I voted in Wake County today

[Vox_Reason]

After I dropped my ballot (#298 at 6:00 pm--pathetic), I marched right up to the guy in the blue election commission smock and told him that I highly valued our optical scan machines because they were paper-based and voter-verifiable. I asked him who I should contact to register my support for the continued use of the optical scan machines, and he gave me this info:

Brenda Fowler
Board of Elections
856-6253

A woman from the League of Women Voters piped up when she overheard my conversation and opined that it was likely that eventually we would go to super-precincts (maybe only 6 or 7 county-wide) that would stay open 10-12 days for voting, because it was getting tougher to keep establishing more voting precincts and adequate staff them all. I thanked the volunteers there and knew my first job after getting home would be to make this post.

I feel very fortunate to be able to vote using optical scan machines, because they're far more secure and accurate. If you live in Wake County and feel like I do that the integrity of our elections is critically important, I encourage you to call Ms. Fowler and register your opinion as well.

If we don't have confidence that our elections are free and fair, democracy is lost. It's that simple.

[mzteris]

1. I was #122

the last voter at 6:58 pm in Wake Forest. Sad........

[SunDrop23]

2. I was 231 in Fuquay at 7:30AM.

[mzteris]

3. dang..........

what was THAT about?

In WF the ONLY thing we voted on was the School Board, though - so it wasn't a big draw.

Well - it turned into a draw - Lori Millburg and Tilly whatsname have to do a runoff on the 8th. Damnit - I was hoping that Lori would just win over that "Called2Action" endorsed abstinence only homophobic twit.

There's a run off with Stangler and Goettee, too. (Stangler is another fundie candidate.) "They" also reelected Patty Head and put in Horace Tart already.

Oh well, the GOOD news of the day - BILL FLETCHER WAS HUMILIATED!

[SunDrop23]

4. We really needed to win that 2nd district seat. Dangit!

[kick-ass-bob]

5. Patty Head was much better than that old freak - super fundy.

And the other candidate wasn't even very serious. Patty's not too bad - she just needs to be warned not to flip over to that Tart's viewpoint.

[mzteris]

6. She was endorsed by Call2Action though

that makes me REALLY nervous......

They're "Christian fundamentalist" organization that touts
abstinence only and anti-gay propoganda!

Though maybe they were just endorsing her because she's "anti-busing".

What do you know about her? I'm in a different district - Millburg - there's still a chance there won't be a run-off - they have to count the provisional votes. (crossed fingers.........)

[kick-ass-bob]

7. Patti Head supports the diversity policy that currently stands.

She has been there for the last 4(?) years and is the current board chair.

The problem may be is she is not a Dem - and possibly could be swayed by Tart - but I hope not. I checked the Independent, and they still endorsed Head, but maybe because of the given opposition - Kretchmar (sp?), she was the best alternative. I neither saw nor heard ONE PEEP from that Gould guy (a dem), which may be why they stayed away from him. He actually attends the same chruch as that Kretchmar guy, which I found interesting.

[mzteris]

9. You might want to check again.......

Here's their blurb: "Called2Action wants candidates who will fight the "radical homosexual agenda" and "anti-Christian bias" by making sure "teaching about homosexual sex" is prohibited and that Christianity gets equal emphasis and inclusion.

This year, both advocacy groups are supporting Tillie Turlington in District 1, Horace Tart in District 2, Paul Kretzchmar in District 7 and Curt Stangler in District 9. Called2Action also supports Patti Head in District 7. "


Here's a website I just found for them: Called2elect.org

Please note the voters guide -she answered YES to all four questions! (Looking more closely - I hate them all except MAYBE Millberg - and who knows what she thinks as she refused to answer.)

Question one - NO condoms and especially no HOMOSEXUAL references.
Question 2 - Recite the Pledge of Allegiance EVERY DAY!!
Question 3 - Put CHRISTIANITY back in schools
Question 4 - is they don't want to expand bullying to include sexual orientation.

AAAAAAAAGgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh - I'm so glad I homeschool my older son - and if things keep going downhill for PS - I may be hsing my younger one as well!

[kick-ass-bob]

10. I didn't say she was a great candidate.

Or even all that good. But she was light years better than Kretzchmar. I got his filth pamphlet in the mail.

[mzteris]

11. I'm don't mean to sound

like I'm giving you a hard time. You guys didn't have very good choices in that district!!

Maybe YOU should run, eh????? A good DU'er on the school board would be GREAT!

Anyways - maybe you and others over there could contact her for clarification about her answers and let her know that not all of her constituents support such claptrap.

[kick-ass-bob]

12. No hard time taken!

And believe me, I have just recently seriously thought about throwing myself into something around here. I am also in Isley's city council district and I was none too happy about not having anyone to vote for.

What sorts of things do you think I should be involved in that would look good for an office?

[mzteris]

13. Church, unfortunately....

is a biggie in this state.

Membership in local Civic organizations. Volunteer work. Do you have kids? PTA offices are really good. Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts (again unfortunately).

Hook up with the Wake Dems - [e-mail]

This loop gives a weekly update about who's meeting where, etc - you might be able to find a group you like. Also, I think Wake Dems had a session some time ago for people interested in running for office - I'm not sure, though - I could be mis-remembering. :) BUT, I'm pretty sure they'd talk with you about the how to's and where for's, etc.....

[kick-ass-bob]

8. we had over 500 in my district.

500 was their goal. I took my son to vote @7 pm (kids voting) and noticed the number (502). I was #36 of the day - at 7:30 am.

516 total according to the BoE website.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. sounds like some Election Center talking points were used

That thing about inevitable going to Vote Centers is a
talking point of the Election Center, the group that takes donations from voting machine companies.

George Gilbert, an Election Center member is pushing this in Guilford County. He wants to reduce precincts from 170 (regular and early)
down to 40 super centers. This will create an Ohio like situation!
He also wants to reduce voting machines from 1,186 to 400!

It is not inevitable.
These people work for us.


We have to fight for democracy.

Another warning, I was told that Wake wants to buy DREs for early voting.

Please don't let this happen - Wake could end up being one of the counties that tests "paperless verification systems", Bob Cordle's
goal for a bold brave new world.

One where voters don't verify their vote.