Watch carefully when you go to the polls Tuesday
Early voting in North Carolina this past weekend. | AP Photo
By now it’s well known that certain elements of our political system have used the last four years to figure out and pull just about every trick in the book in order to suppress Tuesday’s vote.
Most of them are arrayed against President Obama. They desperately want him to lose the election.
Some of the tricks are legal, such as voter ID requirements. A bunch of states controlled by Republican legislatures passed onerous requirements, such as the necessity of having a state-issued photo ID to vote. In many, courts have struck those down. Virginia toughened its voter ID requirements, too, though ours are less onerous.
In other states such as Ohio and Florida, the Secretary of State and governor have issued confusing and in some cases illegal orders to limit early voting. Those have also been challenged in court by Democrats (who also challenged Pennsylvania’s ID law) and in many cases judges have overturned that stuff.
In still more states, outfits like the Republican-linked Strategic Allied Consulting have been conducting “voter registration” drives. Suspicions are high that the registration workers, if they had a hint you would vote Democrat, would toss your application in the trash. A former SAC worker in Virginia was caught doing this and has been criminally charged with an array of felonies and misdemeanors. SAC, incidentally, shared a mailing address in Warrenton with Karl Rove’s advocacy group for Romney, Crossroads GPS. I doubt that’s a coincidence.
After Virginia’s top officials (who are Republicans) were embarrassed into investigating, they announced they would. And they say they’ve expanded their investigation to see if Colin Small’s alleged misdeeds were also performed by as many as 40 of his colleagues in the commonwealth. If they were, there are going to be a lot of people who believe they’re registered, who will show up at the polls tomorrow and find out they’re not.
There are other tricks happening, too.
In one case in Arizona, a Republican Senate campaign apparently robo-called Democrats, requesting their vote, then told them the wrong polling place, which was as much as 11 miles away from the right one.
Finally, we have an army of Tea Party-inspired poll watchers, and they will be active in Virginia and other swing states this year under the banner of “True the Vote,” an ostensibly non-partisan voters group. Its actual purpose is to challenge voters who might look like they’re going to vote for Obama. Read: blacks, students, people who wear union T-shirts to the polls, and the elderly.
They’ve already been out in force during early voting in North Carolina. They’ve distributed inaccurate poll-watching manuals here in Virginia. In some places, they may challenge voters directly. In others, they may “report” anomalies to some poll-watching authority via cell phone.
All of which is to say:
- If you show up at the polls and find out you’re NOT registered, put up a fuss (this goes for anyone who believes they’re registered, intends to vote, but finds out they cannot). Don’t allow them to dismiss you without, at the least, making it known how unhappy you are. Call a TV station or your local newspaper, or email me at dan(dot)casey(at)roanoke(dot)com and put your displeasure on the record.
- Don’t let any watcher intimidate you at the polls. Make sure the officials there know that you’ve felt such intimidation from the watchers when that occurs. They can be tossed out for such practices.
Happy voting, everyone.
November 5, 2012 - 11:02 AM
I don’t understand these self-appointed poll-watching groups. Have they always been at Presudential election polling places? How do I recognize members of such a group?
Also, if you haven’t already voted, be sure to read the article linked below. It’s enlightening.
http://www.examiner.com/article/gop-debunked-obama-did-not-create-5-trillion-new-debt
One more piece to read carefully prior to heading to the polls.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romneys-election-campaign-insults-voters/2012/11/02/69fcc1fc-2428-11e2-9313-3c7f59038d93_story.html?socialreader_check=0&denied=1
I have my card on my fridge all ready to go. Of course, I have my son’s too and since I couldn’t get him to commit to a side, I kept the card and I’ll go back later and use it myself.
#1 They’ve been around before to some degree, but indications in early voting are that some of them have become more aggressive and belligerent, directly approaching voters or demanding that authorized poll workers go beyond certain limits. These people are determined to limit voting in whatever way possible.
I think we need watchers. I hate to say it, but we do.
And also make sure when you vote that your vote is counted CORRECTLY! So when you vote for Romney, make sure that the vote doesn’t count for Obama as many of these early voting places seem to be having trouble with.
Here is hoping they let me in the door. I have never had a problem but we live in different times. If anything comes up will let you folks know.
