[SATLUG] OT: Making sure my vote counts

[R. Tyler Ballance]

Does anybody know which, if any, of the precincts in texas are going  
with electronic voting machines? (Personally, I think they're a  
bigger threat to democracy than religious fundamentalists, but that's  
just me with my "logical thinking" again ;))

When I voted last year (or year before last, can't remember) I  
implicitly chose not to use the electronic machines in my parent's  
precinct (San Patricio County) explaining to the two little old  
ladies running the polling station that I wanted a paper trail of my  
vote because its much harder to fake a paper ballot than it is an  
electronic one, to which they replied "good point" and directed me to  
a table so I could fill out my ballot.

We're all tech-savvy folks around here, so I'm certain most, if not  
all, of you understand the crucial flaws in electronic voting, so the  
question is this, _if_ they only have electronic voting machines in  
the precinct I vote in next week, is there any way to (force?)  
request a paper ballot to ensure that my vote counts?


What can I say, I'm young and naive, and still think that my vote  
really matters ;)


Cheers

R. Tyler Ballance: Lead Mac Developer at bleep. software
contact: tyler at bleepsoft.com | jabber: tyler at jabber.geekisp.com