Do you have faith that elections are honest?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
We should all know the drill by now:
If it's election time, then it's time for accusations of fraud and voting irregularities. And, with six days yet to go until the midterms, we cite the following:
In Nevada, there are reports in some counties that voting machines are automatically checking Harry Reid's name on the ballot.
It's worth pointing out that the voting machine technicians in one of these counties are members of the Service Employees International Union - a group that's planning to give tens of millions of dollars in this election, most of it to Democrats. Harry Reid is a democrat.
- In North Carolina - a voter says he tried to vote a straight Republican ticket… but his choices showed up as Democrat. Four times.
- In Illinois, it's the first election where any registered voter can cast their ballot by mail. But one official says that as many as hundreds of thousands of voters who are planning to get a ballot in the mail could be disenfranchised.
- Also in Illinois, 36 counties missed the deadline to send ballots overseas - to members of the military and other voters.
- In Pennsylvania, some residents along with a county Republican committee claim a Democratic congressman is trying to flood the voter registration office with fraudulent applications for absentee ballots.
- And then there's Florida, without which no election drama would be complete. The Daytona Beach city commissioner and his campaign manager were just arrested and charged with committing absentee ballot fraud.
And the election is still almost a week away.
Here’s my question to you: How much faith do you have that our elections are honest?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Margaret in South Carolina writes:
Jack, I want to believe our voting system is honest, but sometimes there is a nagging feeling that something fishy might go on from time to time. The whole "chad" routine in Florida seemed fishy, computers with no paper-trail voting seems risky, voting early options and re-counts seem fishy, too. Perhaps we should use a "dye-the-thumb-when-votes-are-cast" system!
Peg in New York writes:
My faith in an honest election ended in Florida with Bush vs. Gore.
Al in New Jersey writes:
Trust but verify applies to more here than missile control. With the shift toward new voting machines, greater use of absentee ballots, and the like, we may be missing new controls needed to verify accurate results. Elections can be inaccurate without being dishonest.
Renee in Illinois writes:
Remember the "voting irregularities" when Bush was elected? That was resolved by independent, impartial – oh, no wait – that was his brother. How fair the election is depends on how many people, organizations, etc. stand to benefit from voter fraud.
Mark writes:
About as much faith as I have that kids won't cheat on tests, husbands won't cheat on wives and athletes don't cheat using steroids. Get my drift?
Mick in Connecticut writes:
Not since the Supreme Court got involved in 2000 and again this year.
Craig in Florida writes:
You are asking me, a Florida resident, if I have confidence in our elected officials to put on an honest election? It took me quite awhile to stop laughing long enough to answer this question: no.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Obama has proved that it's politics as usual. Who wanted the change that he has brought. No I have no faith that the elections are honest, if they can steal your vote they will.
None of the candidates do what they promised to do anyway, so what does it matter?
Jack–
I have to have faith in something and if I believe that our elections are not honest, then I don't think that there is much that I could believe and have faith in about American politics. The civility is gone already and the season is open on incumbents. If our elections aren't honest, then our entire government system is corrupt.
When I was young and naive I used to think that in the U.S. voting was honest, but I have since wised up. Even if every vote was legitimate and counted, you still have gerrymandering that rips apart normally solid voting blocks within neighborhoods. And then look at the choices we are limited to. "None of the above," would win if it were offered.
I do believe the voting process is honest and the best in the world, but
I do not believe that the majority of candidates are honest. I am a Republican that voted democratic in 2008 hoping I could fine a honest polation and found the same promise bracking, fake, and disonest politions in the democratic party.
The election system is honest, its the poliations are the one's that need watching. The news media needs to stop being so one sided in their presitation of canidates and seek the real truth, and we need to return to the day of advertising had to be true or it didn't get on the air and where laws were inforced to stop slanderus lies.
Gary, Carpinteria, Ca
The only answer that I can offer is that since some people are honest and some are not. Since people run these elections I suspect that some elections are honest and some are not. One thing is for certain. The campaign ads that are run by the honest and dishonest are rarely totally honest. What concerns me is that we as the American electorate have come to accept the level of dishonesty in American politics. We now accept Men who cheat on their wives and family and then bribe folks to stay quiet; We send and read inappropriate text during debates; Our Senators can be tied to prostitution rings and fare well in the polls; Vice Presidents can out CIA agents and get away with it; and I could go on. My question to you is what has happened to the once valued virtue of honesty in our society?
Absolutely not. If elections were honest we may have engaged in Afghanistan, I serious doubt Iraq. Hey, if anybody finds WMD let George W Bush know, it will surprise him.
I have zero faith in the honesty of our elections. It's been very apparent in recent, past elections that voting machines have been tampered with. Remember the exit polls of 2004? When I went to bed late in the evening it appeared Kerry would win by an obvious majority. I awoke at 2 o'clock in the morning to find that Mr. Bush had been elected. Mr. Bush, who had also gone to bed, wasn't surprised.
Jack,
I use to have faith, but corporate whistleblower experiences have taught me otherwise.
Corruption runs deep!
After the president election of 2000, it's debatable. No pun intended.
No I don't Jack. The entire electorial process has become a circus where Americn citizens are the clowns and the price of admission bankrupts our grandchildren.
We already have seen reports of SEIU shenanigans out of Nevada, you know the Cook County machine (another dominated by the unions) is crooked, outside of Cincinnati high school voters are being bused to polling sites and given Democratic sample ballots and ice cream. Very worried, nothing really happened to ACORN (an SEIU subsidiary) as a result of all of the dirty stuff they pulled in 2008. Obama's Justice Department would not prosecute the Black Panthers in Philadelphia for clear voter intimidation. Of course we are worried, the DNC is partnered with some very corrupt and criminal organizations.
Jack, taking a broad view. I think it is next to impossible to have a fair election, given, the amount of money in play to tell a lie often enough people at best are confused or worse simply believe it. It worked for Hitler before and during WWII and continues to works as well today. The 24 hour cycle affords an almost constant stream of propaganda used by special interests for their own purposes. People don't take the time to ferrite out the truth given their focus on keeping their jobs and homes. Our amoral politicians and special interests are having a field day promoting their interests without regard to the telling of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. A sad state of affairs that gone unchecked will destroy our democracy ultimately relegate the US of A to the status of 3rd world banana republic. AWWWWWW!!!
After living through the 2000 election in Florida that is an adamant NO!! Between Die-bold voting machines and tunnel visioned good ole' boys with entrenched power there is no way that the results that eventually become official are the same as what the voters cast in the booth. What is left of our democracy is a shadow of the ideals it was founded on.
Yes, I have faith the election process is honest. Voting by absentee or in person it's very secure and honest. What's dishonest are these polls and all of you in the "news" media. By putting out scare tactics to the voters that the election is going one way or the other. I think it should be illegal for any "news" media to talk or even mention a candidate's platform or name. It's all on the voter and hopefully the voter can make an "intelligent" decision. All the media should be allowed to discuss, there's an election on this date and that's it.
I have all of the faith in the world that elections everywhere in the world are dishonest and always have been. Unless someone has their head in the sand, the reality is that corruption is a way of life and especially when it comes to counting votes. I'll keep voting just in case.
Honest, yes. Of any value, no.
David, Las Vegas
Lets just say that I'm not surprised that early voting so far has shown a good turn out for Democrats. Apparently the deceased, prisoners, illegal aliens, and Bugs Bunny are eager to vote for Democrats. They always say that a good voter turn out means the Democrats are going to do well. Considering they're able to get the dead to turn out, I'd say they're doing really well.
Jack: The way my county conducts elections is very good, honest, and professional. We have a paper trail for a checks and balance system on election day. The machines are checked out on a regular basis to make sure they are operational. Poll workers go through several training sessions to make sure they are ready for election day.
While this could be debated one thing is for sure.
Elections have now become a money game. How well a candidate is funded makes a big difference. And with no oversight on how much or the source, the process has become cloudy.
Lobbies & special interests pouring in money, funding coming in from Overseas. Race, hate & religion becoming the instruments to garner votes.
How should we apply the criteria for honesty? That is the question.
The Democrats will do whatever it takes to keep their majority in the House and the Senate.
The 2008 election was questionable because of Acorn and the 2010 election will questionable because of SEIU.
Jack: They are honest to certain degree-nothing is hundred percent–the question is "do I have faith in the "honesty" of the candidates"-that is where I have no faith-sometimes it is a choice of the "lesser of evils."
A quote attributed to Stalin says: "Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." It is clear that voting systems represent a critical component of a democracy. Although the consequences of a malfunctioning electronic voting system are not as readily apparent as those for air traffic control or nuclear power plant control systems, they are just as important, because the well-being of a society depends on them.
While most critical systems are continuously scrutinized and evaluated for safety and correctness, electronic voting systems are not subject to the same level of scrutiny. A number of recent studies have shown that most (if not all) of the electronic voting systems being used today are fatally flawed, and that their quality does not match the importance of the task that they are supposed to carry out.
Honesty in an election is in the eye of the lobbyist, I mean voter. You know, the ones who actually pay for the vote before the election, not the ones who pay for it after the election.
This is a serious question after Bush vs Gore? I think many millions of us have a jaundiced view of election honesty in the USA anymore.
Bruce in Bend
Unless it's a close election In Florida or Ohio, there's probably no need for routine skulduggery.
The Progressives running the Democratic party have talked about leveling the playing field for two years now, We see that in the Rules of Engagement on the battlefield, we see it when they say the U.S. will have to step aside so other countries can prosper, we see it in their policies about redistributing the wealth in this country. So what makes us think they wouldn't do the same concerning voting this year when the Republicans and Independents are highly motivated? Is it coincidental that in the half dozen states that have already come forward with voter fraud, that all the votes are beneficial to the Democrats? This list will grow as Nov 2 gets closer and the days after.
Not much in this state, where the Lt. Governor runs the election; in some past elections, the numberof votes in some districts far exceeded the number of registered voters.
Elections are fair as long as they don't use computers with no verification systems. Every single one of them can be hacked inside of thirty seconds. They're also fair as long as the Supreme Court and Brooks Brothers (i.e. Republican staffer) mobs don't step in and stop legitimate, legal recounts.
Not much. In this state, the Lt.Governor runsthe elections. In past elections we have had some districts with more votes than registered voters.
I have complete faith that there will be those who will try to gain votes for their candidate by unlawfull, unethical and downright dishonest ways. We can only hope that they will not be successful, but if they are, we can only pray they are eventually caught and prosecuted.
I believe we get who we vote for, it's the campaigning that I don't trust.
My faith in an honest election ended in Florida with Bush vs Gore.
The outcomes are fate written at the foundation of the earth by the hand of God, same as WWF wrestling matches.
Yes Jack, unfortunately we honestly elected these flakes.
I believe that our elections are the most honest in the world. after saying that, we still have people who would rig a election if they can. corruption for power over people or control of large amounts of money will breed or attract dishonest people. so the united states can not stand alone.
Jack, I want to believe our voting system is honest, but sometimes there is a nagging feeling that something fishy might go on from time to time. The whole "chad" routine in FL seemed fishy, computers with no paper-trail voting seems risky, voting early options, and re-counts seem fishy, too. Perhaps we should use a "dye-the-thumb-when-votes-are-cast" system!
It also appears that the Tea-Partiers and the GOP want to stay in or get back in so badly that they would do just about anything to make it happen. Did I say that?
Yeah, but it's gettin' a bit precarious. Certain parts of the country seem more prone to question than others. Remember Florida? But, bye and large, I view the vast majority as legitimate. The day we can't is the day we're done as a Democracy.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
zip, zero, zelch.
Honest elections do not exist. This is the age of conniving, corrupt, and dirty tricks, Alinsky style. Just so long as the special interest sock puppet gets in office and returns the "favor" by showering the cheaters with rewards.
Jack, the elections are honest. It's those that are running for office who aren't.
I think most elections are probably honest now. The first Bush election revealed some definite chinks in our electoral armour, but hopefully that has been addressed and the whole system made more secure. I just wonder what would happen if voters were required to actually know something about the issues at stake before being allowed to vote. I tend to think that a simple quiz asking questions like, "what is a deficit?" or "what does the gross national product have to do with our economy?" would reveal a certain level of ignorance among voters and call into question their ability to really know which of the candidates is fully qualified for the office being sought.
Not with all of the electronic voting machines with pro-Republican "glitches". I'm glad I vote by mail since there is a recountable record.
No, not with this administration... ACORN is too recent in my memory and the democrats are desparate.
I think it has been well documented that voter fraud is rampant in today's elections. It's like parts of the country are as backward as Pakistan or Iraq. Not coincidentally, it is usually the unions at the heart of corruption. More proof that organized labor is counter capitalist and anti-American. They say they are standing up for the little guy, but in reality, they are crippling him and in many cases responsible for him losing his job, or failing to get ahead based on merit. The bedrock of America is rewarding people not by their race, religion or gender, but by their individual actions and accomplishments, not collective bargaining or voting mandates handed down union leaders.
It is as honest as Bill Clinton saying "I did not sleep with that woman."
No. Electronic voting machines can and probably have been hacked. We need to go back to paper ballots so they can be audited. While the media may be denied instant gratification on election night, having every vote counted under the supervision of representatives of both parties will do much to restore America's confidence in the process.
As a young Maine voter, I do have some faith in our elections. I believe that my vote will count toward the final numbers. But, I do have some doubts in the system. With the high frequency of recounts in all levels of elections, it makes me wonder how accurate the final numbers really are. I want to believe that all votes are counted equally and are counted correctly at all times – not just when a recount is called.
I do look forward to watch the results come in on election night and the controversy the next day over where recounts are needed.
About as much faith as I have in our politicians being honest. Zero. Everyone knows George Bush Jr. stole the election in 2004. Diebold machines can be hacked easily.
None! If they were honest it would be an aberration of governmental policy.
What is your alternative? a Monarchy? or Military rulr?
It's obvious to me that the democrats are desperate. Hasn't voter fraud been the democrats' standard operating procedure for several decades now?
The elections themselves are very honest.
Unfortunately, the deceit and perversion of the American political system all occurs before the elections. Career politicians afraid to make tough choices, combined with special interest pressure purchased by large donations, puts the successful candidates into a blatant conflict of interest. What is good for American society never even enters into the equation any more.
The votes, however, will be counted correctly. We must give people the illusion that the system works.
About as much faith as I have that kids won't cheat on tests, husbands won't cheat on wives and atheletes don't cheat using steriods. Get my drift?
90% of voting is honest. In close races there will be attempts to cheat – most of the time they are caught, thus they are idiots ! Chicago is the most famous city to cheat like the dickens !
Joan
Mn
Jack, I have as much faith as possible. Sadly, there are cheaters on
both sides and have been for years. But I am more concerned with
the announcement that Tea Party members are going to question
voters on the legality of their registration, while they are standing in
line to vote. I guarantee you that nobody that is not a voting official,
had better ever question me about anything, ever! Especially when
I am voting. I don't even know if this is legal, but it is every bit as
intimidating (as they intend it to be) as any other cheater. These
people are the most threatening group I have seen in a long time.
They are not patriots, they are bullies and incompetents. That's what
I "really think". Thank you.
Having the SEIU, which spends a lot of money supporting Democrat candidates, maintain the voting machines is a clear conflict of interest.
I was almost convinced that Acorn stole the 2008 elections for Obama and the Democrats.
Based on what I'm reading, I'm certain that the SEIU is going to steal the 2010 elections for the Democrats.
With the polls showing the Democrats are going to lose badly in 2010, the country will be in the streets protesting if the Democrats and their allies steal the elections.
The only voter fraud that ever occured in Indiana is that which was done by the GOP candidate for Secretary of State. There are TWO investigations as he runs for office on him.
The GOP will try to steal this election as they did in 2000, and how they did in 2004 keeping blacks and minorities away.
Remember the "voting irregularities" when Bush was elected? That was resolved by independent, impartial – oh, no wait – that was his brother. How fair the election is depends on how many people, organizations, etc. stand to benefit from voter fraud. What do you think?
Evidently not 100 percent, because I didn't want to vote early and give people more time to mess with my ballot. Of course some people vote early because it seems more surefire than trusting the machines on election day........
Nearly 0 to none in this day and age. With all the technology, nearly everything can be manipulated-far from the good old days when it was money in an envelope!
There is NO uniformity nationwide in the machines, and beginning with registration falsified drivers licenses, etc. are EZ to come by.
Shame on IL that our service personnel will not receive their ballots.
Heaven help us if at sometime in the future one can simply "click & send on home computers.
Honest elections? That's an oxymoron.
But I was really impressed by the hackers who showed they could make a voting machine play pacman without breaking the seals. Oh, I meant to ask, are those guys running for anything in this election?
Jack,
Yes the elections are fairly honest. Except where non-audit-able machines are used. These can be hacked. The IRS would never allow a tax payer to offer just computer records – EVER! That says it all!
Each voter has been carefully programmed to vote for a corporate purchased candidate. Advertising works, very very well. In this sense the corporate-persons have bought and paid for their results. They know the statistical results. It is just us moron voters think something real is possible and we have a real vote that counts.
"Honest" has become an oxymoron.
In Connecticut too, not all the military ballots were sent on time. Denying our military, who put their lives on the line every day, their right to vote is the lowest of lows; it's unconscionable.