Get your head out of your butt. Look at what the Dems are doing!!!!
#7 “…as many of these early voting places seem to be having trouble with.”
Please tell us what you mean by “many.” I heard of a few in N.C., all of which were taken care of as soon as they were discovered. Apparently, machines that haven’t been reset correctly are a problem in most every N.C. election.
Anybody who doesn’t double-check their vote is foolish.
A few months ago, the local Tea Party web site advertised for poll watchers.
We don’t need the Tea Party poll watchers.
@Conservative. Bingo on your post! No mention was made with regard to the voting machines simply needing recalibrated after showing a vote for Obama when it was actually cast for Romney.
Dan is laying the groundwork for excuses….as of right now I have 3 sure fire voting places tomorrow. My uncle (RIP) would have wanted me to vote early so I will. The tenant in my rental will vote mid day. I’ll vote for myself on the way home.
And also make sure when you vote that your vote is counted CORRECTLY! So when you vote for Obama, make sure that the vote doesn’t count for Romney as many of these early voting places seem to be having trouble with that.
(Bonus: this version did NOT end on a preposition.)
Ricky Daniels, give us some of the specifics of “what the Dems are doing!”
What?
Where?
When?
We’re anxious to know.
you’re right dan, i will be observing my polling location. any intimidation by either party will be reported to the election officials. i seem to remember the black panthers in philly back in 2008. they weren’t exactly collecting for the red cross. the administration swept it under the table because it was favorable to the party. please show show journalistic integrity and display nuetrality not partisanship!
To repeat my comment sent to the RT about a LTE and includes a link to an article I posted her, earlier:
>>
Re: JEANNA MURPHY
Chief of Northside voting district,
ROANOKE COUNTY
1) See: http://tinyurl.com/d2v5vm5
**
How secure is your electronic vote?
By Doug Gross, CNN
updated 10:54 AM EDT, Sat November 3, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
√ Experts say voting security in the U.S. is improving, but there’s work to do
√ About 45 million Americans will cast an electronic ballot with no paper trail
√ “High-school level” coding skills are all that’s needed to hack a machine
√ Election officials are moving back to paper ballots, but money is a concern
SNIP
**
Note the “‘High-school level’ coding skills are all that’s needed to hack a machine”
2) All the fraud does not take place after the “the voter hits that final vote screen.” The hacking could take place even before 5am. Not to mention actions to keep folk away from the poll, in the first place.
3) Were all “dedicated poll workers” dedicated to an honest count of all eligible citizens (rather than dedicated to their party winning at all cost), there would not be a DOJ, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section and there would not be the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (and extended in 1970, 1975, 1982, and 2006) and the act would not have been repeatedly extended. [check out http://tinyurl.com/7smlno3 ]
IMHO, you owe the dedicated men and women of DOJ and the media who report the truth an immediate apology.
<<
Looks like we need UN observers after all.
@ Steve #17, journalistic integrity is not displaying neutrality it is merely telling the truth and letting the chips fall where they may. By your own definition, right wing media has no journalistic integrity at all!
It’s ironic these new laws come from the party which champions less government, less regulation and…fewer laws. Dial back to the 1920′s and 1960′s and in today’s environment, the GOP/TP would vehemently oppose the 19th amendment and the Voting Rights Act. The reality is they are proponents of more laws/regulations which suit their causes and stifle opposing views.
There’s no such thing as voter fraud. Dan Casey said so.
Steve, if it’s raining outside and I find a crazy person who says the sun is shining, am I obligated to write that, as balance, in a story?
(The answer is no). And failing to do that does not indicate any bias.
So Steve, one incident by one person in ’08 has led to new voting laws in 23 states? And most of those laws have no relevance or similarity to the Philadelphia case.
How about watching out for some of this:
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/10/17/14344718-arizonas-largest-county-listed-wrong-date-for-the-election-on-voter-id-cards-but-just-in-spanish#.UH7-YcM4zEo.facebook
http://www.nbc29.com/story/19858475/rockingham-police-make-arrest-in-trashed-voter-forms-investigation
http://www.salon.com/2012/09/26/fla_voter_fraud_charge_has_ties_to_romney/
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/right-wing-candidates-file-as-democrats-in-ravalli-county-races/article_3fba3960-c8f3-501a-929d-f5e18ce110a4.html
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/11/03/1133891/pennsylvania-judge-wont-ban-misleading-photo-id-ads/
16.Ricky Daniels, give us some of the specifics of “what the Dems are doing!”
