I was an election assistant in a Florida precinct today. My observations:

1) It was a low turn-out. We assume it was because the outcome of the national primaries is pretty much determined by now.

2) Kerry was the overwhelming winner. Mid-eighties in percentages.

3) We had at least three people come in asking for instructions to change their party affiliation to Democrat. At least two of them were previously Republican.

4) I recognized one of the voters that came in today, and I wish I could kick him out of the Democratic party. He is a real weasel and has done everything possible when he was in local office to corrupt the political system for personal gain. He's one of the reasons why I will never trust the Democratic party completely. I wish there was some way to excommunicate these snakes.

5) I was wrong about our precinct having touch screen as I have stated in past discussion. What this Republican county uses is a paper ballot which is marked with a special marker that is then scanned into ballot machine. In otherwords, something more reliable than Diebold.

but at least there is a recount device.

Somebody out there tell PLEASE tell me my vote counted today. PLEASE PLEASE

I did spot a problem. Sorry, but very old people have got to stop being election assistants. It's not so bad when you have one or two in a group, but when all the election assistants in a precint are old, you get problems. From the little I saw, they're not very quick on the draw and they tend to get very short with the voters when they are in unfamiliar territory.

I also overheard one old lady assistant try to make small-talk with a voter and I thought she was condescending and intrusive. Also, the old clerk was too slow to stop a man from walking in carrying a political sign and from stopping someone who wanted to be photographed inside the polling area. The deputy was also old, and should have stopped these activites, but obviously didn't.

...an 80% rejection rate. Technology is not the answer to ballot fraud. Oversight, monitoring and accountability are what are needed to keep the election process honest. :kick: :spank: