An upside of electronic voting: Voting against electronic voting.

Here in New Jersey, we have electronic voting machines. One broke today as we were going to vote in the New Jersey primary, and the poll worker said something about "not saying anything in front of a voter," as they were discussing the breakdown.

The machine, for what its worth, allows you to write in a "personal choice," and use a keyboard to enter the name.

In our Senate Primary, we have Mendendez, selected by Corzine to fill his unexpired term, and some other fellow on the ballot.

I used the "personal choice" option and wrote in my Congressman, Rush Holt.

Rush Holt has been a leader in the House of Representatives to fight against electronic voting. He's a great congressman, and hell, I want him in the Senate.

My wife used the option as well.

Two primary votes for Holt. I don't care who does and doesn't like it. It's a primary, and involves no possibility of a Repuke in office.

I was rather upset at using these machines but doing the write in thing may be a good way around it.

It seems they were purchased by the Monmouth County election commission in 2005. I didn't hear anything about it at the time.

At this point it was only a primary and an uncontested one at that. I'll think I'll ask for an absentee ballot for the general election at this rate. Seriously, with just a stupid piece of paper over the touch screen I could have been voting for Mickey Mouse instead of Rush Holt.

...when there is a chance for a write in, write in something like Paper Trail, No to e-voting, etc.

I want Rush Holt in the Senate. Many people who are his constituents feel the same way. He has integrity, and decency, and as a prominent physicist, he is known for his high intelligence.

I figure - if the voting machine isn't hooked up to a septic system somewhere - that is if my vote is actually registered, the appearance of Mr. Holt's name will enhance any chance of him being advanced to the Senate that may exist.

I don't want an abstraction in the Senate. I am tired of stupidity and abstractions.

We live in a representative democracy - which in my view is a good thing. Direct democracy sucks, as most people who have dealt with the California initiative process can easily understand. People are stupid and left to their own devices, are easily stumble into tragedy. James Madison knew it. Alexander Hamilton knew it. George Washington knew it, and I know it. If you think about it, the collapse of the US Constitution in modern times is precisely the result of sound bite thinking, the sort of thinking that puts issues as two or three word statements on ballots.

Rush Holt thinks clearly. I don't agree with him on some things, but I am not a one issue voter. One issue voting is exactly what the fuck is wrong with this country. I don't want a government run by people who parrot whatever it is what they think I want to hear. I want to be led by people who are better and smarter than I am. For me, Dr. Holt is just such a person.

The very fact that you voted on an electronic machine without protest means you gave up. You have given into the bastards that have stole millions of votes using those machines.

You don't believe me? Well educate yourself. Look into it, and then get back to me.

Because what you want got lost on that machine.