What?
Where?
When?
We’re anxious to know.
Comment by Dan Casey — November 5, 2012 @ 12:28 pm
1) NAACP takes over Houston, TX polling place
2) Reports in 4 states now of electronic polling machines recording
votes for Romney as votes for Obama (never the other way around?)
IMO. . .Black Panthers won’t show in Philly. . .Romney’s up and on a roll;
therefore, they can’t expect the DOJ to roll over for them like 2008.
“If you show up at the polls and find out you’re NOT registered, put up a fuss ”
Translation:
If you show up at a poll where you are not registered, put up a fuss. That way you can vote in multiple places or vote in areas where you are not registered.
If you are voting for a shut-in or someone who recently died, don’t accept a demand for an ID. That’s intimidation. Contact the media. It’s considered voter suppression.
Republican strategist: Voter fraud is a GOP myth
What scott whitaker’s links prove is that what’s going on is directly from the Karl Rove playbook: Loudly cry that the other side is doing something, while YOU do it yourself.
I doubt it’s a coincidence that NONE of the GOP voter ID laws would have prevented ANY of the type of election fraud they’ve been accused of.
Steve, don’t get caught up in dano’s “journalistic integrity” BS. He’s already admitted on this blog that he’s “biased as hell” and doesn’t pay much attention to “ethics in journalism.” And his blog posse wouldn’t have it any other way.
matt, do you believe I have an obligation to report that a crazy person says the sun is shining when I can see for myself that it’s a sunny day?
Dan’s obvious partisanship aside (implying that anyone reporting intimidation by conservatives is a patriot, but anyone reporting intimidation by liberals is crazy), I’m still stuck on how any sane person in our society can actually consider having a photo ID to be an “onerous requirement.”
#17 steve, fellow, as everybody with any sense already knows, there was one incident at a precinct involving a couple of guys with the New Black Panthers (the Black Panthers don’t exist any longer and former members have nothing to do with the NBP). This was a precinct that was voting heavily Obama to begin with. This event had no effect whatsoever on the overall election.
OTOH, right wingers have trained legions of election thugs. This should concern anybody worried about our elections.
#26 Henry, you’ve gotten even nuttier than your average Freeper.
#25 Funny how we have yet to see Leon complain about all the voter-suppression tactics of the right wing.
Bitterness afoot, already.
Chuck,
It was estimated in PA that more than 600,000 voters did not have the required state issued ID, almost all of whom were poor, elderly or students. This may surprise you but those are three of the president’s constituencies, and it may further surprise you that it is no coincidence that many of them would have been shut out of voting by such machinations. It was an attempt by the GOP to supress votes there.
Guess what, though! You are not a judge, and the PA judges saw through that. Which is why they invalidated the law.
As for intimidation of conservative-minded voters, I believe that should be reported, no matter what you pretend to think I believe.
It is vitally important to Democrats that voter fraud be allowed to happen. That’s why heavily Democrat polling places have 92% participation while other places have a fraction of that. Any attempt to investigate voter fraud are heavily attacked by the Democrat-controlled media.
Dan is baiting the field by claiming that voter suppression is a problem. As if asking for an ID is “suppression”. Obamacare demands that people have an ID. Is that “health care suppression”?
If you are going to vote for someone else, the need for an ID is a show-stopper. That’s why Dan is making a fuss today.
Dan in the original post:
“Finally, we have an army of Tea Party-inspired poll watchers”
and UN poll watchers to intimidate the other side.
You know Dan, I’m just basing your make-beliefs on your posts. After all, you are the one who threw out the insane guy on the rainy day when someone brought up the obvious episodes of SEIU and Black Panther intimidation last time.
As for the Pennsylvania “estimates”, how were these figures reached? Glad to see your faith in the non-partisan nature of judges decisions though. Too bad your faith in the objectivity of the judiciary wasn’t nearly so strong in 2000.
