This is a big issue. The trust of the American people
in the “democratic” process fundamentally depends on the transparency
of that process. We have to believe that our vote counts, because
without that belief, the system will grind to a halt. After the 2000
Presidential Election, the public is rightfully concerned about the
validity of its vote. There are those who feel the Supreme Court
severely overstepped its Constitutional bounds and virtually
appointed a President. There are others who simply don’t believe in the
integrity of the process as it stands. With these concerns weighing so
heavily on our collective consciousness, we should already have seen a
universal outcry against the fatally flawed electronic voting machines
which have time and again demonstrated their lack of fitness for their
intended purpose. Not only do the manufacturers of the machines operate
in secrecy, but so do the companies entrusted with their oversight.
This can not be allowed to go on.

These fine folks are among
several groups loudly campaigning for the open-sourcing and
transparency of the electronic voting process. The common thread among
such groups, to which we should all tie ourselves, is the need for a
permanent election record. Under no circumstances should any voter
allow herself to be trapped into using a machine with no printed
record. As we all saw four years ago, the paper record of a vote is an
invaluable tool for ensuring the fairness and accuracy of an election,
even when that tool is not fully utilized. Toward this end, legislation
is being sought to require a tangible trail of electoral paperwork. I’d
like to join my voice to the chorus urging every conscientious voter to
seek out his or her representatives and pin them down on this issue. This is
too important to leave to Congress.

Last, a piece of practical advice for those who won’t trust their
vote to current e-voting technology. The absentee ballot: Here is a list of general guidelines by state.
You should be able to register for an absentee ballot at your local
post office, though for most states, online registration is available
here. I encourage those of you who will be
registering for an absentee ballot to very clearly state your refusal
to use unproven e-voting machines.

For anybody who’s never voted absentee before, here’s the general
rundown from a guy who lives in the middle of nowhere, California, and
has no other option. You’ll receive a paper ballot card by mail shortly
before the election. You punch out the little holes with a pencil or
some such implement. Make sure the holes are completely punched out and
there is no debris clogging the hole. No, that wasn’t a joke. Then you
can either mail in your ballot with the enclosed envelope, or you can
take it in to the polling place on election day and drop it in the
hopper. It’s a satisfying feeling, so that’s how I do it every year.
This method will ensure that your vote is indeed counted, though it
will be counted a little later. As any election watcher knows, the
absentee ballots are the last to be counted, since they roll in later
than those from the polling places. Keep your little stub, as well.
It’s a reassuring piece of evidence that you did, in fact, vote. Many
voters will be given no such assurance come November. Wouldn’t it be
nice if the majority of the country voted absentee this year? That
would certainly put the kibosh on the obnoxious network news channels’
insistence upon calling a winner before the official count is in.