We're on NPR!
November 7th, 2007
Yesterday we were featured on NPR's WYSO 91.3, in Yellow Springs, Ohio, with an interview by Cynthia Sperberg-Hart. I give a special thanks to her and the rest of the staff there for helping to inform voters about the importance of the secret ballot.
Listen to the interview here.
Today I Voted, and My Ballot Was Secret
November 6th, 2007
Look, I voted!
I asked the pollworkers to not record my order in the pollbook, and they told me that they weren't recording anyone's. I got excited and told them that I was partially responsible, but I'm not sure they understood ;-) For me personally, it was a very symbolic victory.
Today I voted, and my ballot was secret.
This evening, Steve Madsen contacted me again with some great news regarding Powell's decision to not record voter order:
To be fair, it wasn't my idea (though I was going to ask about it) and it was at least county-wide (Delaware). It may have even been state-wide. It's been a long day, but I believe they told us yesterday during presiding judge training that word came down from the Brunner's office Friday that the old poll books were out. Instead, we used a simple list of precinct voters and highlighted them as they came in. While we still used the numbered "authority to vote" slips, the numbers were not recorded anywhere.Ohioans are making it clear the secret ballot is invaluable to them.
I wish all my readers a fruitful and private Election Day.
A Precinct in Powell Wins Voter Anonymity
November 5th, 2007
Steve Madsen emailed me today with this exciting news:
I've been an election judge in Powell [Ohio] for the past couple of elections, and you'll be happy to hear that they've changed their procedures for tomorrow's election. We'll no longer be recording voters in the order they arrive, so vote matching shouldn't be possible this time around.
Although I haven't personally examined the arrangement, it sure looks like a victory for the secret ballot for Powell voters.
Although a a state-wide solution is key, Steve has demonstrated that in the meantime, local election officials and concerned citizens can still work together to make their vote secret in their own communities.