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[QUICK THREAD: WHY SO SLOW]
1/21
Say, we're friends. You're American, I'm Indian. And we're both to cast our votes. You vote in Boston, I in Bihar. Whose vote do you think has better odds of survival?
Let's examine.
1/21
Say, we're friends. You're American, I'm Indian. And we're both to cast our votes. You vote in Boston, I in Bihar. Whose vote do you think has better odds of survival?
Let's examine.
2/21
We'll start with you.
Legally, there's two ways you could vote:
1. In person, and
2. Absentee ballot.
In person is where you drive to a polling station, stand in line, await your turn, and cast your ballot personally. We're all familiar with the process.
We'll start with you.
Legally, there's two ways you could vote:
1. In person, and
2. Absentee ballot.
In person is where you drive to a polling station, stand in line, await your turn, and cast your ballot personally. We're all familiar with the process.
3/21
Absentee ballot is where you fill out the ballot paper at home, and either drop it off at a secure drop box or mail it in.
We'll come to this in a bit. Let's first review the more familiar, more ubiquitous, in person process.
Absentee ballot is where you fill out the ballot paper at home, and either drop it off at a secure drop box or mail it in.
We'll come to this in a bit. Let's first review the more familiar, more ubiquitous, in person process.
4/21
So you get to the polling station and present your ID. You'll notice there's election officials appointed to scrutinize your eligibility. These officials always work in pairs and the two can never belong to the same political party. This eliminates any foul-play.
So you get to the polling station and present your ID. You'll notice there's election officials appointed to scrutinize your eligibility. These officials always work in pairs and the two can never belong to the same political party. This eliminates any foul-play.
5/21
These officials affirm your eligibility by verifying your name and address. This is to ensure you are who you claim you are and are voting where you're registered to vote. Could you game this? With enough skills and luck, sure, but not as casually as you could in India.
These officials affirm your eligibility by verifying your name and address. This is to ensure you are who you claim you are and are voting where you're registered to vote. Could you game this? With enough skills and luck, sure, but not as casually as you could in India.
6/21
Once approved, you cast your ballot in a private booth. This could be either be a paper you fill out and hand over to the officials, or a button you press on a voting machine.
If it's a paper ballot, the officials look up your name in a voter list and cross it out.
Once approved, you cast your ballot in a private booth. This could be either be a paper you fill out and hand over to the officials, or a button you press on a voting machine.
If it's a paper ballot, the officials look up your name in a voter list and cross it out.
7/21
This is, of course, to prevent the same person from voting twice. Once done, your ballot goes into a secure ballot box.
If it's an electronic voting machine, things are obviously a little more automatic. The machine records your name and vote choice.
This is, of course, to prevent the same person from voting twice. Once done, your ballot goes into a secure ballot box.
If it's an electronic voting machine, things are obviously a little more automatic. The machine records your name and vote choice.
8/21
The 2 pieces of information are recorded separately in the interest of privacy. The machine then prints out a receipt with just your name and address but not voting choice. You hand this receipt to the election officials who then strike you name off their list.
The 2 pieces of information are recorded separately in the interest of privacy. The machine then prints out a receipt with just your name and address but not voting choice. You hand this receipt to the election officials who then strike you name off their list.
9/21
That's how you vote in person. The absentee process is a tad different, depending on your state. In some, you get an absentee ballot form in mail, as does every eligible voter, ahead of the deadline. In others, you have to make a formal request to have it sent to you.
That's how you vote in person. The absentee process is a tad different, depending on your state. In some, you get an absentee ballot form in mail, as does every eligible voter, ahead of the deadline. In others, you have to make a formal request to have it sent to you.
10/21
Once you fill out your ballot form with all the necessary details along with your voting choice, you do one of two things — mail it to the county Board of Elections, or put it in a designated ballot drop box near you. Once received, your ballot is verified.
Once you fill out your ballot form with all the necessary details along with your voting choice, you do one of two things — mail it to the county Board of Elections, or put it in a designated ballot drop box near you. Once received, your ballot is verified.
11/21
This verification is done by election officials (again, in pairs and from different parties) at the BoE office. They first scan the sealed envelope into a computer, match the signature on the envelope with the one in their voters' database, and verify your identity.
This verification is done by election officials (again, in pairs and from different parties) at the BoE office. They first scan the sealed envelope into a computer, match the signature on the envelope with the one in their voters' database, and verify your identity.
