thom hartmann states germany people fill hand marked ballots hand counted civil servants watched volunteer representatives political parties totally clean easily audited even though takes week count vote german people know election results night polls close news media exit polls two generations never tenth percent unfortunately wrong generally votes counted twice midnight preliminary final results announced candidates contacted state whether accept seats week reply final results announced got nothing counting votes week btw final result election whole take even time somtimes precincts vote later year candidate died dresden ballots finalised therefore precinct voted two weeks later