bottom of a bunch of names.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

vlyons

(10,252 posts)
5. Perhaps name position on the ballot is determined by lot?
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:05 AM
Feb 2020

nt

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Laurian

(2,593 posts)
7. I'm in SC and will be voting for Joe this morning.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:09 AM
Feb 2020

Thanks for the helpful information.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Sloumeau

(2,657 posts)
11. Laurian, thanks a bunch in advance! :) nt
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:43 AM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

duhneece

(4,093 posts)
9. New Mexico has a Pre-Primary Convention
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:36 AM
Feb 2020

Each county elects delegates to go to the Democratic (or R) convention to vote for their candidate. A candidate must get at least 15% (or maybe it’s 20%). Whoever gets the most votes is listed first on ballots at the primary....not until June.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
23. we do this after the primary. I think it is March 21 this year
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:12 AM
Feb 2020

We do a bunch of other things as well, all part of the runup to the state convention, like preparing and approving the resolutions which go to the state convention and help form the platform at the national.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
10. Mail in ballot in California . . .
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 09:43 AM
Feb 2020

has all the presidential candidates listed, even the ones that dropped out and VP Biden is on the back page.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

MrsCoffee

(5,801 posts)
16. My mail in ballot had them all on the same page.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:38 AM
Feb 2020

I’m near San Francisco.

But yeah, I was surprised to see all the names on there. A couple I didn’t even recognize.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

onetexan

(12,971 posts)
13. Always bring your voting card
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:24 AM
Feb 2020

These cheaters will do everything & anything to discourage people from voting.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
24. the voter registration card is very helpful if you are
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:17 AM
Feb 2020

at the wrong voting location for your precinct. The judges have a list and can tell right away where you should go to vote.

We now have this absolutely wonderful thing called voting centers! All of our existing precinct voting locations are now called voting centers, and since we can generate a ballot based on your precinct # you can vote anywhere in the county! No more arriving at 5 til 7 only to find out you need to be across the county. It is so nice.

If the difference is due to an address change, we can fix that right there.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DemoTex

(25,334 posts)
14. I voted in the SC Democratic primary on Thursday ..
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:35 AM
Feb 2020

Early voting (they refuse to call it that) is at the city/county office complex in Greenville. It took me 45 minutes to vote in the Democratic primary.

There was also voting for a sheriff's runoff election, which threw in an element of confusion. But they would alow you to vote in only one election at a time. After voting in one, you could get back in line and go back through (show ID, etc) and vote in the other election. After I finished voting in the Democratic primary, I decided to come back next week to vote in the sheriff election. Early voting turnout for that election next week will be very, very light.

My early voting experience went well. I have voted in several elections now where the paper ballot backup is used. The only difference that I can tell from Joinfortmill's experience is at the very end: in Greenville County the paper ballots are scanned, then returned to the voter to be placed by the voter in a locked ballot box.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
25. and I thought Texas was crazy
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:22 AM
Feb 2020

at least all of our candidates are on one ballot in one election. Sheriff, County Commissioners, JP, Constable are all primaried at the same time as the Lege, Congress, president, etc
Geez Loueez we have enough trouble getting folks to vote as it is without throwing all the county votes into a separate ballot.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

warmfeet

(3,321 posts)
15. Elizabeth Warren was at the very bottom of my ballot in Minnesota.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 10:36 AM
Feb 2020

Not sure if the ballots are randomized here.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

LiberalFighter

(50,343 posts)
20. You didn't indicate why they had a problem finding you.
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:01 AM
Feb 2020

It may be worthwhile to contact your county Democratic Party and let them know and even the local Election Board so they know what to do.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
26. when that happens here, we call Elections Central
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:25 AM
Feb 2020

and usually they can locate the voter.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

still_one

(91,807 posts)
28. California isn't alphbetical order either
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:45 AM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Frances

(8,519 posts)
29. I am undecided
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 11:58 AM
Feb 2020

Why did you choose Biden?
Like most DUers, I will vote for a tomato before I vote for Trump
I worry that while Joe is a decent guy and I value decency, he won’t generate excitement
But now I hear he’s thinking of Kamala Harris as a running mate
What do you think of that possibility?
By the way, am I breaking any rules by asking this question?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

still_one

(91,807 posts)
30. I am voting for Biden for a lot reasons. The two main ones are his experience, and I becuse I
Sat Feb 29, 2020, 12:07 PM
Feb 2020

Believe he has the best chance to win the general election

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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