Oh please Chuck, let’s not pretend this is just a photo ID that we consider an “onerous requirement”, it is a specific, produce birth certificate and jump through several hoops to prove who you are for the sake of exercising a right you have had for (ever how long) that we find to be both obvious in its intent and onerous in its requirements.
You have to pay for birth certificates, you have to wait to get them, you have to make a trip to the DMV and if you are lucky, get to pay for and receive an ID. If you have been voting and living for 80-90 years without one, why do you need to get one to make you feel better about who someone is? By what right?
If identification of every voter is so important, fix the abuses in the absentee ballots and then pick on the people who go in person to vote who you believe are committing a felony,
“It is vitally important to Democrats that voter fraud be allowed to happen. That’s why heavily Democrat polling places have 92% participation while other places have a fraction of that.”
Henry obviously knows nothing about elections in Roanoke. The most reliable high-turnout precincts in Roanoke are South Roanoke 1 and South Roanoke 2. I promise you they’re not “heavily Democrat.” They almost always vote Republican.
I already posted this on the Blue Ridge Caucus, but it fits here, too.
From http://www.ironictimes.com (a satirical news site, but often quite true):
“Obama urges his supporters to get out and vote; Romney urges his supporters to get out and stop them.”
Chicago Democrats Vote Early and Often undeterred by poll watchers:
-
http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2012/11/chicago-early-voters-go-for-obama.html
-
#38 Funny how the conservatives are so intimidated by 44 observers going to 22 polling stations. That’s nothing compared to the number of thugs they’re deploying.
Lars Hagen, a little while ago you posted something about early voting being way down in Chicago. Now you’re saying it’s up, or something?
JohnW, unless the TP are planning on committing fraud or intimidation, how would they find the UN intimidating?
Makes no sense. The TP has a specific bias. The UN observes elections all over the world with no intention of effecting them, just ensuring safe and fair polling places. There’s no comparison between the TP goons and professional UN observers.
So, maybe I should go to my (heavily Republican) polling place in a pair of old jeans and a “politically incorrect” T-shirt and see what happens.
Ok Dan. You are the journalist and have the ability to get this info. Wednesday morning, get the number of people registered in precincts where Obama pulls > 80% of the vote and let’s see what percentage of registered actually voted. Let’s see how it compares to other precincts.
Kristen, unless the Democrats are planning on committing fraud or intimidation, how would they find the TP intimidating?
http://tinyurl.com/asam4pa
**
America’s voting system is a disgrace
By David Frum, CNN Contributor
updated 2:49 PM EST, Mon November 5, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
√ David Frum: Tuesday’s vote is subject to all manner of disputes between parties
√ He says U.S. voting system is locally controlled, gives too much power to politicians
√ Other democracies establish national standards and enforce them equally, he says
√ Frum: After dispute over 2000 election, reforms were promised but haven’t materialized
SNIP
**
Re: Comment by Henry — November 5, 2012 @ 3:27 pm
What’s the agenda?
Here’s a GOP sponsored voting change in Ohio that could vastly delay the count in that state.
“Kasich is referring to an initiative undertaken by his Secretary of State, Jon Husted (R), who sent absentee ballot applications to all registered voters. Voters who filled out the application but later decided to vote at the polls will be forced to vote provisional so officials can verify they did not vote twice. As 350,000 absentee ballots in Ohio have not yet been returned, the number of provisional ballots cast Tuesday could be significant, as Kasich explained.
Kasich’s cautious statement is in stark contrast with Husted’s insistence that the state will have enough ballots to call the election on Tuesday. Husted also issued a last-minute directive on Friday increasing the likelihood that these ballots will be thrown out.”
If Obama takes 270 WITHOUT Ohio (Nate Silver is predicting he’ll win 289 not counting Ohio’s) then it won’t make a difference. But if the election ends and each candidate has 255 EVs and Ohio is too close to call without the provisional ballots, expect 11 days of madness in that state, an repeats of 2000′s “Brooks Brothers revolution.”
And Republicans will be in control of the final count to determine the victor.
#47 What do you think might happen? I’m not sure what you mean.
Henry, the TP is nothing more than a bunch of partisan goons with no agenda other than to prevent Obama’s reelection. They also have no role to play. They’re amateurs. Election observation is part of what the UN actually does. Professionally.
