"Looks like you already voted..."

[RansomthePasserby]

Haha, exactly.

The thing that irked me the most (and that I don't think I really made clear earlier) is that the back of the envelop I put my ballot in had a bunch of print on it, including a box to check for this very circumstance. Seriously, this happens so much that they need to print this on the back of an envelop for provisional ballots?

Seems like it would be simple just to add a line for your signature. The poll worker crosses your name out, and you sign next to it. That way they know if a name is crossed out without a signature, there's obviously been a mistake.

[Kosher Ham]

The easier way is to have people scan a card ( ID, credit, library, or whatever) at a machine with all of their info...then get proof of that (via receipt) , then go vote.

It's pretty simple. Hell I have been to clubs where they have machines to check IDs. And that was a decade ago.

[Bubble Screen]

Didn't have any problems when I voted...then again I did the absentee ballot thing. Think I'm gonna be doing that every 4 years.

[airborneskins]

I didnt have to show my id at all. The lady asked me how to spell my first and last name and then gave me the card to go vote. When I tried to show her my voter registration card, she told me that I didnt need it.

The guy that was in front of me had quite the opposite problem. He showed up with his voter registration card and the lady told him that he was not a registered voter. Even though he had the proof in his hand. She ended up gaving him a provisional ballot, but it seems to me that there should be a better system.

[DC9]

That sucks, SS. But as you said, I don't think it was a big enough problem to swing the election at all. But nonetheless this is something that should be looked into for efficiency.

The workers at my station had been there all day, and by the time I got there to vote at 4pm, they looked like the walking dead... I had even asked them if they were able to get something to eat yet and they said "yes, we've taken an hour break to get something to eat today." But for people who aren't likely used to sitting there all day and going line for line and checking peoples names off, it's understandable (not necessarily excusable) that they may mark off the wrong person a time or two.

[daveakl]

In Raleigh it goes like this:

Two lines by last name. A-K and L-Z.

You walk up and say your last name, first name, and then address.

Then you sign that your info is correct and you go get your ballot.

Could you go back later and be your neighbor? Only if you knew their name and address.

[renaissance]

I didnt have to show my id at all. The lady asked me how to spell my first and last name and then gave me the card to go vote. When I tried to show her my voter registration card, she told me that I didnt need it.

The guy that was in front of me had quite the opposite problem. He showed up with his voter registration card and the lady told him that he was not a registered voter. Even though he had the proof in his hand. She ended up gaving him a provisional ballot, but it seems to me that there should be a better system.

If he registered after a certain date, his name may not have been on their list yet.

I am surprised so many places still use paper systems.

I voted in Montgomery County and everything was electronic, except the receipt they print off for you to sign.

---------- Post added November-8th-2012 at 08:51 AM ----------

The workers at my station had been there all day, and by the time I got there to vote at 4pm, they looked like the walking dead... I had even asked them if they were able to get something to eat yet and they said "yes, we've taken an hour break to get something to eat today." But for people who aren't likely used to sitting there all day and going line for line and checking peoples names off, it's understandable (not necessarily excusable) that they may mark off the wrong person a time or two.

To this point, my coworker was a head judge and she was at her polling place from 6am to 10pm. And their last voter was done at 640pm. Long day dealing with the public is an understatement.

[Dan T.]

I think the whole mechanics of voting is in for a major overhaul. Obama, in his acceptance speech early Wednesday morning, made a very pointed comment about that. He thanked people for voting "whether you voted for the first time, or waited in line for a very long time." Then he added, with that serious look of his, "by the way we have to fix that."