Election Reform

...and a "reconciliation sheet" where each voters name is written as they sign in.

The number of voters inked into the reconciliation sheet has to match the total votes registered on the machines exactly. That number also has to match the total on the printed paper trail. In Ohio we now trust nothing.

As for hand counting paper ballots, people are corrupt, sloppy, and sometimes dumb. Some would mark all the boxes, others would put a mark halfway between candidates requiring a judgement. Someone would try to print counterfeit ballots and stuff the box.

In Ohio we have a hard time finding people to work the election, and that pays $130. I don't know where we could find workers to sit at a table for 12 hours accurately recording each national and local candidate, issue, and initiative until their eyes bleed. Of course there'd have to be a witness to each counter from the opposite party to avoid "mistakes". The end result is is a long process that is less reliable due to fatigue, partisan judgement, and accidents.

Did you ever consider working for your local elections? I'm sure they need the help. You could get a first hand account of how your state's votes are counted, and if there's a weak link in the voting chain, you'd be the first to know and report it. Besides, it's civic duty that's easier than tediously counting the marks on little pieces of paper.