Personally I’d love it if one of them got in my face.
http://tinyurl.com/btj5jus
**
Voting challenges in battleground states could create drama, headaches
By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer
updated 3:23 PM EST, Mon November 5, 2012
(CNN) — Theodore Olson says he is not going anywhere after Election Day.
“I’ve been clearing my calendar just in case I need to be ready for the next five weeks,” the Washington “super lawyer” and Romney adviser joked with CNN recently. “I don’t know, no one knows, you read these polls and it could come out any of a zillion different ways.”
Olson was the appellate attorney who successfully argued before the Supreme Court in the 2000 Florida ballot recount case, which handed the presidency to George W. Bush.
SNIP
“Between provisional balloting, absentee balloting, and voting technology, I think there are untold different ways that this is a tense, contested election,” said Rebecca Green, co-director of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School. “It’s pretty certain there’s going to be some litigation when this is over on November 6th.”
SNIP
**
I realize “Partisan goon” isn’t very PC…I’m sorry if it offends anyone.
Nate Silver now has President Obama’s re-election chance at 86% GOP busy laying groundwork blaming Sandy.
Poll watchers (authorized representatives per Code of Virginia) can’t just waltz into a polling place and set up camp. There are specific rules that must be followed for anyone to be allowed INSIDE to observe. There is one representative of each party and one for each independent candidate permitted, and they all must be a qualified Virginia vote and have a “letter of authorization” signed by the candidate or part chair. These people can’t campaign inside, can’t hinder or delay any officer of election or voter, and can only be close to the check-in table (not sitting at it). Check with any local voter registrar for all the specifics and details.
Dan wants it to be easier to vote twice in Ohio.
Good Democrat.
Given the tenor of this election season and the lack of a relationship between the TP/R Party and the truth, nothing will surprise me.
http://twitchy.com/2012/11/05/voter-suppression-outrage-redux-military-absentee-ballots-are-still-not-arriving/
Dan,
You “have” admitted your bias on numerous occasions. Your “sun shining” analogy is silly.
Steve,
Obviously gdad’s definition of “intimidation” means that it is OK for a “couple of guys” to stand outside of polling places with weapons as long as it is a precinct in which they already plan to win.
Henry, re: 2:25
Please do not use “logic” in here, it only confuses and irritates the myopic left.
mike O,
I’m an opinion columnist. Bias is inherent in opinions. And that kind of criticism is like arguing against a woman because she’s a brunette.
If you believe opinions have no place in a newspaper, then you believe there should be no letters to the editor, no George Will or Cal Thomas columns, etc. It also means you’re living in another reality. All newspapers have those things.
You can make it that way, though. You can buy a newspaper, and decree that henceforth, there shall be no opinions in your newspaper.
Otherwise, you’re merely howling at the moon, and loving your own notes.
Dan,
I have no problem with your bias. However, it seems, you believe you can turn it on and off like a Vietnamese hooker.
When you make silly comparisons to real arguments it takes away from your overall greatness…
Btw… I know Cal Thomas and “you are no Cal Thomas”….lol (just kidding)
Kristen,
Re: poll watchers,
Have you ever been a poll watcher?
You are correct, they are “amateurs” as they are “volunteers”.
I have done this work in many elections, sometimes from 5am till after midnight. There have always been “watchers” from both partys, in my experience, and it has always been a very congenial atmosphere as we are only looking for a “fair” election process.
Those who volunteer, from both partys should be commended, not ridiculed.
“I have no problem with your bias. However, it seems, you believe you can turn it on and off like a Vietnamese hooker.”
mike O, explain what you mean by that. Are you saying that I claim I am unbiased and that I claim that I’m biased?
I don’t claim the former. Critics weakly claim it, in order to justify their criticism of me that I’m biased. They might as well criticize me for being male, and base that on their own crazy assumption that I’m supposed to be female. It makes no sense.
Holy crap. Chris Matthews almost broke down crying tonight. I hope Obama wins or else heart attack rates and hate will be through the roof. Bye bye miss America pie.
Art hill the only people saying sandy is surprise surprise, the left’s bible msnbc. CNN, fox, PBS or the news networks have hardly so much as mentioned it.
Do you even grasp the irony of a right winger here complaining about “silly comparisons to real arguments” or some problem with bias, Mike O? No, i guess not.
