2016 Postmortem

dlwickham

(3,316 posts) Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:05 AM Mar 2016

Has anyone else worked as a poll worker

If you have then you know there are always issues at the polling site.

Voter registration cards are sometimes sent out before the official voter roll is generated.

There's always the possibility that someone filled out a form wrong and the clerk's office can't process it.

When I moved back east from California, I registered at the DMV when I got my new license. I called my county clerk's office and was told that they never received my form. I followed up on it and made sure I was registered in the end.

There's always the possibility of human error in the clerk's office. The case that comes to mind is one of shooters from last year was identified as female on the election rolls. I think it was the guy who shot up the community college in Oregon. If you go to the poll and the worker tells you that you're listed as female when you're male, a reasonable person would take steps to fix the problem.

Voter fraud exists but not in the scale that some people believe it does. If you want to vote, find out what you have to do so in Election Day there won't be any problems for you.

14 replies

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Has anyone else worked as a poll worker (Original Post) dlwickham Mar 2016 OP

Just a few mistakes. Nothin' to see here. Ed Suspicious Mar 2016 #1

It's generally not some great conspiracy dlwickham Mar 2016 #3

I didn't say it was. Just a few mistakes. Move along now. Ed Suspicious Mar 2016 #7

In Arizona's case, I agree. tazkcmo Mar 2016 #14

in CA..never more than a few minor issues, mostly people who went to the wrong precinct because msongs Mar 2016 #2

Step back and look at the big picture and something obviously does not smell right. Skwmom Mar 2016 #4

before emperor walker, wi elections were quite good. except waukesha, GOPLAND. i worked 1 pansypoo53219 Mar 2016 #5

I have, and even dealing with a spoiled ballot is complicated. LisaM Mar 2016 #6

You have to account for all ballots issued dlwickham Mar 2016 #8

Why were they putting names on the iPad dlwickham Mar 2016 #9

I guess they were checking them in? LisaM Mar 2016 #11

Here is a link to a clip from Az CentralMass Mar 2016 #10

Yes in 2008. Was a recount observer in 2000 stevenleser Mar 2016 #12

I have and it went off without a hitch. Ash_F Mar 2016 #13

Ed Suspicious

(8,879 posts)

1. Just a few mistakes. Nothin' to see here.

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:07 AM

Mar 2016

dlwickham

(3,316 posts)

3. It's generally not some great conspiracy

Reply to Ed Suspicious (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:10 AM

Mar 2016

It's people not doing what they're supposed to do in order to vote.

I know my state has a website that you can check to see if your voter information is correct and it lists your polling place as well.

Ed Suspicious

(8,879 posts)

7. I didn't say it was. Just a few mistakes. Move along now.

Reply to dlwickham (Reply #3)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:14 AM

Mar 2016

tazkcmo

(7,300 posts)

14. In Arizona's case, I agree.

Reply to dlwickham (Reply #3)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:29 AM

Mar 2016

We all know about the concerted effort by the GOP to suppress the vote and that was in evidence here. They went from 200 to 60 polling places, none convenient to low income and minority neighborhoods and based the locations on "likely turn out". Having said that, it's not reasonable to claim fraud at Sen Sanders' expense and Sec Clinton's gain as they are both harmed by that tactic. They under served likely Democratic voters and that harmed both candidates. You could make the case Sec Clinton could have won by an even larger margin had there been more polling places available.

No, what bothers me even more is the second class effort we as a nation put into the process. Things like running out of ballots, poorly trained poll workers (I would like paid professionals), lack of transparency and electronic machines with no trail. Our current effort is embarrassing.

msongs

(67,405 posts)

2. in CA..never more than a few minor issues, mostly people who went to the wrong precinct because

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:10 AM

Mar 2016

they were not paying attention to their own voter guide information

Skwmom

(12,685 posts)

4. Step back and look at the big picture and something obviously does not smell right.

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:12 AM

Mar 2016

And yes I have been a poll worker.

pansypoo53219

(20,976 posts)

5. before emperor walker, wi elections were quite good. except waukesha, GOPLAND. i worked 1

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:12 AM

Mar 2016

2008 cause it was gonna be big. took a short class. WI had same day registration. lots of provisional ballots. we still use PENCILS, but a machine counter like standardized tests. if its miss marked, it spits it out, they had me sit in diff sections. one lady's came out, she elected EVERYBODY for president. give them a new ballot + explain. had party watchers from each 'team'. it was pretty quiet, but dang. my vote counts the same......

LisaM

(27,808 posts)

6. I have, and even dealing with a spoiled ballot is complicated.

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:13 AM

Mar 2016

I also heard that they were entering peoples' names on iPads in one of the states which is absolutely insane.

dlwickham

(3,316 posts)

8. You have to account for all ballots issued

Reply to LisaM (Reply #6)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:15 AM

Mar 2016

It's a pain the ass especially if you're busy

dlwickham

(3,316 posts)

9. Why were they putting names on the iPad

Reply to LisaM (Reply #6)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:17 AM

Mar 2016

LisaM

(27,808 posts)

11. I guess they were checking them in?

Reply to dlwickham (Reply #9)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:24 AM

Mar 2016

They said it was slowing the process down to key in the names (I saw it on CNN and I don't have a link).

CentralMass

(15,265 posts)

10. Here is a link to a clip from Az

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:18 AM

Mar 2016

http://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/politics/elections/2016/03/22/arizona-votes-in-presidential-primaries/82124468/

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

12. Yes in 2008. Was a recount observer in 2000

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:24 AM

Mar 2016

In 2008, worst thing that happened was this person who wanted to write someone in and was given a hard time to do it. I stepped in to try to help but they stormed out.

2000 was something else entirely, of course.

Ash_F

(5,861 posts)

13. I have and it went off without a hitch.

Reply to dlwickham (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:28 AM

Mar 2016

This is something that we have to get right.

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