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VOTING TECHNOLOGY

Explore the history of voting technology, from paper ballots in the 20th century to the introduction of lever machines, punch card machines, optical scan machines, and touch-screen machines. Learn how the Caltech-MIT Voting Technology Project assesses the reliability of different voting technologies and examines the challenges faced by the U.S. due to long ballots, multiple offices, and the need for rapid counting. Discover how election administration varies across counties and the role of absentee ballots, early voting, and mail-in ballots.

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VOTING TECHNOLOGY

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  1. VOTING TECHNOLOGY • Paper ballots used universally into 20th century • 1930s onwards • new technology available • long (and complex) ballots • Lever machines • e.g., New York, Alabama

  2. VOTING TECHNOLOGY (cont.) • 1950s • Punch cards machines • 1960s • Optical scan machines • 2000s • Touch-screen (“ATM”) machines

  3. Caltech-MIT Voting Technology Project (post-2000) • Assessment of reliability of different voting technologies • Rate of apparently spoiled ballots • undervotes vs. overvotes • does voter get feedback? • Reliability • Paper • Optical touch-screen ??? • Lever • Punch card

  4. Why does U.S have bigger voting technology problems than other countries? • “long ballot” • Multiple offices (plus propositions, etc.) • Overlapping districts • Need rapid counting at precinct level • U.K. vs. typical U.S. election cycle • UK: MP, local councillor [MEP, MSP etc.] • US: President, US Senate, US House, Governor etc.; state Senator; state House; county executive or mayor, county &/or city council, school board, state &/or local judges etc; other offices; bond issues; propositions; initiatives [and primary &/or runoff elections]

  5. Other Issues • Absentee ballots • Early Voting • Mail ballots (Oregon)

  6. Election Administration • Prescribed by state law (with increasing but still secondary federal regulation) • Administered by counties, often with variation from county to county • Episodic tasks, heavily dependent on more or less volunteer labor • Often party organizations are involved • Checks and balances?

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