From Deseret News archives:
Vote 'no' on paper ballots
No.
The idea is the brainchild of people on a national level who are uncomfortable with advances in technology. And besides, experience has shown that paper ballots can be an even bigger headache than the electronic versions.
The concern is understandable, of course. New inventions make nervous Nellies of us all. People once feared that microwave ovens would make them sterile or that garage door openers might lead to cancer. Humorist James Thurber recalled that his mother would never leave light sockets open in the house because she was convinced electricity would leak out, costing her money and threatening her health.
Such things are often the source of urban folk legends. Trepidation before the unknown is a natural human reaction.
Overcoming that trepidation, however, is the mark of education and understanding.
And dare we say that almost all of those those skittish souls are likely older than 40? The younger generation sees the outcry for the tangible comfort of paper ballots as a hallmark of the fuddy-duddy. The notion sounds, to young ears, like people demanding election results be chiseled into granite for security.
We agree.
Utahns do not have the time, money or obligation to create a "security blanket" of paper ballots for Luddites to wrap around themselves in the night. The electronic voting era is upon us. Our state leaders have done a superb job of getting the new system up and running and trouble-shooting glitches as they have surfaced.
We suggest a little more faith and a little less fright.
Those wringing their hands should take a couple of aspirins and relax by counting their mattress money.
Recent comments
huh?
Confused | March 2, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.
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Kathleen Elphick | Sept. 5, 2008 at 11:47 a.m.
Heavens No! Please DO NOT give me a paper trail on that Diebold ATM...
Sherry Healy | June 30, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.
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