Submitted by Kevin Duffy, Feb 19, 2008 16:39

All poll workers are told that the Return of Canvas is a preliminary count and that the machines will be recounted in the week after elections. So they know there is nothing to be gained by not writing down the correct numbers.

They fill out the Return of Canvas at 9 PM and most workers I've observed do their best. If there is a site Coordinator and that person goes over the closing procedure earlier in the evening, fewer mistakes will be made. But, saying that, mistakes will be made. And what is so good about the process and systems in NYC is that they work. And the official count is pretty darn good.

One of the problems with the Feb primary for Dems was that many voters did not understand the Delegate votes (Not the responsibility of poll workers to tell the voters how their party set up the ballot.) And the problem of having the machine going down a column and the Return of Canvas form going the other way.

So the Board of Elections gets it in the neck again. Train 30,000 people and see if you get all 30,000 doing the job right!

Will Obama get the delegates he is entitled to in NY? That is the only question. And the process works.

Kevin Duffy

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