Nightmare at the Polls story
 

My ex just had a nightmare at the polls. Scary shit. These are her words:
***

I just had the most fumigating experience of my voting career, and I am pretty certain that my vote will NOT be counted.

For starters, I am a female, age 30, working professional who is clearly a target vote. Now, this may not matter in NYC because I support Kerry -- but it matters to me that my vote is counted; and it matters to me that we have a system in place that is efficient and fair.

Today I have less faith in our voting system than ever before.

I went to PS (Public School) 51 on 45th Street, a block away from my home, with my acknowledgement notice that I am registered to vote and my ID. I waited over two hours in the line, and an additional 15 minutes to find the RIGHT LINE, to do my civic duty in one of the most imperative elections of my time.

When I got to the front of the line, despite my voter card in hand that clearly acknowledged that I am registered to vote in NYC, I was turned away and given a piece of paper to vote "stand by". They couldn't find my name in the "book" they said. What book? Why do you need a book? This paper was sent to me by the STATE OF NEW YORK - it reads exactly - I AM ELIGBLE TO VOTE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. I asked several questions but the woman who was helping me spoke very little English and was not able to give me an answer as whether or not my vote would count and why I was not in the book.

Concerned, I turned to the table to start filling out my stand by ballot when I saw another poll volunteer that spoke English and I asked her if she could help me. She took one look at my voter card and told me that I was in district 90. She could only speak with people in district 91.

You can't speak to me if I'm not in district 91?
Nope.

I asked her if she could just answer a simple question about how my vote would be counted, and what "stand by" means; as I believe that I should be able to vote legitimately and not "stand by" and I want to make sure that I am aware of what the process is and if I'm doing the right thing. Perhaps this isn't for me, as I am clearly and identifiably registered to vote.

This woman actually proceeded to hand me a voter registration card and told me to fill this out and drop in the mail to ensure I was registered to vote in the NEXT ELECTION.

Yes, she did say that, verbatim.

I was speechless and nearly in tears of the audacity and rudeness and lack of concern the poll staff was showing. The people around me, the 100s of people around me, were shaking their heads and looking at me with this sorry look of disbelief; aside from a select few who were also going through the same experience.

Finally, my last attempt to find out what a "stand by" vote was, ended with yet another staffer, who I stopped and acknowledged that he probably wasn't allowed to talk to me because I was the wrong age, race, gender, party, district, precinct, WHATEVER -- but I begged him for a minute of his time. I kindly told him my situation; showed him proof of registration, and asked him how could I vote and make sure that my vote was counted. He shook his head and said I'm sorry, your name is not in the book and that means there was an error and there was nothing he could do.

At least he was honest.

The kind man told me to fill out the "stand by" paperwork and hand it to the vagrant looking man in the corner, who was angry and mumbling under his breath and couldn't see out his left eye and had a trash can right next to him. He was the collector of the "Stand By" vote; the "coordinator" I was told.

I went up to this man and asked him VERY NICELY what he intended to do with all of these envelops sitting on top of his sweater (and the two that had fell on the ground) that were stacked in the chair next to him. He then pointed to his ball cap that read "coordinator" and told me it was none of my business. I asked again, VERY NICELY, how could I make sure my vote was counted and what he did do with the votes that were Stand By at the end of the day? Was there someone who collected them every hour? Who was this person? Where did these precious envelopes go and why am I the only one who cares?

He then got very rude and snide and whispered under his breath -- "You want your vote to be counted?...." and then started laughing. Quietly and weirdly, like he was dangling it in front of me and tempting me to get angry and risk my vote not being counted.

All I could think was - Is this a joke? Why is this so f---ing difficult?

At this time, in utter frustration and complete loss of faith in the entire process, I turned my "Stand by" envelope into the pile on top of the old man's red sweater -- despite the fact that I have PROOF that I am registered to vote in NYC. Quiet, disappointed and ashamed of our system, I walked out of PS 51 in disbelief.

