You said: The only good way to check and to confirm the published vote tallies, short of a recount, is exit polls. Exit polls are by any measure the most accurate form of polling. I disagree with the emphasis on exit polls. The real way to check the reliability and validity of the count is POST ELECTION AUDITS of the paper ballots. If statistically sound audits were routine and mandatory we would be less reliant on trust and more able to verify the election results. A number of states already require mandatory audits but New Hampshire is not one of them. Paper ballots are necessary but of limited utility without audits -- and full recounts if the audit reveals potential problems.