As for Reid and what's going on in Nevada with the voting machines and the SEIU thugs who are called to 'fix' them, sleazy is what sleazy does.
After using the electronic machines in the last Presidential election, I felt that the ease of use should have aided in proper tabulation of votes. I had confidence that there would be no 'hanging chads' – or the like, to question or misconstrue the voters intent.
Though, I have more faith in the honesty of the equipment than I do in the politician... Once again, I'll vote confidently here in Carson City, NV.
Jack,
As with any process, mistakes will be made, and people will take advantage of weak spots in a system. Despite that, I still have faith in the election process. But then when I vote, the ballot is still on paper. I hope it stays that way because I see no foolproof way to cast my ballot using a computer.
Jack,
As long as there have been elections, there have been politicians and their handlers who have tried to game the system. Political bosses in cities like New York and Chicago, or in states like Alabama and Texas have always been able to deliver large numbers of votes in large blocks at the last mintute to pull out an election. Remember the flap about electronic voting machines leading up to the 2004 elections (machines designed and programmed by republican campaign contributors?) This is nothing new. I have faith that our elections are as honest as they have ever been.
Why only the Democrat examples Jack? Trying to be fair and balanced?
No, I definitely DO NOT trust that elections are honest. Unless and until there's a "paper trail" the voting machines will be a major suspect, but there are still other dishonest people who dream up their own methods of cheating to "steal the election."
About as much faith as the people we elect. Not much.
None, and you missed one, what about AZ where Harry Ried's name was already checked?
Hey Jack,
Just found out that an attack ad against Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas was apparently funded by a Chinese holding company which appears to be a shell for the Chinese gov. Doesn't this bother people or do Republicans hate Obama so much they are willing to let a foreign gov. control our elections?Apparently so. How very sad that the most vulnerable in our country seem so willing to let the worst in the land run their lives into the ground because of unsupported fears and ignorance.I only hope that in ten years we are not all required to learn Mandarin for our Asian overlords.It has become a sad,strange possibility.
Trust but verify applies more here than to missile control. With the shift toward new voting machines, greater use of absentee ballots, and the like, we may be missing new controls needed to verify accurate results. Elections can be inaccurate without being dishonest. It is time to investigate new, positive steps to ensure that inaccuracies are less than margins of victory.
The only thing i take on faith is religion. Politics in one ball of lies and disappointments after another. I am so tired of trying to watch TV and then an ad for a politicians opponent pops up with half truths and more lies. Why can't politicians tell the truth anymore? Has our government deteriorated so much that there is no longer even honor among thieves? The political battle is no longer about truth. It is about wading through all the lies and deciet to get to the truth that is the battle..
More than in Iran, Afganistan or North Korea, that's something isn't it?
Vernon Hills, IL
tampa, fl you are asking me, a florida resident, if i have confidence in our elected officials to put on an honest election? it took me quite awhile to stop laughing long enough to answer this question, no. with actually no qualified, honest, non corrupt, individuals on my ballot, i am sure the election will turn out just like they want it to. my only question is with the millions of dollars of advertising pointing out how every candidate is unfit to hold office and should actually be in jail, how come they aren't?
Elections can't be honest as long as the Supreme Court, decision allowing unlimited contributions from anyomus donors, stands. Then there is then problem with hackers which requires a printed record of the vote which the voter can see.
It doesn’t matter how honest or corrupt our elections are. We have a Hobson’s choice when we vote. It really doesn’t matter who we vote for, we will always get the same results. Bush drove us into the ditch and Obama has driven the tow truck into the same ditch by continuing the Bush agenda in spite of everything he promised. We get screwed no matter who is in office.
Jack, there will always be those that try to "game " the system. At least here in America we stand a 50-50 chance that they'll get caught and sent up the creek. Other places on the this planet, people can't even get to a voting booth without risking their lives. I'm 65, and I've never missed a vote since I turned 21, and I still believe we are better off than any nation on earth, when it comes to having our vote count.
no , not in the slightest.Our govenors race has already been decided. How do I know this? My wife works for the state and she has already been told to have a plan in place for new layoffs of contractors and state employees.
How would you know unless the decision had already been made.?
Generally, yes. But, their "honesty" is and will be challenged by many of the voting rights decisions which will eventually lead to us simply letting anyone vote, whether they bothered to take the time to register or not
Honestly? As we work to improve democracy and fairness in other countries, our own officials are taking it away from us here at home. Voting the bums out is no longer an option, because the only people running are bums. We are left with the bitter choice of keeping the Bum we know, or electing the Bum we know we don't want either. Yea Democracy! Wooo Hooo!!
Not since the Supreme Court got involved in 2000 and again this year.
None. Where there's money, there's corruption. And the money involved in politics boggles the mind. "We the people" had better wake up before those with the money buy out our democracy, if it isn't too late, that is.
I have as much faith in the government's promise of "honest" elections as I do of the government's promise that the new health reform law will actually result in lower costs and better care, or that there is actual cash money in the Social Security "lock box".
I must say that I don't trust the democrats far left segment, because they know they can't win with the american people when the issues are discussed to a logical and truthful conclusion, that is why they have to bus in union members and professional agitaters from Move-on to thier rallys and townhall meetings, I belive these people will do anything to win a election- lie,cheat or steal- we need to return to paper ballots with a signature and absolute proof that you are a U.S. citizen.
I have TOTAL faith in the honesty of these elections Uncle Jack. On Tuesday morning, 100s of thousands of honest dead citizens will leave their caskets in Chicago to go to the polls to put their favorite Democratic candidates over the top. Millions of honest illegal aliens will vote to send the Republicans to the back of the bus. And based on that picture you put on this Blog Post Jack, hordes of honest, innocent 4-year-olds in Delaware are gonna vote to drop a house on that Wicked Witch in the East.
Like most large out of control organizations their is usually fraud, waste and abuse and plenty to go around.
