Marion County (IN) Absentee Voters: CHECK YOUR BALLOT!

[Jokerman]

My wife and I got our absentee ballots in the mail yesterday and discovered that they sent my wife THE WRONG BALLOT!

The sticker on the outside of the envelope has the correct address and shows the correct districts for each race, but the ballot they included is for a different precinct.

We have already contacted the local Democratic Party and the media.

I am cross posting this in GD2004 to make sure it gets noticed:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=988681#

[expatriot]

1. This is a great example of the fundamental problem with our elections

Never mind electronic voting for the moment, the underlying problem is that election services throughout the nation suffer from the same problems of underfunding that the rest of the public sector sufers from. We need to push for increased funding for election departments, federal funding much along the same lines as "Title I" for schools... to equalize the funding disparities.

I know that in our county (Yuma County, Arizona). Our Recorders office has only 4 fulltime employees and their office does everything, not just voter registration. Our Election Services has only like 1 full time person and another half time person and then of course people that come in to work for elections. We need more funds.

[indypaul]

2. This is a typical

"error" and then when ballot is counted someone will notice
the mistake, particularly if you vote straight party." Then
vote for those contests that are incorrect will be challenged
and not counted. This "error" is usually made in precincts
where there is a razor edge contest in a local race. They have
been known to throw out straight party votes even on the lever
machines where wrong name appeared on lever but person voted
straight party. This happens too many times to be accidental.
There are some real razor edge districts for general assembly
in Marion county and everyone should double check their ballots
absentee or when they vote at precinct on election day. Every
trick in the book will be played by those persons running this
election since so much is at stake in the General Assembly.
How cheap can you get when they even wanted to use their
campaign slogan "A-Team" as their party symbol on the official
ballots last election?

[salin]

3. I intend to vote absentee... in person

have had to do that for several elections. Go in on a Saturday morning to the Clerk's office, and vote (you fill out the absentee request, get the ballot, and go to a voting booth - all in one trip.) Have done this in Monroe County - and assume this is possible in other counties as well.

[Jokerman]

4. WISH TV has picked up the story!

This story has now been posted to LBN:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x891676

[salin]

5. Glad the word about the glitch is getting out! n/t