Paper Ballot Makes a Comeback

-- Graphic Arts Online, 7/25/2008 10:33:00 AM

Start the presses: Paper ballots counted by optical scanners will reappear in voting booths across the U.S. for November's Presidential election. More than 55% of voters will be using such optical scanning systems, say experts. 
While over $2 billion has been spent since Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002—much of it for touch-screen and other electronic voting systems—most of the automated voting systems are getting early retirement. Paper earned a bad name in the 2000 elections, especially with punch ballots that generated the infamous "hanging chads" that couldn't be counted. Electronics seemed like a ready solution.
But system breakdowns and malfunctions in 2004 and 2006 elections have caused a reevaluation by voting administrators around the U.S. New voting machines will be used in 11 states, reports the NY Times, and paper ballots counted by scanners will by used by 55% of voters.
One challenge will be estimating run lengths so that there are sufficient ballots available. Millions of new voters were registered during the protracted primary process.
The presidential election cycle is particularly beneficial to the printing industry, as candidates issue masses of direct mail and produce bumper stickers, posters, window signs and an array of advertising specialties. Democratic candidates have so far spent more than $99 million in direct mail efforts, and another $50 million on stickers, signs and specilty items. Republicans have spent less, but are ratcheting up, engaging the legendary mailing  prowess that saw George W. Bush elected for two terms with support from direct marketing expert Karl Rover. The Republican National Committee says presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain is already achieving direct mail response rates, and revenues, that exceed those of current President Bush.