So, go in the boothe pull the dam lever and hope for the best
While I think we'd have to believe elections are basically honest (otherwise, why vote in the 1st place?), I think, given our politicians' propensity to get caught w/a hand in one cookie jar or another, it would be more than a little naive on our parts to think our whole election system is completely above board w/no shady dealings.
from Cleveland
I have absolute faith that the majority of elections are honest.
Jack, I'm a firm believer that the only ones running for any political office are number one, a thief, number two a liar, number three cheat on their spouse and number four they are dishonest. My question Jack is why in the hell can't we get a good old honest person running for a political office. It appears to me that all the thieves running for office think that being a politician is a safe way to steal from the people and it is all legal.
yes yes yes, can't see palin and geop, for sure they wont take control over but they will accuse demo
I used to think that in the U.S. voting was honest, but I have since wised up. Even if every vote was legitimate and counted, you still have gerrymandering redistricting that rips apart normally solid voting blocks within neighborhoods. And then look at the choices we are limited to thanks to partisan politics. "None of the above," would win if it were offered.
No faith at all. As they say, Jack, elections aren't decided by the people that cast the votes, they are decided by the people that count the votes or the Supreme Court. Be afraid, Jack... be VERY afraid.
I have NOT felt secure in our election process since 2000 and these electronic "voting machines" without a paper trail just make it even worse.
some college engineering students, to test the system, just hacked into one of these so called "secure machines" and turned it into a Pacman game
YIKES!!!
It's not when you have the likes of Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Schumer, et al. Tell me Jack, how could our President tell the Latinos that Republicans are enemies, or that if Republicans want to join us, they have to stay in the back. Now with the Ninth Circuit Court saying Arizona's law that you show proof of citizenship to vote is against the law, you know there will be more fraud than ever. I hope the dead people don't turn in their graves,, or perhaps they can come to Obama's home at night and haught them.
As long as Rove is in the mix elections will not be fair.
Jack,
I live in Maryland where relatively few voters complain about dishonest elections since dead men/women tell no tales.
Not only do I Not have faith that Elections are Honest, but I also have lost faith in Voters for Not Caring! When FL elects a known thief for office that used the stolen money to flood the airwaves with lies, you know we've All Lost!!
Since elections were created, people have been finding ways to cheat, why should today be any different?
You may need the UN to send monitors to watch over your elections...They do it for Uganda, Chad, Afganistan, and other countries that have similar difficulties..
No, Jack. I have completely lost faith in the election system. That's why I chose to no longer vote for a complete stranger in a $600 suit. You can't trust any politician being honest because what if later on you find out that they have committed fraud? Or what if you find out that your candidate lost because another politician cheated? If Americans want to fix this country, they better do it themselves rather than depend on a politician.
Yes, I think the elections are as honest as the day is long. Bye the way, in this fall election season, the days are getting shorter.
Jack the only time I'll believe elections are completely honest is when voting machines give us a receipt or some sort of notification that our vote has been counted.
I have very little faithin the system, period.
However, if the Democrats are guilty of irreguklarities, where did they learn this trickery from. Why, from Florida Republicans of course.
The only solutionis for a third party to finally get a foothold in this country. There is no time like now for this to happen. I was a lifelong democrat and have just reregistered as a member of the Green Party, a well organized but underfinanced group.
And there Jacl, lies the rub. You need money t run to begin with and a lot of the money comes from dubious sources.
I moved from Louisiana and now live in Florida. That should tell you something about my experience with politics. Florida is the worst and although I will always vote to believe I have a voice, I have no faith in Florida's system.
Jack,
I have about the same amount of faith that our elections will be honest, as I have in how the media presents the news....
Joe, Binghamton, NY
Jack, the Democrats are scared. They would sell their own mother for a couple of votes. Power is all they care about.
Overall they are honest. Might there be some fraud, possibly but not enough to overturn the results. Any system made by man cannot be perfect, we are flawed so anything we invent/develop will likewise be flawed.
Compared to other democracies we're pretty good.
As far as our elections being honest, the motives behind some of the current proposals such as preventing write-ins or some asking that you prove citizenship at the polls, all smacks of some trying to control our right and privelege to vote. If these groups are allowed any access to voting data there's no telling what could happen so unless there is complete transparency and accountability in each voting precinct in our country that is audited by an independent party the day after results are final, I'd have to say that I have my doubts.
With organizations like ACORN and MoveOn.org allowed to operate unchecked, fraud will continue. It was a problem in the 2008 election, and it's no surprise to see the problem resurface for the midterm elections.
I am very pleased with the way you reported this.
I am very concerned. I don;
't trust many areas.
Stay with it sir – fair reporting will help and if ALL media reported as you did we have a chance to fix things.
100%+ as long as the SUpremes don't butt in !!
Reports of election fraud discovered do not detract from my belief that the overall process is honest.
With the amount of internet fraud, identity theft and rampant corruption abroad and on capital hill there is no way that electronic voting is credible. peiod.
None. Next question?
This is one more example of state's rights gone wrong.
Voting should be regulated and standardized nationally, away from parochial politicians
They manage to vote very efficiently in the world's largest democracy (India). There is no excuse for our fractured, unequal approach to our greatest freedom.
Bush was never elected. He was "Diebolded" in both times. But you, of course, make it sound like only Democrats are guilty. Harry Reid is a Democrat, "but you're not suggesting anything". Right. Just today's anti-Democrat pro-gooper spiel, eh, Jack? Carry on.
I feel confident the democrats will do everything in its power to keep the tea/republican party members out of the congress. It is a disgrace the honest voters will probably be checkmated by Obama's soldiers.
Ohio ditched their tainted Diebold Computer Voting Machines and went back to "Fill In The Dot" paper ballots a couple of years ago. Results are still in by 10 PM on election day, there is a hard paper trail and there have been no complaints since.
Problem solved.