Why don’t you people go hang-out with Cal Thomas or some other of your flock and quit beating Dan up over not being what you want?
Granted none of the right wing posts here will prove this rule, but bias does not mean you are wrong. Being wrong means you are wrong.
Dan,
Unless I misread the comments, steve was suggesting that you (at least) admit that the D’s had their own issues with possible voter intimidation, and you answered with your “sun is shining” analogy. (and then went on to suggest that does “not indicate bias”.
If I am incorrect I will, unlike you, admit my mistake.
If this election is the 50.6 to 48.5 as Nate Silver Predicts, this nation will remain deeply divided regardless of who those numbers are “for”.
Mattyr, when was the last time you saw “miss America pie”?
Sandi,
Re: “bias does not mean you are wrong. Being wrong means you are wrong”
I agree, and you prove this on most of your posts…
This evening, on my way home from work, this song came on the radio and for some reason I immediately thought of Mitt Romney. Lying is destructive to the development of any relationship. Mitt Romney has been lying to us for sometime now and yet he wants us to trust him. What he, and his Republican cohorts don’t understand is that the American people have realized that he is lying and they don’t trust him. His lying eyes and words have caught up to him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S67CTVVv3KQ
“Sandi,
Re: “bias does not mean you are wrong. Being wrong means you are wrong”
I agree, and you prove this on most of your posts…”
Have to say, I agree with mikeO on this one, Sandi. You DO prove him wrong with most of your posts. . .
Great link from Frank (our Frank?) over at the BRC.
http://mittinyourpocket.weebly.com/why-mass-hates-mitt.html
I’ll reiterate my prediction made as a comment in one of Dan’s blog posts earlier, that there will be shenanigans in the voting in Montgomery County. Well, it looks like said shenanigans have already started:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/316298
My last campaign post. (Thank God!) Romney’s unending campaign of lies.
#76 Yep, the registrar back at work again. Why hasn’t this guy been arrested or impeached or something?
I lied. Nate Silver now has Obama’s re-election prospects at 92% Say goodnight, Mitt.
Ricky Gervais, on Letterman’s assertion the race isn’t as close as the media portrays it. “You have a president, and a guy who believes in a magic hat.”
I slipped down early and intimidated a couple of shady looking characters who I thought might be there to vote illegally for Romney. Just doing my part for Democracy.
One last reminder for pammala, Sharon N and Jethro the Dodo,
Because of the expected larger than normal turn out for this election, officials extended voting this year to two days. Democrats vote today and republicans vote on Wednesday. They also moved the location for republican voters into the local library, which is a magical place sort of like a WalMart, only with books. Feel free to respond to this post if any of you three need directions.
Hey Dan, my husband voted this morning in Roanoke County. He said that there was someone representing the Republicans and handing out voting information, but there wasn’t anyone for the Democrats or 3rd party. He also said that there was already a very long line. I guess I’d better bring a book along when I go vote this evening.
I was thrilled to see the turn out at Glenvar this morning. Everything was running super smoothly; nice long line clicking along; and just a general air of excitement. I just love election day. I feel so patriotic and it gave me hope to see so many folks invested in their own voices and the democratic process!
I really hope things don’t get super messy but I’m worried that they will.
gdad, the panthers ( old or new ) as you were quick to point out are at it again in philly this morning. you dismissed it because you said the voters favored obama. would you make the same statement for romney if the kkk or the skin heads were outside your precinct. i dont think so!
Hooray for voting!. Won’t get to the polls till this afternoon.
So, My man Nate Silver is giving pretty heavy odds to Obama’s reelection. Then I read a bunch of conservopundits who tell me why it’s wrong. Problem is the conservopundits seem to think that politics is only a “gut” or “emotional thing” and assert that statistical profiles of the election miss a huge part of equation. (Karl Rove knows better, for sure.)
We’ll see by tomorrow. If Nate Silver is way wrong, I’ll certainly factor that into the how I view his information in years to come, if he still has a job. Right now his predictions are a nice little xanax for me.
If all goes to plan I look forward to multitudes of delusional comment by the right wing as to how things were stolen from them.
If it doesn’t go my way, you won’t hear complaining about the outcome.