Today, I have no reason to have faith in the electoral process. I already feared the efficiency of the 1920's voting machines (wild!) the moment I walked in to the polls -- but who knew that not being able to enter one was going to be my biggest concern of them all.

And I wonder what happened with my envelope of carefully selected individuals in that pile on the old man's sweater.

I hope I'm alone with this experience, but I fear I am not. Please feel free to contact me if you need to, I am happy to speak out on my disappointment and lack of faith from today's experience. The system needs to change, it's too important not to.

Since it doesn't appear that she got a straight answer on the "standby ballot" here is the deal.

Because her name was not on their list, and she was voting in the wrong district (even if it was a mistake) they LEGALLY are unable to accomodate her. Instead, she votes via what they refer to as a "standby ballot."

At a future date (likely a few weeks) they will determine whether or not she is an eligible voter, if she is, then they will count her vote. If she's ineligible, they won't count it. It's that simple.

It does sound like she did get mistreated, and she should report it, along with a description of those unwilling to assist her.

I registered before the deadline here in FL and today when I went to vote I was not on any of the lists and of course my voters card never came.

I had to do a provisional ballot and I have to call in two days a number they gave me to find out if my vote was counted. The US election process is the biggest sham I've ever seen..

Ok..

You seriously need to contact the local or even national news..

And do it quick..

They will eat this shit up..

Good publicity for the pink haired dude as well..

Im serious.. Take this concern to the media.

They will no doubt eat this up.

After this election night is all said and done, the focus of the media will be all over stories like this for days to come.

I ASSURE YOU.

If you do make the news be sure to do the BP4L handsign..

Thanks.

Just to spice things up, when you do talk to the press, play the victum card.. Its similar to the racial card used all so often..

Say "If I were a registered Republican I bet this would not have happened"

Even if its not true, it spices things up..

Everyone loves the Consipracy strory and the man beating down victum style stories.

This will be hot.

If you like I can call you and be your publicist and coach you as to how to most benefit from your horrible event.

I shouldnt have to tell you, but when you do go on the air, be sure to have a flashcash shirt on, or something to promote.

Sorry Hal, but it sounds to me like she went to the wrong polling location. Her fault, no one elses.

Yes, you can be rigistered to vote, but if you go to the wrong location they aren't going to let you vote. How do they know she did not already vote at the proper location?

That is what the book is for. They cross you off, and you sign your name.

Are you racist?

If she were white and republican I bet you'd have a different tone.

Wow you sure went out on a limb with this prediction ...

only in america

I got into a huge argument with a bunch of old farts that were on a power trip. Same bullshit they said they couldn't find me in the computer system. I said there's got to be a mistake. They asked for my voter card and I told them I didn't have it with me. This same thing happened to 3 people while I was there.

Then this really nice fellow who was a poll watcher told the old power tripping fart he was required by law to give us provisional ballots and the dickhead refused and then the guy in charge of the precint walks over and starts telling the poll watcher to leave the premises and stay 50 feet away from the building and then they started yelling at each other. It turned into a complete circus with all these old geezers pointing fingers at each other and dripping spit out of their mouths as it escalted.

So then I said this is ludicrous and asked for my drivers license back. As I'm walking out two attorneys from the NAACP walk up and ask if I was denied too. Apparently the same thing was happening all day long at this voting location.

So they gave me a complete affidavit to fill out and said they would be filing a lawsuit againt the county clerks office.

Fuck it was like nothing I've ever seen before. I was waiting for these whacks to start throwing fists at each other.

I said you're all idiots as I walked out.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

We are already getting reports in Milwaukee of people being told they have already voted. Now that would piss me off.

But if you show up at the wrong place, well, thats your fault.

just watch smarty.

I did not notice, what race is she?

Im glad I live in Oregon..

We are 100% mail in ballot..

We all voted and mailed it in weeks ago..

