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Since most people haven't ever experienced it, it's worth noting that counting votes takes a long time BECAUSE of all the steps that are taken to prevent mistakes / fraud. It's a feature, not a bug.
Every step of the process involves time-consuming bipartisan checks/balances.
Every step of the process involves time-consuming bipartisan checks/balances.
See the blue lanyards and red lanyards? Both parties have to sign off on this step — which merely involves opening the envelope, confirming the ballot was previously signed off by two clerk's from each party, and that the precinct is right.
And this step takes place only after a separate set of bipartisan officials affirmed the envelope signature matches the signature on file. And then the ballot is collected and processed with additional bipartisan sign off.
Did I mention watchers from both parties are wandering around this whole time?
And that any ballot in dispute is adjudicated in a completely different part of the room bipartisan pair of counters?
And that any ballot in dispute is adjudicated in a completely different part of the room bipartisan pair of counters?
Most remarkably, these lovely people and the staff that haven't slept in three days do all of this relatively cheerfully, with masks and ample hand sanitizer, in a windowless room, while the rest of us enjoy 70-degree weather in November while doom scrolling Twitter.
Could this all be completed more quickly?
Absolutely. Allow counting to begin earlier, with these same checks and balances. Or allow decentralized counting under the same conditions.
(FYI: those decisions are made by the state legislature in Indiana.)
Absolutely. Allow counting to begin earlier, with these same checks and balances. Or allow decentralized counting under the same conditions.
(FYI: those decisions are made by the state legislature in Indiana.)
But at the end of the day, the way we count votes is the direct result of actions taken by those who argued the process would "combat voter fraud."
And some of the more burdensome processes were required — pointedly — with the intent to disproportionately impact urban areas.
And some of the more burdensome processes were required — pointedly — with the intent to disproportionately impact urban areas.
So thank your local election workers and volunteers. From both parties. Election Board members Michael Solari and Jennifer Ping have been troopers here in Marion County and Clerk Myla Eldridge and her staff have been working around the clock. Good people doing good work.