Not since the fiasco of 2000 when Gore "lost" to Bush. Many people believe that Gore won that election! It will come out some day. I think we need to go back to those old fashioned voting machines. There was no way to mess with the mechanics in those sealed, steel, tamper proof metal boxes!
I lost faith in the integrity of US elections when in 2000 they never completed counting the votes (in FL) and nobody complained.
Sorry...I have no faith in the honesty and legal accuracy of our elections. It seems that nothing is done about this and no one addresses it legally. I think the Democrats are the worst perpetrators of this voting fraud.
None. Next question??
Jack, I've mistrusted elections ever since my college roommate's late mother voted in the 1952 Jersey City mayoral election.
NO, Government is not the solution to the problem ,it is the problem . We need paper ballots .No more fast ones pulled over our eyes .How can there be faith in the system when BUSH stole his election ?We need ballot reform and an audit of the federal reserve.
Absolutely not! Politicians will do anything to get a vote. This early voting and absentee voting doesn't work, too many opportunities for fraud. Go to the basics, vote on election day or miss your chance. We know well in advance when election day is. The only ones who should be allowed to vote absentee are the military. If the ballots aren't sent out in time, that state should be fined.
Honesty in politics? That would be a first. In a word NO. But I am still going to vote.
I have no faith in them what so ever they engage in criminal activities while they are in office so why would voter fraud be any differant. i think that evey vote should have a fingerprint / biometric reader that would eliminate the fraud and a reciept after the vote is done if there is any ambiguity with the results of your vote a task force should be in place to bust them / the guilty person involved. i also think that the elections should have a spending cap limited to the average persons anual salery to help to keep alienating those whom arent rich from running as well
Thats my 2 cents any ways
Of course elections are honest. George W. Bush got elected didn't he.
I have ZERO faith that elections are honest if Democrats are the election officials. All the fraud that Jack spoke about is on the democratic side: It always is. In 2000, 2004 and 2008, there was much ado about election fraud in Ohio, liberal pundits would say it all the time. The only election fraud in Ohio was in Cuyahoga County, dominated by Dems and was proven to be democratic cheating
Honest elections? We would have no one in office. Everyone has they're own idea on what honest is. For people in public office as long as they beleive it that's all that counts.
Dear Jack,
Was it my imagination, or was it true that these examples of voter fraud are on the Democratic side? They can't win on their records, they can't win at the ballot box, so they resort to out and out criminal activity!
Oh come on Jack. Whats a glitch or two in the grand scheme of things? Politicans don't get elected by one or two votes. It takes a a whole bunch of idiots to put one in office.
After the fiasco in FL, and their chads, nothing surprises me any more. I voted already and I had a clean ballot and not one that was pre voted, so there may be hope.
When in doubt, contact those watching over the polling place and let them know.
With the exception of attempts to suppress minority votes, I think our elections are quite honest. What I would, however, like to see is the voting machines spit out a printed 'receipt' so that voters can see that their votes were counted correctly. They would then stick the receipts in a ballot box in the event of a recount. A small portion of the 'receipt' ballots could be counted to insure that there were no irregularities.
Does it really matter Jack?? As long as corporate America and the Wall Street thugs are still allowed to lobby our elected government puppets, honest elections are a moot point.
Jack I am from oregon we have had vote by mail for years with little problums we need voting machines that have a paper trail or we should have to use some other type machine that is not tied to computers the use of these type of machines will led to a lot of crap happing rememebr florida 2000 we all know where this led to a dubya of an election
Despite your dire report on election inconsistencies, I remain hopeful that there is not as much true election fraud as alleged. As a former trainer for a county's Registrar of Voters, I'm writing to tell you what worked well for us. All poll workers in that county were required to participate in a 4-hour training program designed specifically to help them follow election rules. Also, a well-trained team of techs tested and verified each voting machine prior to the start of voting. I was proud to be part of it all. It's preparations like these that keep me hopeful that every vote can be cast without issues – and counted with confidence.
Yes they are honest. The unions that take care of the machines will make sure that the DEMS win. Then they will get more bailout money for there pensions.
Are you kidding me Jack? Politics fosters dishonesty. Our system of Capitalism fosters dishonesty. If there are human beings involved, there will be dishonesty. 80 years of observation.
Brownwood, Tx.
NONE,Bush was reelected!
Come on Jack!
This is a no brainer much like the majority of voters and a good portion of the candidates who are running. They keep trying to build better mouse traps but that is pointless when the rats running these election keep recruiting smarter mice who can take over and re-program the trap. When I first watched the news reports of Iraqi's voting for the first time since Saddam was ousted I had to laugh in seeing their fingers stained purple from the ink used to mark their ballots. Given that every voting machine used in the most recent elections has been successfully tampered with to alter our elections perhaps our voting system needs to be down graded to that same system used in Iraq. Round up the morons and make them use their fingers and a bottle of ink to cast heir votes and shoot anyone caught trying to replace the ink with disappearing ink on sight.
Only in America can something as simple as casting a vote be turned into a fiasco in which all these self-serving politicians can revel in.
shouldn;t suprise you jack. it's ironic that the most corrupt gov in the world should tell Karsai to clean up the corruption in his gov. i have NO faith that this election will be anything less than the hundred before it.. come on revoulation!
Until we have honest politicians we will never have honest elections. As long as corporate America can out raise funds for their party the party of the people has no chance of winning. We all know that America is on the decline and no one cares enough to fight for our freedom for democracy. We are becoming the Country of a conservative take over. By any means,
Voting is important and should not [as much as possible] be open to fraud. If that means some inconvienence – thats OK.Only Citizens, properly registered should get to vote. Many of the 'improvements' in recent history open up greater possibilities for fraud and uninformed voting. I can't immagine the founding fathers intended important decisions be made by drunks in Boston Harbor promised a drink if they vote for a certain candidate.
Not in many areas, or states. Our junior high school borrowed the latest, greatest, county voting machines in 1968 while voting for student officers in Shawnee Mission School District in Overland Park, Kansas. Nearly forty years later in Florida, people were still punching ballots with a handheld device. Accurate, independently auditing voting is a joke in these United States.
