I voted yesterday in Delaware County. . .

[Spritz57]

I do not wish to sound conspiratorial or paranoid but I followed the signs to the specified room, was greeted and given a form to fill out. I noticed in the room there were electronic voting machines and a few paper ballot booths. I filled out the form returned to the front desk and began to ask for a paper ballot. The woman who was entering and checking my data shushed me and said just a minute. She verified my eligibility, called a gentleman over to take me to an electronic machine. I asked for a paper ballot and the man told me I needed to ask for one earlier. I checked all the signs on the walls and there was no mention of paper ballots anywhere. I was taken back to the desk, scolded for not saying anything earlier. Someone apparently went and got an armed police officer who stood behind the desk. I apologized for the inconvenience this may have caused but did say by law this was my right. I pointed at the paper ballot booths just 10 feet away. One of the poll workers within earshot came to my aid and lead me out of the room, and once out of earshot of the staff, apologized to me and said there was no problem and I shouldn't have known paper balloting was done in a separate room which was not marked. They had just changed this routine do to the crowds. He took me to another other room down the hall (which was unmarked) where I had to have my id checked a second time and was given a paper ballot. Oddly enough, the staffer who then assisted me didn't know if they had any paper ballots and had to search for one.

After completing the paper ballot, I noticed if one folds the two page ballot in half for envelope insertion, the crease falls across only one, and I mean the only one, darkened circle. You guessed it, my vote for Obama. I don't know anything about electronic scanners but after years of taking standardized tests and being warned against folding the forms, I thought this strange. If you haven't seen the absentee ballot, it lists the presidential candidates in a curious way. Obama is the first choice followed by McKinney, Barr, Nader, and then McCain. I folded the ballot in such a way that my presidential pick was not in the crease and it still fit in the envelope. I was instructed to just drop it into the locked box. There was a line of people dropping off sealed absentee ballots. I asked the poll worker about turn out, she told me in Delaware County approximately 40,000 people have voted early to date.

[geiger]

1. You need to report this ASAP 1-800-OUR-VOTE

or call the SOS office. 877-767-6446

[Spritz57]

2. Which part do you think is significant?

[geiger]

3. all of it; at best, it's incompetence, and, at worst, someone there has a partisan agenda

[Spritz57]

4. Thanks for the thoughts, I'll make the call today.

[Kukesa]

5. Incompetence, for sure. Report your experience. n/t

[geiger]

6. poor customer service, too, if someone feels they have been

"scolded." totally unacceptable.

[ohtransplant]

7. It's not incompetence.

I had a very similar experience two weeks ago at the Delaware County BOE.

No one asked whether I preferred a paper ballot. That might be too simple and I'm sure they don't want to encourage us.

I also had completed the forms and they were having someone lead me to an electronic machine. When I asked for a paper ballot they proceeded to guide me to the machine and point out the paper receipt. I calmly said we could save the debate for a different day and asked again for a paper ballot. The lady I dealt with was very indignant that I should have asked earlier. The tactic was obviously to intimidate me into changing my mind so as not to "inconvenience" anyone. I responded that I saw no indication anywhere that paper ballots were being treated differently. She reluctantly had ne complete a different form and had someone take me down the hall. Once I was guided to the second room, I also had to show my ID a second time.

[Spritz57]

8. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Now I know it is a practice and not a single incident. Much appreciated!!

[Kukesa]

9. There will be two separate lines for voters in Montgomery Co.

at each precinct: one for electronic machines and one for paper ballots, and the lines will be cordoned with roping similar to that used in theaters.

I guess each Ohio county decides how voters get to choose.

Your experience doesn't sound like a good one, mr. transplant.

Maybe you should call that phone number.