12/21
Once verified, the envelope is opened and your ballot placed into a secure ballot box. Most states verify their ballots as they come in, but others like MI and WI don't start until the Election Day.
The next step is fairly straightforward and swift. The actual counting.
Once verified, the envelope is opened and your ballot placed into a secure ballot box. Most states verify their ballots as they come in, but others like MI and WI don't start until the Election Day.
The next step is fairly straightforward and swift. The actual counting.
13/21
All paper ballots, both personal and absentee, are counted and tabulated by counting machines. The numbers are then reported by each county BoE to its state BoE. Oh and these boards, they can NEVER have any one party in majority on their roster for obvious reasons.
All paper ballots, both personal and absentee, are counted and tabulated by counting machines. The numbers are then reported by each county BoE to its state BoE. Oh and these boards, they can NEVER have any one party in majority on their roster for obvious reasons.
14/21
At this point, here's something key: these numbers are reported LIVE. The counties report to their respective states and the states report on their respective electoral websites on an hourly basis.
Transparency.
At this point, here's something key: these numbers are reported LIVE. The counties report to their respective states and the states report on their respective electoral websites on an hourly basis.
Transparency.
15/21
So this is how America counts its ballot. Is the process slow? Hell, yes. Especially when the absentee ballots are overwhelmingly more than in-person ballots, the added layer of scrutiny is bound to take longer. More so in states that don't even start until Election Day.
So this is how America counts its ballot. Is the process slow? Hell, yes. Especially when the absentee ballots are overwhelmingly more than in-person ballots, the added layer of scrutiny is bound to take longer. More so in states that don't even start until Election Day.
16/21
But why even do so much? Because in a healthy democracy, one imperatives trumps speed — ensuring every vote is accounted for, and legitimate. Elections are always a trade-off between speed and authenticity.
Now let's talk about my hypothetical Bihar vote.
But why even do so much? Because in a healthy democracy, one imperatives trumps speed — ensuring every vote is accounted for, and legitimate. Elections are always a trade-off between speed and authenticity.
Now let's talk about my hypothetical Bihar vote.
17/21
How do we fare?
I don't know, we've graduated from booth capturing to EVM tampering to horse trading. We find EVMs abandoned in car trunks and toilets. You had your EVM generate a receipt; we call it VVPAT. I didn't have it until last year. But this year I do.
How do we fare?
I don't know, we've graduated from booth capturing to EVM tampering to horse trading. We find EVMs abandoned in car trunks and toilets. You had your EVM generate a receipt; we call it VVPAT. I didn't have it until last year. But this year I do.
18/21
You can live-track your absentee ballot as it travels through each stage of verification and tabulation, on your BoE's website. I can't. Forget that, I don't even have the absentee ballot as a right. I have to prove I can't go in person. Disability, etc.
You can live-track your absentee ballot as it travels through each stage of verification and tabulation, on your BoE's website. I can't. Forget that, I don't even have the absentee ballot as a right. I have to prove I can't go in person. Disability, etc.
19/21
So, for me, mailing in my vote isn't a default entitlement. It's like applying for a gun license — I have to prove I need it. You don't. You just have to say you want it. That alone makes you an infinitely more powerful voter than me.
So, for me, mailing in my vote isn't a default entitlement. It's like applying for a gun license — I have to prove I need it. You don't. You just have to say you want it. That alone makes you an infinitely more powerful voter than me.
20/21
And speaking of speed, let's not forget that if America is taking days to count, its election was still a single-day affair. Bihar started its polls on 10/28 and won't end until 11/7. And will only count on 11/10. That's 13 days. And that's just a state.
And speaking of speed, let's not forget that if America is taking days to count, its election was still a single-day affair. Bihar started its polls on 10/28 and won't end until 11/7. And will only count on 11/10. That's 13 days. And that's just a state.
21/21
Takeaway?
Let's not diss any First World electoral process, least of all as Indians. We are generations behind in both efficiency and transparency. The average American voter wields more suffrage than entire communities in our country.
Let not jingoism cloud your wisdom.
Takeaway?
Let's not diss any First World electoral process, least of all as Indians. We are generations behind in both efficiency and transparency. The average American voter wields more suffrage than entire communities in our country.
Let not jingoism cloud your wisdom.
