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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI was rejected and ejected from a polling location.
Van, Van Zandt County, Rural East Texas
Now, before you get too worried, understand that I have already voted. Daughter and I voted early, in person, over a week ago, but I was scheduled by the Chair of the Democratic Party of Van Zandt County to serve as an election judge today. The party was entitled to four election judges at this particular polling location pursuant to state rules. Daughter was the #2 Democratic judge. She has more experience. I was #4, and Republican boss of this polling location tells me, as soon as I arrive, I dont need you here. We have too many Democrats already, and there arent enough voters here to justify all these election judges. Call your county chair, and see if theres another polling location where she might need you.
So I call the county chair (my boss), and I report that I am not needed at this location and ask where she might want me to go. County chair says, Bullshit! Were entitled to four election judges at that location, and youre number four. Tell the Republican-in-charge to mind her own business. You sit down and do your job.
Fine. So I mask up (note that all the Democratic judges were wearing masks while NONE of the Republicans were), and I start doing my job. Truth be told, I dive into LEARNING my job because Democratic judges 1, 2, and 3 know what the hell they are doing, and I dont, so I am diligently learning but, mainly, just sitting there.
Then, for the third time, Republican-in-charge comes over and says, I need you to leave. I have too many people here. Did you call your county chair? Yes, I say. She told me to stay right here, and so, here I am. Republican in charge says, Well, I have five Democrats already. Youre going to have to leave. Republican-in-chief thought that my county chair had made an error. Two young women wearing masks (i.e. probably Democrats) were manning the door and asking preliminary questions about turning off cell phones, having valid ID, and producing valid voter registration cards. Republican-in-chief figured that they counted as two of the four, allowed Democratic election judges, so she told me to leave, despite my county chair telling me to stand my ground and stay. So, I left. If I hadnt, she probably would have called the police.
Honestly, I feel like a coward and a failure on this historic day. I havent even mustered the courage to call my county chair and tell her what happened.
My greatest hope is that in about 14 hours, all of this will be moot because Joe Biden will be our President-elect following an historic, landslide victory. For the moment, however, I am a bit depressed because I wanted to do my part and was prevented from doing so.
That and the fact that I was humiliated and rejected in front of my daughter ... that stings a bit.
-Laelth
MissB
(15,800 posts)Although if one isnt handy to the area it may be too late for today. But the local Democratic Party should followup.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)She should be. Her party is about to get flushed.
MacKasey
(974 posts)You will regret it if you don't
patricia92243
(12,590 posts)I think they would send someone out NOW to take care of this. At least please try.
BaileyBill
(170 posts)The election workers work for the County Clerk (election administrator). That is the person with the authority to handle this. Good luck!
2naSalit
(86,048 posts)They NEED TO KNOW this has happened! You should be in there, don't give up! This is a civic duty, has nothing to do with feelings, that's one of their weapons!
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Right now!!!!!
pandr32
(11,447 posts)Did you feel threatened? What would have happened if you stood your ground as instructed?
It seems you should call to let them know what happened. It couldn't hurt and perhaps they would send another to try.
It must have been stressful--sorry.
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)"Better to retreat and marshal your forces than to waste a glorious death in sure defeat."
-and-
He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day. But he who stops and takes a chance makes his exit in an ambulance.
Both off the Internets.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Jim__
(14,045 posts)Is there a situation where a ballot is being questioned for validity or a voter being a legitimate voter and if the judges disagree, then the majority of voters decide the issue? If so, getting rid of a democratic judge could definitely work in the republicans favor.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Its her call. In this case, I feared that my boss may have actually made an error, and I dont want to make it worse for her. I dont need to get paid that badly for a single day of work, and, given the number of voters coming through the door, there were plenty of Democrats at that polling location, even without me.
-Laelth
marie999
(3,334 posts)I drove to the little church and parked my car. I was greeted by a man and woman. They told me to walk around the corner where I was greeted by a man who told me to stand on the white circle and someone would let me in. In a couple of minutes a woman greeted me and handed me a wrapped up pen. I walked to the desk where a man asked me my name and address. A printer spit out a document for me to check that everything was right. I signed it. I then moved to a woman who showed me the ballot and explained how to fill in the boxes and told me to watch for places I could vote for more than one person. I filled in the ballot and walked to the exit where a woman greeted me and told me to placed the ballot into a machine which accepted it. I said good bye to everyone inside and outside. Everyone thanked me for voting. Everyone was very pleasant. This town is mostly Republican.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I voted early, and everyone was pleasant and helpful. No ID required or voter registration card.
Plenty of Biden signs around, and no one has tampered with any that Ive seen.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)I am very grateful to folks like you who man the polling places, I'm too old for this. Thank you!
Laelth
(32,017 posts)You should try it next cycle.
-Laelth
Tom Rivers
(459 posts)They don't want any Dems there observing. Why? And why is the Republican calling the shots? Even if it's a GOP area, the polling location needs to be led by two people, one from both parties.
BaileyBill
(170 posts)There should be an alternate judge from the Dem. Party. The rest of the workers are considered clerks. The County Clerk should have an approved list for workers from both parties. You don't have to put up with this crap, or run away. I'm chair in Fannin County, so I kinda know this stuff. Contact me at fctxdpchair@gmail.com if you need help. If nothing else, this person should be put on notice.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)The Republican-in-Chief had a point. The polling location was overstaffed given the number of voters coming in. I feared that my county chair actually had made a mistake of some kind, and I didnt want that to come back to haunt her. Make no mistake. I am a certified election judge. The County Clerk has me on her list, and I was assigned to work at the location in question today.
But I am not sure that this is a battle I want to pick and fight.
-Laelth
BaileyBill
(170 posts)It's tiring as hell but does give you a good feeling.