James Finn
Come on Jack, they can't be trusted to be honest as long as we're using computers to tally the vote. It's been proven more than once that these machines can be manipulated. It's disgusting. And people wonder why citizens have become apathetic and disenfranchised. There's the old attitude of "my vote doesn't matter". Well, in cases like this it only makes the case for that type of thinking. We need to go back to hand counting paper ballots. If it takes longer then so be it, at least we may know who people actually voted for.
Eric Grant,
Portland, ME
Jack, The scare tactics have been going on for years. Lase week my union sent memo's saying that if a Republican was elected as Governor
They would eliminate the Union and we would end up working for below livable wage.
Costa Mesa, CA.
Jack
I have no faith in our voting system, or congress, our government is just shot, and needs to be totally
re-worked with new people now.
This will be the election of all elections. I'm just waiting for someone to get shot, god forbid, but this is the sentiment of the American people.
That's what happens when you trap a rat in the corner? Someone is bound to get bit.
I would like to think that our system of voting is honest and above board, however, as you have reported I see that the Dems will stop at nothing to keep power and control. All I can see is our founding fathers sitting in Philadelphia at the first continental congress, wondering what we have done to our country. I'm mad as hell and can;t take this anymor!. Would I be an illegal alien if I went to Brazil?
I do believe the balloting in the USA is overall honest. If the comments about Democrats showing up automatically on certain ballots are true.... it is an easy process to get to the bottom of it. Typically, this would be a local issue and we have Federal/State folks that can be contacted.
There should NOT be SEIU employees involved in the voting process. In my area and all areas I am aware of, volunteers help to keep the vote honest.
There is no place for vote manipulation in the USA. Those involved should get the jail cell they deserve.
This is the same old issue that comes up every year and usually propagated by Republicans (against Democrats) in districts they're worried they will lose. As you mentioned right after you asked the question tonight...you have trouble with technology right at CNN. It's a fact of life. The answer is to be vigilant when voting. I hate these kinds of questions since they are always asked in a way that seems to slant the responses to side with a political party, not the general population.
Aren't we dealing with enough petty bickering this year? Let's get back to the real issues.
I feel that in order to be a part of this country we have to have faith in the systems set fourth by our courts. By questioning the legitimacy of the system in which you're participating, we weaken the system itself. To say there is no corruption in our election would be negligent. Instead, I see these instances of moral lapse in people as just that, instances. I feel that overall people who take time off work and go out of their way to let their voice be heard, far out-weights those instances of those who set out to corrupt the system. All that being said, I have an unmoved faith in the honesty and legitimacy of election.
Are you kidding??? There is so much fraud involved. Interesting story on Nv. Think anything will get done..NO! Money talks. Glad I am not voting in NV. Tough choice, a wacko or weasle. I'd pick the wacko, she can get help, the weasle is a lost cause. We've seen what he's done!
I have a lot more faith Now, Since ACORN the group that put Obama into office [I believe illegaly!] Has been disbanded!
When almost two-thirds of the voting populace doesn't vote in mid-terms, how can an election be honest? We're left with extremist candidates that isolate voters on either side of the aisle and hypocrites that say big government is bad unless it helps the group that is likely to keep them in office. I'm beginning to think that Jon Stewart's rally might not be a bad place for a middle of the road candidate to make an appearance.
Jack, how do we know if our elections are honest? I do know that we would be better able to answer that question if we used lower tech.
. simple paper ballots which are then scanned. most of the world seems to get by without hight tech, low security systems. Better to be accurate than speedy.
No, I see more and more shenanigans and outright fraud each year.
Is it just me, or do others see the vast majority of these incidents being committed by the Democrats? Don't take my word for it ... keep score yourself!
James
Arkansas
I have total faith in our elections, loch ness and Roswell.
Jack,
The election process will never be honest until the computer systems are done away with and paper ballets are reinstalled.. Where I vote you simply fill out a paper ballet then it's scanned. What could be any simpler than that? As for absentee ballots, they should only be allowed for voters that will not be in their state on election day. The latest farce was a test of voting on the internet. Took hackers less than a day to turn that into a video game!
Al Brown
Gorham, NH
I'd like to believe that all elections are honest but I think that would be naive. Conspiracy theorists would have us believe that all are dishonest, also naive. The truth as I see it is at times (the Florida mishap when Bush's brother was Governor) there is tampering but we the people will never be told the truth. We must adopt a voting method that both works and is 100% secure. It IS possible! Aggressively seek out and prosecute those who are FIXING elections. That said, the methods we have in place are, at least, far better than a finger print on a ballet.
jack...is this a trick question? electronic voting machines are made by 2 companies,1 in usa and 1 in canada. hardware and software are handled by subject companies..they handle everything with the voting process. the whole process is privatized and is something akin to the privatization of the security forces in iraq. also there is no oversight by the feds on these guys. germany and the netherlands dumped these machines and went back to paper ballots. IMAGE THAT.. a traceable vote.
the elections are corrupt, the politicione are corrupt, we are now a third world country!
Jack,
This sounds like typical rantings from the normal wingnuts. I think you were just "jobbed".
I'm from Florida, please don't try to tell me that Republicans don't have any issues as well!
Generally, yes. Those that don't, are simply looking for an excuse for not choosing the winner.
JACK - Maybe we can get IRAQ to come over and monitor our elections process to make sure it is not "rigged." Come on ... just vote at an ATM with your SSN. It is so simple, and the banks have already made their systems uncrackable!!
I'd like to believe that all elections are honest but I think that would be naive. Conspiracy theorists would have us believe that all are dishonest, also naive. The truth as I see it is at times (the Florida mishap when Bush's brother was Governor) there is tampering but we the people will never be told the truth. We must adopt a voting method that both works and is 100% secure. It IS possible! Aggressively seek out and prosecute those who are FIXING elections. That said, the methods we have in place are, at least, far better than a finger print on a ballet.
