French Vote On New “Cheating Machines”
This was too good to pass over, even though it is not about Iowa. New voting machines in France were condemned following Sunday’s vote because they caused long lines (up to two hours). Here’s the best quip:
Philippe de Villiers, a nationalist Catholic candidate in the election, called it a “cheating machine” as he voted in his home town of Herbiers in western France.
I think this election had only one race. I just read in the Christian Science Monitor about the usual French voting method (No Hanging Chads) using an envelope and preprinted slips of paper. Voters get an envelope and can select as many paper slips as they want. Each slip has one candidate’s name on it. Then in the voting booth, they select one slip to put in the envelope. They drop the envelope in the ballot box as they leave the poll.
I guess that was too low tech for the 21st century. Gotta have expensive touchscreens!