OMG! What a fiasco!

Just got back from voting... provisionally as it turned out. After days of not being able to find out where the hell it is that I go to vote I got in the car and prepared to drive half way to China to find my polling place... turns out it was at the church right across the street from where I live.

No lines really (at this point I'm thinking this is too good to be true). And lo and behold... I'd been purged from the rolls! I never got any info about my being purged, and the polling place head guy said I could be purged after two years of not voting but they would have sent 3 notices so I'd no that I had to re-register... I never got any notices. I had also been called up for jury duty recently and I know that info comes off the voter rolls (which is exactly why a lot of people don't register). I said that to the head polling place dude, but he insisted that they get that info from the DMV (no they don't because until a couple of weeks ago, the DMV thought I still live somewhere else). I also watched another voter who said he hadn't voted in YEARS and YEARS have his name found on the rolls. I brought that to their attention, too... how is it that MY name was purged and not that other guy???? I also happen to know that other guy and he's got a Bush sign in his yard (which my dog pees on every single night... good dog!).

In the end I insisted on a provisional ballot... polling place head guy didn't know what they were! Which had to be BS because right behind him was a table with the provisional ballots. So I walked around him and said "Oh lookie! Here's the provisional ballots! Lucky me!" and sat my ass down to fill one out. That went ok until he got to the part where he has to fill out the reason why I was challenged. He checks the box that says I wasn't on the rolls AND he also checks the box that said I didn't show my ID! So I freaked out and made him scribble that part out... I still think it looks weird, and looking back, I wish I had him tear it all up and give me a new one.

Now the really crazy part (oh, it gets better!)... He made some kind of comment that now I'd be able to vote with no difficulty in the next election. So I said that wasn't the point since this election was the most important one in my lifetime. GET THIS... He says, no it isn't. The president is only one person who is only one third of the decision making process, and all that stuff about taxes, security, etc. doesn't make a difference in this election. Basically he said it wasn't important who I voted for or if I voted in this election at all! At that point, one of the lower poll workers intervened and said maybe it was important to me (good for you lady!). WHO THE HELL IS THIS IDIOT TRYING TO TALK POLITICS AT THE POLLS AND TELL ME MY VOTE DOESN'T MATTER?????

I'm fuming. Who do I report this to? I may have to run back across the street and find out what the guy's name is, but I'll do it. Wanted to vent here first and see what advice others may have. Besides, since I was ready to punch someone at that point, it was best that I leave then.

I'm still fuming. :mad:

Oh, another thing... while I was standing at the table where they check the rolls and polling place head guy was running all over town with my ID, one of the ladies at the table said that she had to throw away a GOP pamphlet that someone left on the table in front of her because it might make them look partisan... and rolled her eyes and complained how they were being watched like hawks. So I had to snap at her that it DID look partisan, and if she hadn't thrown it out I would have asked her what the hell it was doing there, AND that it was about friggin' time that the polls were more closely watched.

I'm still fuming.

The only good thing in this whole experience (besides the polling place being right across the street) is that there were no e-voting machines... VERY small consulation.

And I'm still fuming.

I've lived in Delaware County almost my whole life (although periodically in different precincts) but have been at the current address for about 8 years.

I found two people on my street list (the list of registered voters for my polling place) who hadn't lived in the area for 10+ years, and yet they still could have walked in and voted.

One moved away 10 years ago, and the other moved away 15 years ago. They are not particularly avid about purging in Montco.

My Brother just moved back to PA after living in NYC for 7 years. We went to the polls together to vote this morning and his name was still in the voter rolls. Get this guys name and file a complaint with the election board.

Wanted to come home first and vent before I hurt someone. Not that I would have actually hurt anyone, but I don't think I've ever been so damn pissed off in my life.

Deep breaths... count to ten... breathe...

Immediately... if not sooner.

On my way to post there now...

- He does not set your property tax rate
- He does not decide whether the traffic light or a blinker goes in at the busy intersection
- He does not create ordinances or resolutions
- He does not make sure the roads are plowed and salted
- He does not make sure the garbage is picked up
- He does not make sure the little league team is organized and the park is mowed

or for state reps,

- He does not decide if PA adds slot machines
- He does not decide if new (state) roads are built
- He does not decide if new lands are preserved (OK, not entirely true there)

As a councilman, I sometimes want to scream at people lately who have had the Presidential Tunnel Vision. I want to void any bullet-vote ballot who didn't vote for any race but president.

I feel this is the most important election in my life, but I do NOT typically feel that the Presidential election should be so critical an election. I believe more people should turn their ballots upside-down or start from the bottom up.

my friends and former comrades in arms getting there ass shot off in Iraq than whether the fucking lawn at the park is mowed. So even though I vote in ALL elections, I am able to I consider the one for President the most important. Just my 2 cents.

I remember sitting at a Table while my father was at the Bar (I was about 12 at the time, my father ALWAYS took me to the bar sat me at a table and gave we a soda-pop to drink). Anyway I remember when Apollo 13 blow up and everyone was asked to pray for them, it was mentioned at the bar and I can remember my Father statement to this day..

They are 50,000 dog faces in Vietnam, as a old dog face infantryman all my prays go to them.

The same for me, my old National Guard Unit is in Iraq playing MP (It is an artillery unit). In many ways I care more what happens to them and the other soldiers in Iraq than this election.

On the other hand this election will help decide what will happen to our troops in Iraq. Vote for Kerry for at least a sane foreign policy.

I also vote in all elections, I have only missed two times. A special Election while I was in Texas (Texas has them every couple of months) and one primary in Pa where I was born and now live. All elections are important, some more than others and this Presidential election is one of the most important in generations.

Remember the main reason the Democrats will NOT win the House this year is the fact Repbulcans gerrymander the house seats to favor themselves. The GOP did this for they won Control over State Governments in the 2000 and 2002 elections. Thus we are suffering from the Democrat losses in those State elections. Thus All Elections are important even if all you are voting for is your local dog catcher (Where many a politican starts on his way up the political ladder to the Presiendiacy).

this during voter registration training...some people refuse to register because they think this is the sole source of jury duty, but it definitely is NOT>

It varies by county. The Harrisburg Patriot-News had an article on it not long ago.