sometimes i like to insert superfluous info for posterity. this thread will get buried sooner or later, but it can be a time capsule to contain extraneous details that are irrelevant and unrelated to the question. for example, sinkies don't know that ballots in the u.s. are serialized with unique numerical strings for counting purposes. they are on the tear-away strip on each ballot. this is also to prevent voter fraud. after casting votes, strips containing serial numbers are torn away to be kept as receipts and proof of voting when they are absentee ballots (i.e. ballots via mail). when it involves voting at a booth, the polling station worker tears ballot away from the bundle of strips and hands ballot to voter after voter has shown i.d. with matching address to registry and signed in. each strip has a unique serial number. ballots are cast in a sealed box while the bundle of strips is returned to county office where votes are counted. during recounts, strips are used to double check legitimacy of ballots. they can also trace voter arrival sequence with registry and indirectly track ballot to voter, if need arises, as ballots are so big and clumsy that they stack on top of each other in the box. ok, just a nugget for posterity just in case some fuckwits claim the voting process in u.s. is anonymous. it's not.