Arkansas Blog

Be sure to vote early and often!

Gee Max. no word about the debate last night? or why ol asa or mike didnt show up?

You afraid its going to take votes away from your boy?

Dang Archy,

I was going to say that early and often thing.

I recommend the early voters take a tip from the old Perry Mason show. In every episode, prosecutor Hamilton Burger made his identifying mark on all evidence.

With neo-con crooks at large, early voters might make an identifying mark on their ballot so they'll know it when they see it and can testify in court later.

Maybe every Democratic voter should come out and make a mark on the side of the building with a water-proof magic marker so we'll know something's up with the Republicans win by a landslide.

I expect to find Jennifer Flowers under my bed more than I expect an honest election this time around. Be vigilant! Be on guard! Be ugly if you suspect foul play!

JRM,

Max isn't running the blog right now. He's gone to NY, if I remember correctly. Sabin is on deck for this article, in case you can't read the small print @ the bottom....... unless you were just generally baiting Max.

I noticed volunteers with signs for Mark Stodola and B. Graves across from the courthouse today. Where were the Walker and Mason signs?

Once again, great coverage on the debate last night on AETN! You guys are top notch! Wait, no memtion? As I recall you had numerous posts cavering the other three private debates. Oh, well. I guess now is as a good time as any to seek real reporting elsewhere.

I voted early here is how I voted. this is the first time in my life I've not voted a straight Democratic Ticket let that be a (LESSON) to the DEM's/DINO"S , who bash my community.then expect us to vote for them not this Gay GUY. never again .

U.S.Congress District 2 , Congressman Victor Snyder (democrat)
Governor Arkansas, JIM LENDALL (Green Party)
LT GOV , Bill Halter (democrat)
Sec of State , Charlie Daniels (democrat)
State Treasurer, Brock Carpenter (Green Party)
State Auditor , Michael Joseph Bolzenius (Green Party)
Attorney General , Rebekah Kennedy (Green Party)
State Land Commissioner , Mark Wilcox (democrat)
Pulaski County Judge, Buddy Villines (democrat)
Pulaski County Sheriff , Doc Holiday (democrat)
Little Rock Mayor , Mark Stodola (independent)
Pulaski County Clerk , Pat O'Brien (democrat)
Little Rock City Director ward 6 Genevieve Stewart (Independent)
Unopposed Candidates,Voted for all.
Referred Question # 1 Against
Referred Constitutional Amendment # 1, FOR

RLR,
I'm glad to hear the Stodola people were out working hard today. Thanks for the vote for Mark and tell all your friends!

I voted today at the McMath Library. WHAT A MESS!!!!! I asked for a paper ballot and was told those wouldn't be available until the November election. I complained that if the ballots were to be available in NOVEMBER, they should be available NOW. No luck.I was told to wait until November to vote if I wasn't happy with the machines. Soooooooo, I went to the machine. Now, the volunteer with the magic computer chip couldn't get the virtual 8 track cassette into the slot. Finally, she managed and I was ready to vote ---- NOT. It took 6 - SIX - attempts to display the correct ballot. Frustration and peevishness were beginning to creep into my usually calm demeanor. Finally, the correct ballot appeared and the lady disappeared. Now for the fun part. I tried to vote for Govenor and the opposining candidate's green check appeared. I "touched" my candidate's name and the other's box still remained checked. The third time, it worked. The same thing happened on several other offices and also on the Amendments. So, being of sound and relatively sane mind, I decided to review my vote before posting it. Well, low and behold, only half of the corrections I had made were displayed properly. So, the arduous process began again. Finally, the correct choices appeared on the review screen and I pressed VOTE. Now, I had the audacity to ask for a print out of my vote considering how much trouble I (and everyone voting at the same time) had and I was told that was NEVER done because all ballots are secret. Hell, it was MY ballot!!!!!!! Secret from whom?????? Why can't I have a paper ballot just like the folks who get to vote in November? I can draw a freeking straight line! Why aren't the folks "helping" at the polls TAUGHT how to operate the machines? Why don't the damn machines work? Who did I vote for????? Hell if I know!

Curious,

You may have just fallen for the trick that Rove is depending upon for the Republicans to retain the House and Senate.

Perhaps, I am overly suspicious, but I recommend anyone who wants their vote to count should wait for November the 7th and a paper optically scanned ballot or to request a paper absentee ballot.

Leaving a paper record is essential after the experiences of the last twelve years.

Vote and vote your conscience on Nov 7th. Lives and the future of our democracy depend upon it.

Strange as this might sound, Doc, in most instances, the default was to Dems when I tried to vote differently. I certainly will not be one to point fingers, but it did seem quite strange to me. And, I still don't know for whom my vote was tallyed. To me, it is problematic no matter which candidate one chooses to support. This is me calling the PUCO Election Commission tomorrow! They got off work too early for me to call today.....

PS:
Doc, I resent your assumption that the Republicans are behind the failure of the voting machines and your assumption that I was voting Democrat. Would you feel the same if it was the Green or Independent Party? FYI, I was voting Dem, Rep, Green, and Indep, but the Dems kept popping up on the review screen as the default. Hmmmmmm.

I voted in Fort Smith at the Courthouse about 1:15. I was number 220; the place was busy. Paper Ballots that are scanned into a machine; it you screw it up and it can't be read it spits it back out and you have to get a new ballot. Lots of elderly folks in there voting too.

Curious,

Sorry you resent the assumption. However, when the CEO of Diebold vows to do everything he can to get Bush re-elected and the head of E&S is his brother-in-law. I get paranoid.

But you are correct no matter how the electronic machines prevert the vote, they should be corrected or (my preference) thrown out for paper ballots and optical scanners. I never heard of a "hanging chad" with them.

In any case, I hope you get your problem corrected.

P.S. Curious, I found this. You are nit alone in doubting the electronic machines.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102306B.shtml

P.S. Curious, I found this. You are not alone in doubting the electronic machines.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102306B.shtml

Doc,
Technology has its place -obviously. However, I WANT A PAPER BALLOT!!!!!! I guess we basically agree amd just got there through different avenues.

I am soooo glad my precinct gets it. I was handed a paper ballot and the machine in the corner wasn't mentioned except to say it was required to have one. They had sent all the other machines back because they had messed up so badly in the past.

I am counting my blessings...