I voted at a baptist church on Rosalind, and there was maybe a 10 minute line inside the church. Outside were two women handing out small “sample ballots”, and I ended up with the Republican one. Everyone inside was quiet and it was nice and peaceful.
#86 Oh please, steveo. Right-wing sites are reporting one guy standing in front of a building somewhere sometime. Is this illegal? Is the guy a legitimate poll watcher? The idiots I saw talking about could hardly keep from laughing because this is so weak.
Given the vile voter suppression being engineering by conservatives, I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy is a right-wing plant to give the wingnut talking heads something to try to distract attention from the thugs sent out by the right to challenge likely Obama voters.
#82 What a civic-minded guy you are, Steve C.
Voted at Central Gym in Pulaski. Huge turnout, election officials doing a good job of keeping the lines moving. Morgan Griffith was out shaking hands. Didn’t tell him he wasn’t getting my vote this time.
I voted this morning around 9 with Donna at the Lakeland Moose Lodge. There were maybe 6 people in line in front of us, plus 4 voting as we walking in. Outside there were 2 Romney signs (leaning up against a stone wall, in front of each other, 4 Obama signs (not covering each other up) and a bunch of Goodlatte, Allen and Kaine signs. Didn’t see one for Schmookler.
Voting was uneventful; one clerk told Donna there had been 30 in line earlier.
I used my most recent water bill as my ID.
@86 me either Mike Scott. Life will go on no matter who wins. It is funny though, seems one particular poster has slithered down into its spider hole till the game is up. Hope it stays there.
Christiansburg Church of Christ was a packed house this morning at 6:30. There was a line in the back room, which I have never seen before. The library was packed too. I should just call the election now.
.
Looking at the line and judging by the conversations going on, whatever happened to “vote intelligently”?
Dan, I used my CHP as ID; I probably wouldn’t have except that it was cold and a coat was in order this morning, thus necessitating me having it anyway.
This is not good.
Donut Miser:
76.”I’ll reiterate my prediction made as a comment in one of Dan’s blog posts earlier, that there will be shenanigans in the voting in Montgomery County. Well, it looks like said shenanigans have already started”
Don’t worry Donut Miser, Blacksburg will still go blue without the student vote. That town and its solidly LW council can’t see anything past how green, sustainable, or left-wing something is. It could be raining $100 bills there and they would protest it out of concern for how much fossil fuel was consumed in printing them.
Dan, did you have to use your water bill along with your voter ID card, or was that the only ID you used?
The (unopened) water bill was the only ID I used, Contra. I approached the clear and handed it to her.
The clerk said, “Are you Daniel Casey?” and I said yes. Then she checked me in a computer, printed me a slip and handed it to me. Then I voted.
That’s acceptable Daniel Casey.
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/VotingInPerson.html
Here’s the text that went along with YouTube video Dan Radmacher linked to:
“My wife and I went to the voting booths this morning before work. There were 4 older ladies running the show and 3 voting booths that are similar to a science fair project in how they fold up. They had an oval VOTE logo on top center and a cartridge slot on the left that the volunteers used to start your ballot.
I initially selected Obama but Romney was highlighted. I assumed it was being picky so I deselected Romney and tried Obama again, this time more carefully, and still got Romney. Being a software developer, I immediately went into troubleshoot mode. I first thought the calibration was off and tried selecting Jill Stein to actually highlight Obama. Nope. Jill Stein was selected just fine. Next I deselected her and started at the top of Romney’s name and started tapping very closely together to find the ‘active areas’. From the top of Romney’s button down to the bottom of the black checkbox beside Obama’s name was all active for Romney. From the bottom of that same checkbox to the bottom of the Obama button (basically a small white sliver) is what let me choose Obama. Stein’s button was fine. All other buttons worked fine.
I asked the voters on either side of me if they had any problems and they reported they did not. I then called over a volunteer to have a look at it. She him hawed for a bit then calmly said “It’s nothing to worry about, everything will be OK.” and went back to what she was doing. I then recorded this video.
There is a lot of speculation that the footage is edited. I’m not a video guy, but if it’s possible to prove whether a video has been altered or not, I will GLADLY provide the raw footage to anyone who is willing to do so. The jumping frames are a result of the shitty camera app on my Android phone, nothing more.”
