My county in Florida use that system.

With scanners, you can't really be sure if the software works flawlessly, unless you hand-count everything anyway.

We have pretty reliable predictions at the same second polling stations close, and very good estimates a few hours later, and the preliminary final results (pending objections) early next morning, well in time for morning newspapers. Never change a running system.

...from prior election and be insignificant and interestingly enough, the "Linke" (the Left) will gain more votes from people who are disgusted with the SPD and refuse to vote for Merkel.

Merkel will win. There are good things and bad things about this. I have a different perspective than most because I was raised in Germany (Bavaria) and have family throughout Germany, including in Niedersachsen and Hamburg region. I hear all the conversations amongst my German family, friends and community. People who were lifelong voters of the CSU (Bavaria's party with CDU) can't stand Merkel and hold their nose for her. Many people of all parties can't stand Merkel, but don't see an alternative and had hoped for a long time that the coalition of "Rot-Rot-Grun" with a strong SPD leader would finally take the lead. Then the SPD chose Martin Schultz. And it was over. Merkel was set to win.

Ironically compared to the United States, staying home and not voting is not an option. Germans come out in droves (its also mandated by law) and vote on a Sunday. The results will start pouring in soon. (Yes, counted from paper ballots). And like I said above, Merkel will win. But I think there may be some surprising results for the German Bundestag (their parliament). I know dozens of people who were loyal SPD who can't pull themselves to vote for Martin Schultz and feel that the CDU/CSU and SPD are all the same and are voting "Linke" today for first time in their lives. I know members of the CSU who are voting for other parties and not the CSU.

Its going to be interesting. But Merkel will win. But I predict a very different than expected result in the Bundestag which will result in interesting coalitions if Merkel wants to get things done and she will have a different next term.

I completely agree that factually that in the month after they chose him that the SPD surged and it looked over for Angie and the CDU/CSU....but that wasn't because of Martin Schultz....that was hope and disappointment in the status quo....

And then your correct - Schultz opened his mouth and did some campaigning and went very quickly downhill from there. But the fate was sealed when they chose him. Watching the process this last summer was like watching a train wreck coming in slow motion...you knew it was coming.

Your reasoning for voting for the Greens was a large reason that some of the people I know who normally voted for the SPD or CDU voted for the Greens (largely the Russia reason you point out). And I know many lifelong CSU and SPD voters who voted for first time in their life for the FDP and even the "Linke". And when you look at the loss of support for the CDU/CSU and the SPD compared to the other parties, there was no surprise there except for the disgusting and scary result of the surge for the AfD....wow...that is pretty crazy...my only thought is that they will hopefully be like the "Piraten" party and lose support and a voice very quickly within the next year...but we shouldn't assume that will happen and Germans need to pay attention that the debates are not lost in the noise and dangerous rhetoric coming from the AfD. Putin is smiling right now about their win and will happily watch the destabilization from within Germany with the voice of the AfD. They are Germany's Trumpistas and very frightening in my opinion...13%....wow...

Finally, I just need to say that the first time I actually thought Martin Schultz had any "fight" in him and I somewhat liked him briefly was when last night on election night he stated that the SPD will not be forming the traditional bloc with the CDU/CSU....Merkel looked shocked...

We shall see what happens next...my only hope is that Germans are opening their eyes and are paying attention....

Germany is better at protecting their elections and after seeing what happened here I am sure they are very much on top of things. Most of them hate trump and want to avoid the ones like him. The have already had their hitler they do not need one again.