SORT AND STACK ELECTIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

By Sheila Parks

Op Ed News, October 28, 2008

"...I wanted to observe some sort and stack elections in order to have more complete knowledge of the methods used for HCPB....On January 8, 2008, I observed the hand-counting of ballots for the US presidential primary election in Walpole....On March 11, 2008, I observed the hand-counting of the Town Meeting election in Walpole....In NH, more than half of the municipalities count ballots by hand at least 123 of the total 236 municipalities.  However, the use of sort and stack surprisingly is not widespread in NH, with only nine municipalities using this method.... "

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Forward to the Past: Junk the Machines, Count Votes Manually

Stephen H. Unger

Professor Emeritus

Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Columbia University

Recording and tabulating votes in elections is a natural, straightforward, easy to implement, computer application. Right? In a world without ingenious bad guys, this might indeed be the case. Unfortunately, that's not where we live. While it is not too hard to design, implement, and operate computer-based ATM and EZ-Pass systems that will keep the bad guys at bay, this is almost impossible for the seemingly simpler problem of election systems. Below, I will first explain why I believe this, and then I will proclaim the good news, which is that we can get along very nicely without such systems.

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On-site Observations of the Hand-Counting of Paper

Ballots and Recommendations for the General Elections of 2008

By Sheila Parks

Op Ed News, July 18, 2007

"Between May 2, 2006 and November 7, 2006, I observed the hand-counting of paper ballots in three elections in two New England states.  The purpose of these observations was to gather first-hand data concerning the feasibility, effectiveness and accuracy of the use of HCPB…."

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Hand-Counted Paper Ballots in 2008

By Sheila Parks

Tikkun Magazine, April 10, 2006

"The right to vote, as well as the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’ are cornerstones of our democracy. The anti-slavery, women’s suffrage, and civil rights movements as well as the expansion of voting to young people are all part of the history of electoral reform in this country. Equally fundamental is the assurance that each voter knows that her or his vote counts and is counted as intended. At this time in our history, many have lost confidence in our voting system…."

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Updated version here

What Went Wrong in Ohio & Black Box Voting

By Sheila Parks

Tikkun Magazine, January 1, 2006

"In Black Box Voting and What Went Wrong in Ohio, Bev Harris and Michigan congressman John Conyers present data that are chilling indictments of our election system.  Harris discusses electronic voting machines and the fraud and error they have enabled in elections.  Conyers - a Democrat - highlights the disenfranchisement of African-American, low-income, and Democratic communities through voter suppression by government power and campaign organizations; he also discusses problems associated with electronic voting machines…."

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Hand-Counted Paper Ballots:

Frequently Asked Questions

By Roy Lipscomb and Sheila Parks

Op Ed News, May 11, 2007

"... Q.) Why choose HCPB against the recommendation of so many computer experts?

Many, perhaps most, computer experts prefer HCPB.

Some computer experts say, "Don't rely on computer experts--not even us!" In other words, evaluate the various systems and see which meets the standards required by a democracy.

Q.) Aren't HCPB simply a nostalgic throwback to some idyllic 'good old days'?

Not at all. Longing to return to the "old days" before computers existed would be as misguided as longing for some idyllic, electronic paradise where computers are trusted to control every aspect of our lives. Computers are essential to maintaining and improving life and liberty in today's complex world…."

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