I don’t see any indication what state this occurred in (the machines appear to be the same used in Roanoke, iVotronic) or what if the voter demanded to use another machine, or if they demanded this particular machine be taken out of service. I would hope they did both.
Dan:
“The clerk said, “Are you Daniel Casey?” and I said yes. Then she checked me in a computer, printed me a slip and handed it to me. Then I voted.”
My polling place always makes me state my full name. They’re peculiar like that. One of poll workers was obsessed with how the people were standing in line! She said to me in a needlessly distraught fashion “Oh, I hope they’re maintaining that shape of the line…. I had better go check!” Those poll workers are “solutions looking for problems” people, sometimes in a comical way, but hopefully never in a way that creates an actual problem. Man, do they ever take their jobs seriously.
UTR, I know. I just wanted to see if they would take the water bill, like the SBE has been saying they would. I had my DL in my pocket as a backup.
Thanks, Dan. I was just curious. Got my O-fishel, bona-fide Virginny Voter ID in my hand, ready to go! I’ve got work this evening, so I’ll see you Gonzos on the other side of this thang!
Let’s DO this! OBAMA for four more!
I hope they did both too Dan, and if it wasn’t taken out of service, that the local/national media will be notified.
Just filed a formal complaint about the obnoxious, intimidating presence of two Republican poll watchers at my precinct. Both white, wouldn’t you know, one man, one woman. The woman had a cell phone (which no one else was allowed to have in the room) and was leaning forward every time a voter presented himself. She would then lean back, smirk, enter the data, then lean forward again. She was looking at the screens, recording names and addresses. Her presence was intended to intimidate, no question about it. I asked the head of elections what the hell she was doing, and whether she was collecting any data other than what was on the screen (e.g., race of voter). He could not tell me. I also asked why she was allowed to have a cell phone when no one else could. He tried to tell me she was “part of the process.” I lost it. I told him that she was no more a part of the process than anyone else in line, that she was a partisan representative with absolutely no interest in maintaining neutrality, a requirement of people who work in the voting arena. The fact that he could not tell me what information she was collecting enrages me. Yes, the information on the names and addresses of registered voters is public. The race or other characteristics of the voter, however, are not. And I am certain that this woman was collecting such data. I want her phone subpoenaed so we can know what she was recording, because I am certain that it went well beyond what she was “allowed” to collect. We do not need poll watchers recording data. We need them observing — quietly and without even being noticed. And far away from our voter information.
Pissed off voter — where did you vote? What locality and precinct?
A lot of folks are being disenfranchised by these long lines. They simply don’t have the time to stand there for an hour and a half. It would be interesting to see the average wait times broken down by precinct.
Correction John Wilburn, the townfolk and council in Blacksburg LOVE talking about ‘Green’ improvements to homes… and that’s all it is… talk.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/24/news/economy/romney-green/index.html
I guess LWers like talking but not doing.
Shenanigans in Montgomery County? You mean like last year when the poll workers couldn’t get the computers to turn on and allowed people (like me) to simply “sign-in”. When I asked if I shouldn’t use a provisional ballot or come back later they looked at me blankly…..and today when the officers of elections were incorrectly requiring photo ID’s even when a voter card was presented.
Voted in Franklin County @9 am – used my VA Voter registration card…I did not bring any other ID…no problem, no asking for photo ID…waited less than five minutes and I was the 298th voter [in the one half of the alphabet] and the woman checking me in said the other line [other half of alphabet] had more. So more than 600 residents voted by nine o’clock. Seems like a great turnout – although I am in a very red district…
The corrupted electronic voting machine in the YT video is in Pennsylvania (later in the video you can see a snippet that shows the Maher v. Depasquale race for auditor general, a statewide elected post in Pa.)
There is something I forgot to mention earlier. I don’t think it’s a big deal. That slip of paper I got when I checked in… time stamp was for last night at 10:30. I should have taken a picture of it. I didn’t see a white guy in a sport coat, so I’m pretty sure I would have gotten away with it.
Heard from lady in Dollar Tree in NW RNK that it took her two hours to vote and she had to take half a day off work.
Serenity now.
Heard that folks were praying and speaking in tongues about how Obama is Godless at a Franklin Co. polling place …