[EM] Voting machines

[Blake Cretney]

Here's an interesting way of looking at the recent American
Presidential election.  Most Americans votes are tabulated by
machines.  The two most common types, according to Time magazine (Nov
27, 2000) are punch card reader 34% and optical scanner 27%.

Punch cards are the famous "hanging chad" style.  You line up a card
of punch holes with the names of the candidates and punch out the
corresponding hole.  However, voting machines tend to reject a lot of
votes.  As well, this results in more voting errors due to the need
for correctly lining up the two cards (apparently especially by the
elderly).

For the optical scanner you fill in a small circle by the candidate's
name, using a pencil.  Since there is no need to line up two cards,
there is less voter error.  If the voter notices an error, they may
simply erase the bubble, rather than having to ask for a new card.  As
well, there is less machine error.

Now, it's pretty clear that a district using an optical scanner is
doing better for its residents than one using punch cards.  More votes
will be accurately counted for the intended candidate.  This
difference could actually decide the winner in a close election.

Punch cards have one advantage, price.  Since in the US, the
districts buy their own machines, richer districts can afford top-of
the line, first class democracy.  So, in the US, voting power is
partly tied to wealth.  This helps out the Republicans, and is quite
possible the reason that George W. Bush is now President Elect. 
Luckily, Presidential elections are usually not this close.

---
Blake Cretney