Why is this on a tech blog? First off, there is an increased move toward electronic voting. Many states have machines that they encourage voters to use to cast their ballots. There is plenty of criticism about these machines... can they be hacked, are they rigged, what happens when the touchscreen gets out of calibration, etc. Before you think I've put on a tinfoil hat, YES, it is theoretically possible to stuff the machines' ballot boxes. However the effort needed, and the degree of difficulty , not to mention the fact that it's a federal felony, make that very unlikely. The machines can lose calibration. This is little surprise, as some of them are upwards of ten years old, have aging hardware, have outdated screens, and have have possibly had 5 to 8 trailing 0's of fingers touching them over the years.
When you go to your polling place, if you're more comfortable with it, you may elect to choose a paper ballot. If you decide to vote electronically, and you are unsure of the machine, there are workers there to help you. Election judges are supposed to help you, impartially, in the operation of the voting machine. You shouldn't get something like this:
Who and what we vote for is a very personal thing. I won't tell you who to vote for, who to vote against, who I am voting for, etc. This isn't a campaign for anyone or any issue. If you're eligible, and registered, then take advantage of the opportunity to have your say. Look into your beliefs and vote for what you believe in. The facts are all out there, the campaigns are just about finishing the spin cycle.
If you do feel that you or someone you know or see is experiencing voter intimidation, then report it!
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