The entire nation should have our system.

I too ended up at the 'wrong' polling location and was sent through two people who couldn't find my name in their books. I was sent to the guy that deals with the Provisional ballots and after he had me fill out a form and explained how to mark the ballot, he asked me to show him on map where I lived. I showed him and he informed me that I could vote there but, it wouldn't count. He was nice enough to look up the correct place I was supposed to be voting at. So after standing in line at two polling places, I finally was able to vote.

Here is a phone number for the election protection hotline for people who had problems voting.
1-866-687-8683. Hope this helps your friend

Okay, one time I went to the wrong polling location because they had two, across the street from each other, and both were churches, so I ended up having to walk across the street when I found out I was at the wrong one, but how do so many people end up on the other side of town?

Don't they think it makes any difference?

Let me tell you half the problem at least in Florida is they got these old goats operating computers. The geezer who I was arguing with had to be almost 80 years old and couldn't even work the mouse well and he was hard of hearing and kept asking me to repeat what I was saying.

:1orglaugh

Minorities sometimes have poor sence of direction.

This is a good way to exclude them..

That is why I moved out of Florida to Arizona :winkwink:

That is almost exactly what happened to me. Two churches on the same street with similar names. They were about 1/4 mile away from each other.

She actually works as a VP in a PR firm and sent this to her contacts (and cc'd me). She may be on a major news show tomorrow.

The fucking republicans are pulling thier shit just like last time. I bet every worker there was republican...

Mine were exactly across the street from each other. I went to the first one because I had never noticed the one across the street.

Lesson number one: It's the Republicans fault when your gf is too stupid to vote at the right place.

She is going to go on tv and say she went to the wrong place and they would not let her vote?

You racist?

yeah, even if it was in a heavy Democratic state

Lesson number 2: I would bet my bank account that she is smarter than most the people on this board. And has pretty solid problem solving abilities. I doubt they knew how she voted, so maybe the lesson is more about the system of assistance, in general. How many votes are lost due to confusion?

You mean voters have to go to one specific polling place?

What a joke.

Democracy? Yeah, right. :1orglaugh

Im tellin ya, this story will be hot on the news..

Get in before the others do..

There will be TONS of stories like these.

how the fuck else would you keep track of who voted already you dumbass? Put an ink spot on their forehead?

LOL!!

Racist!!!

Idiot, some other countries manage to do it: http://www.abc.net.au/elections/fede...6/s1142573.htm

Your democracy is a joke.

The good news is the voting experience for most is different than above. Poll workers are mostly volunteer jobs. So you get a ton of older people. Many young people don't give enough of a shit to become involved and volunteer, they just bitch.

The polling place I voted at was made up of young and old alike. A week before the election a notice of the exact polling place for me was mailed out. I had enough of an IQ to figure out how to get there. Just because it says polling place, does NOT mean you get to vote there. Not saying the posts above the person went to the wrong place, but it is possible.

Don't expect the election officals to be mind readers. You have to tell them when and where you move.

Why a book or list? That is an attempt to make sure you vote in the right place, only vote once and are entitled to vote in this country. (It is not unreasonable given the number of people that grew up in Chicago).

you are the joke . . .deal with it

oh, BTW, perhaps you would notice the population difference

On 3 November 2004 at 14:30:35 (Canberra time), the resident population of Australia is projected to be:

20,208,151

Gee, I wonder why we can't do it like you, you idiot.

Bush will fuck you again.
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Today when I went, I waited in line, eventually got to the front, and was told my name wasnt on the list, so this guy brought me to some back room and started making some phone calls, it was obviously busy, he kept dialing and hanging up... eventually after not getting through, we walked into another room, he talked to some lady, and she came and told me I could vote..

well shit..

So I ask about one of those forms for people who are not on the list, but know they registered, she wouldnt get me one.

I filed a report with 1-866-OUR-VOTE and complained.. something will be done

Yep. As much as he can.