After the debacle in 2004 and no evidence that things have been corrected, why should we trust OH?

[samdogmom]

I, for one, don't trust any results from Ohio. I think the vote in this state is tainted in multiple ways! I'm sickened by the amount of importance being placed on this state--when the results are so suspect. In 2004, it was obvious that the vote was stolen easily. So, why should we believe things are fixed and honest now?

In my opinion, nothing has been changed! Yuck, tonight I saw Ken Blackwell (!!!!!) interviewed on MSNBC--does that bring back bad memories or what?

[EFerrari]

1. Well, Ohio has a new and active Secretary of State

who has put in a lot of good reform measures. Some of the criminals have been kicked out of office and a lot of us are watching closely. Ohio is definitely better off today than it was November 2004. Not perfect, but better. fwiw.

[samdogmom]

6. This is good to hear and raises my confidence level a bit!

But what about the machines? Who is watching these things?

[EFerrari]

11. The Secretary of State bounced the touch screens and called for

voting systems that have a paper ballot -- paper ballots or the op-scan systems. OpScan can still be hacked but it can also be audited.

We're trying! :hi:

[samdogmom]

12. Now I'm feeling much better! Thanks!

We have optical scanners in Wisconsin. I participated in a recount and found the system pretty accurate.

Are all counties using a new system? WOW! That had to be expensive! This all happened statewide since 2004?

[EFerrari]

13. I believe the new SOS was elected in 2006. Ohio is in the middle of a sea change.

Hopefully, things will settle down before November.

[samdogmom]

15. Thanks for the info. I'll try to withhold judgment on election results until I have all the facts.

I appreciate your input.

[EFerrari]

17. We still have to organize a big old election protection effort this year.

But at least, we have more Dem Secretaries of State on the same page and at least, we know where to look for the most predictable fraud. :)

[OhioChick]

16. You're Right.

Jennifer Brunner took over Blackwell's job. :)

[EFerrari]

18. If Ohio really gets to vote this year, I'm throwing a party for you all.

:hi:

[Skidmore]

2. I don't trust Ohio or Florida in any election any more.

[OhioBlue]

3. Things have changed

we now have Jennifer Brunner (D) as Secretary of State. She has been working tirelessly to improve the election process in Ohio. I volunteered for her campaign in 2006 and saw her multiple times. She stress fair, honest and open elections. She had a lot of things to work out. It ranged from incompetent BOE employees to poor training programs for poll workers, machines that didn't function properly. She has conducted studies, forced BOEs to replace employees, changed out voting machines in problem areas, and beefed up poll worker training.

Things are much better. We still have a lot of room for improvement, but Jennifer Brunner is heads and shoulders above Blackwell in both integrity and competence.

[samdogmom]

9. But, who checks the machines and verifies their accuracy?

Who programs them? Are the machines tested ahead of time in an open and honest way? Can the public watch the test?

[zonmoy]

4. There is no reason to trust anything about the electoral process.

or anything to do with politics or politicians.

[OhioChick]

5. True.

Ballots With Stubs Removed By Voters Still Valid

CLEVELAND -- Voting problems Tuesday in Ohio -- including confusion over detachable tags on newly required paper ballots and a bogus bomb threat that halted voting -- were minor compared with the long lines and poll worker confusion that plagued parts of the state in the past.

In trouble-prone Cuyahoga County, some people who voted in the primary that could put John McCain over the top and settle a fierce Democratic presidential nomination said they liked the switch to old-fashioned paper ballots because they were easier to fill out.

One glitch emerged in Cleveland, where Ohio's most populous county had just over two months to switch from a touch-screen electronic voting system with security issues to the printed ballots: some voters removed stubs that were meant for poll-worker handling.

The ballots were still valid, and it seemed doubtful stubs would enter the election lore alongside the notorious chads which held up vote-counting in Florida's disputed 2000 presidential election.

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/15491134/detail.html

Wonder if my vote was truly counted this morning?

[L. Coyote]

7. lots of evidence of change

[557188]

8. You don't know anything about Ohio

Seriously shut up already.

[samdogmom]

10. Hmmm. You must know a lot more than me!

So, what don't I know and why should I shut up?

Please explain.

Edited for clarity.

[aquarius dawning]

14. In 2004, we had touch screens, Bob Taft, Tom Noe,and Ken Blackwell

things are different now.

[Berry Cool]

19. There are still touch screens in Ohio, but not in Cuyahoga anymore.

Brunner dumped them all, hang the expense. Good for her.

[aquarius dawning]

21. Same story here in Williams county.

[stillcool]

20. What a difference a..

Secretary of State makes. She has really been out-front about the problems with voting systems. Check out the study she had done:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/info/everest.aspx