I would if we had paper ballots to back up e-voting machines. This country can do better. I don't trust the Republicans they are desperate.
it doesn't matter anymore if our elections are fair or not. the American people have been forced for decades to surrender their vote to either a democrat or republican for it to really count, regardless if they like either candidate's position or party. we've been force fed the issues in which the 2 candidates argue mindlessly like robots given a script by a Karl Rove or someone even shadier than him. I believe this why election turnouts are always so low and it is a shame that our democratic system of keeping our leaders at bay is really just an illusion.
Are elections honest? Probably as honest as the politicians that are running.
Lie – cheat – steal – fool around – Diogenes has his lamp extinguished every election cycle...There isn't an honest man or woman to be found who will run a clean and honest campaign.
Yet we must hope that elections are run fairly. This from someone in Illinois, where our governors serve two terms one in the governor's mansion house and one in the federal peniitentary.
Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards. we have the best politicians that money can buy ... can buy...can buy.
Keep smiling Jack
I was born in 1989 and in the 21 years of my life and 4 elections deep, I have never seen true and honest politics. It does not exist, people will always vote for those who promise the most outlandish and appealing things, because regardless of Parties, it is still a club. The elected reap the benefits of our votes without ever feeling the hardships normal Americans face. It is no longer a matter of, "of the people, by the people, for the people," elections determine clout and salary for the elected. Honestly, let the Tea Party win and watch this country burn, maybe only then will lazy people actually get mad enough to take their fates into their own hands.
And in Nevada, the Secretary of State has ruled that Harry Ried can bribe voters with food and the Teacher's Union can bribe their members with gift cards in exchange for a promise to vote Democrat. And the 9th Circuit "court" has ruled that Arizona can't require voters to prove citizenship to register because the federal government didn't say they could... conveniently ignoring the fact that the Constitution says they can. Honest elections has become an oxymoron and both partys refuse to pass election reform legislation. Didn't we used to call for UN election inspectors when this happened in other countries?
Faith in that elections are honest? Don't make me laugh
That's a good one.
Let's see. The 2000 Presidential Campaign, The 2004 Presidential Campaign, The 2010 SC Democratic Primary, etc. Shall I go on? Just look who benefited and follow the money if you ever want to put some integrity back in elections. There is nothing like putting folk jail to make others thing twice before cheating.
I want to be buried in Chicago because when I die I want to stay active in politic. In 1964 the people that voted for Johnson V Goldwater voted in alphabetical order, go figure?
I do not have much faith in our political system to start with. I do not believe that elections have always been 100% honest, throughout our democratic history, this century it is worse than ever. I think that corporate influence is the root of all this evil. Greed is running this world into the ground. Everyone is working for their own agenda while the American citizens are paying the price.
i have no faith in our election system. when we took people out of the counting proccess and switched to machines to count we lost it. why we took people out of the proccess i guess was the trend to cut staffing in faver of machines just like american businesses replacing jobs for machines. canadians don't seem to have election problems like we do because they use a pencil , paper and a check mark to vote on. thats very hard to screw up and very easy to recount . the sepreme court decides who will win the office when things go bad because we don't even have time to recount what votes we can prove. besides our elected people win by tthe highest bidder any ways. votes are payed for because people vote for who they see the most not who can do the job! that takes money....
I don't know if they are totally honest but I am confident that they are all honest until the polls open. Consider this. Why would you have honesty when electing rookie crooks or re-electing experienced crooks?
With all the money the US Chamber of Commerce is spending to get Republicans elected, nearly all of which is from unknown sources, possibly including foreign sources, and all the Tea Party front groups funded by the billionaire Koch brothers, I don't know if it's possible to hold a fair election anymore.
There's too much money from too many unknown places buying the election. At least when Meg Whitman attempts to buy the governorship in California, you know it's millions of dollars of her own money she's spending.
I don't know how anyone could have faith in a system that is universally manipulated and apparently impossible to correct. This is an exercise in democracy thwarted by imperfect humans. I would be kidding myself to think that my single little vote makes any difference, but it still makes me feel good to vote. Voting makes me think that I belong here.
Jack, I don't know if they are totally honest but I am confident that they are all honest until the polls open. Consider this. Why would you have honesty when electing rookie crooks or re-electing experienced crooks?
There was corruption in the last Bush election why should this one be any different.
Of course it will be honest and fair. In the past many years elections being conducted; there should be supervisors and monitoring carefully. In addition, there should be highly sophisticated machinery and why this time suspicious? Doing things with integrity and deduction a great benefit to the country and the society.
Honesty is the best policy!
Absolutely none. What we learned from the sleazy tacticts in Ohio is that Diebold fixed the machines offering Bush a guaranteed win in Ohio while GOP operatives in charge of election operations in that state removed voting machines from Democratic districts and placed them in Republican districts. 7 hours in line for Democrats, 15 minutes in line for Republicans. How could we allow this to happen? This process needs to be moved online so that Americans can cast their vote without leaving work or home to do so and a centralized and secure system of oversight needs to be implemented. Ebay does this millions of times a day. Why can't the FEC? The government was quite successful moving the IRS online a couple of decades ago. Why are we stuffing paper ballots into a box like it's 1776 all over again. It's ludicrous. The electoral college has also outlived it's usefulness. Gore won the popular vote no matter what the Supreme Court or Katherine Harris decided about Florida. Let's remember that the Supreme Court also handed campaign finance to corporate America this time around. Candidates are now beholden to corporate America for results.
The elections this year are as honest as $300,000,000.00 can buy.
Jon
Kittery,ME
Bless my "hanging chad", are you kidding. Unfortunately, we do not live in a fairyland. If we think everything will be on the up-and-up at election time, we are more naive than we imagined. However, I'm still looking forward to Santa Clause's visit.