Politics “Stupid enough to be true”
posted by on February 6 at 7:46 AM
OK, the weather did not effect turnout in Chicago that much, but you can rely on Chicago’s brilliant election workers for some entertainment nonetheless. In Illinois, a paper ballot is about the size of a broadsheet newspaper; it’s made out of heavy paper, and you vote by filling in the middle of an arrow next to the name of the candidate. The polling places have to provide special pens so the scanner will read the ballot. And if those pens don’t work?
Twenty voters at a Far North Side precinct who found their ink pens not working were told by election judges not to worry.It’s invisible ink, officials said. The scanner will count it.
But their votes weren’t recorded after all.
“Part of me was thinking it does sound stupid enough to be true,” said Amy Carlton, who had serious doubts but went ahead and voted anyway.
Nothing as bad as that at my polling place, however, I did hear one election worker yell across the room "There are some people who just should not be allowed to vote."
I believe that he was teasing a neighbor but I seriously do not think that was an appropriate thing to say.
And, of course there was the late start that I mentioned yesterday...
Sorry for the repost, but I had some dumb election workers as well:
When I voted, I was given the choice to vote D, R, G(reen) or Nonpartisan. I asked, "if I chose nonpartisan, would I be able to split my vote between parties?" and was told yes. When I went to vote, I was only given the choice to vote for the referendum on VHA funding. I wasn't given the choice to vote for other federal or state offices.
When I told the election workers about this, they were bewildered. They finally figured out that I had to declare my party and could only vote within that party. They then let me change my party affiliation and vote again. Granted, I only voted twice on the referendum, but it does show that it pays to vote early and often in Chicagoland.
What's up with the quote at the end of the story? I am a person of privilege?? Who talks about themselves like that?
I am a man of Wealth and Taste.
At the top of the ballot is a picture of what a filled-in arrow looks like. It ain't invisible.
http://www.chicagoelections.com/docs/ballots/356d.pdf
I am an heiress who likes to play Nancy Drew.
interesting TV right now, press is asking Q's of Obama.
Actually asking some questions.
Interesting -- we haven't seen much of this one on one press conference stuff.
Q: you are losing superdelegates
A: they need to represent who the people they represent vote for
[so....He gives up all superdelegates in MI FL CA NJ MA NY to Hillary??]
Q: Today a video of Iraqi kids being trained as terrorists was released...and you said you want to end the politics of fear?
A:he answers we know they will use anyone, the terrorists are heinous, we have to fight them this is why Iraq was a distraction, he won't comment on releasing the video (rambling)...Iraq was a mistake.
Q: But these are *Iraqi* terrorists
A: The admin has used the war on terror as a political tool....
_______________
I must say he sounded totally inexperienced and stumbling.
Not C in C material. IMHO.
I do fear they will eat him up in a general election and he will lose. He has not seen anything but patty cake yet.
The narrative arc of the new challenger is coming to and end soon and the press will start to quizz him relentlessly in the coming weeks.
Typical media pendulum.
unPC, i like obamas chances better because of the inherent charisma and the indies he attracts. hillary may be able to debate better but that isnt going to score any points when it comes down to all the people who will vote against her in the general.
do you want democrats to go down with someone that inspires undecided people to vote, or someone that inspires republicans to vote?
Anyone forsee shitloads of "invisible ink" in Dem-leaning areas in the general?
You think the machine scans your vote?....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PiiaBqwqkXs
Paper Ballots, hand counted, new holiday, our votes are worth it..
effect or affect??
@2,
Did they take your first ballot and process it? If not, there's nothing wrong with giving you a new ballot.
Everyone: if you make a mistake on your ballot, it is your right to ask for a new one. Don't let any election workers blow you off... or give you "invisible" ink.
In Canada they get 80-99 percent of the citizenry to vote.
They use paper ballots.
And pencils.
They have very few problems - way less errors than any of our states do.
Just saying ...
@9
Yeah... but only because Dems are the only ones stupid enough to fall for that...
@13, and the rivers run with kool-ade.
Participation in Federal elections runs 60 to 70 percent over the last couple of decades.
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pas&document=turnout&lang=e&textonly=false
And 64 percent of US citizens over 18 voted in the last presidential election.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html
Who was talking about Federal elections?
The important races there are Provincial.
Next thing you know you'll be posting about how we should complain to the Canadian feds about pollution (Provincial responsibility as required by the Canadian Constitution) ...
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