That automated reader is actually a big win. If you accidentally overvote (e.g., fill in the bubble for Bush and Kerry), then it will reject it and shove it back out at you. Likewise, it will detect if the paper is too thick, making it harder to stuff the ballot box.

Sure, the tallies are kept inside the machine, and some of the older ones don't seem to be terribly reliable. But, the original piece of paper that you filled out will remain, no matter how it's mistabulated. If something goes wrong, they've got your original paper to go back to and recount, either electronically or manually. In short, a precinct-based optical scanner is the best voting technology we currently have.