My vote - Democratic Underground

Marnieworld

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Tue Nov-07-06 10:38 AM
Original message

My vote

Edited on Tue Nov-07-06 11:03 AM by Marnieworld

I'm not sure I even voted it was so confusing. When I got to the polling place there was no one to explain or guide a new voter to computerized voting. It was unclear who was to give me my voting card or even that I should expect one. There was just a pile of them on a table where you sign in. The card itself was the size of a credit card with the same exact appearance of the Sim Cards in Cell phones. Same chip. Then I had to wait for poll workers to collectively get rolls of paper tapes out of the machines. Paper! Beautiful, unambiguous precious paper being removed as if the machines had the ability to record the votes but they wanted to negate it. This was about an hour after the polls opened, but they had just realized that it should be done. The Constable stationed there and I rolled our eyes together and I muttered "Democracy in Action" under my breath. Even he was disgusted. Finally, they moved on to remove paper from another machine, and they motioned me to proceed. I had to tell them that I didn't know what to do and didn't know how to use the machine. So the paper removing poll worker then "helped" me. My card was rejected by the machine with a red error message "Card has been cleared. Remove from reader." She pulled a new card out of nowhere and I hesitated to exchange my card for the new one. Isn't that my card? Then the next one didn't work so she tried maybe 2 others before a card was accepted and I was allowed to "vote". So I ignored the "Straight-party Dem" option because I have read that that is easier to hack(makes sense) and chose Dem candidate after Dem candidate all the while the giant DIEBOLD logo loomed down across the screen from the upper-left corner. I was still so disoriented from all of the card switching, but I committed my "vote" pulled out the card and then looked up yet again hoping for a little guidance. The ditzy poll worker had been at the machine next to me. I asked her where do I leave my card? She said with a smile,"Oh you just give it to me." "To you?" "Yes. Just give it to me." I placed it in her hand in a daze. Her hand? Give it to her? The same woman who a moment ago was flashing cards all willy nilly? A poll worker that was near enough to see who I voted for accepted that very vote and there was nothing I could do about it. This is madness.

On my way out I asked one of the half dozen seniors who worked the polls if there was an application to volunteer to help out. They looked horrified and said quickly, "No." I stared and repeated "No?" and was told that maybe I could check at the courthouse. This tight clique of seniors wanted no part of me that's for sure. It's a shame though because not only do I care more about the integrity of each and every vote more than any person in that room, but I work in IT and I am definitely not confused or panicky if there is a computer problem. They were making comments about what a stressful morning it had been and joking about spiking the coffee and the place hadn't been open a whole hour. The gravity of the situation was completely lost on them. They were just too overwhelmed and there was no one in the know, in charge. We need reform at this most basic level for competence or else we are doomed. The election is literally in their hands!

Ones and zeros are friends of mine, but we need paper ballots and secret, secure boxes again. I went to polling place and did the best job I could do but did my vote count? If the Democrats even regain just one House of Congress, in addition to the many investigations, we have to make sure that a vote isn't a leap of faith but a guaranteed right.