KPCC Election 2008
How was your voting experience?
We want to hear what it was like out there at the polls. If you've already voted -- share your stories here! How was the turnout? Were things well organized? Did you run into any problems? Post a comment and let us know.
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- February 5, 2008 12:35 PM
- Comments (18)
18 Comments
I am voting in my first Primary as a new citizen. I am a Decline to State' voter, and was not made aware of this extra 'box' that I had to check when I was given the ballot paper for one of the parties for which I was eligible. As a result, I have been disenfranchised and my vote will not count. Annoying in the extreme!
I was able to vote last week in Orange County at an early voting site and I had a very smooth experience. First of all, no one was in line so there was no sense of rush. Then at the counter the poll worker looked up my name and informed me that I was registered "declined to state", and told me that I had the option of a Democrat ballot or an American Independent ballot if I wanted to vote in one of those presidential primaries. I asked for the Democrat ballot, the poll worker gave me my code to punch in at the voting machine, and I voted without any difficulty. Maybe more people should take advantage of early voting instead of worrying about these problems that always seem to spring up on election day.
I was unable to get through to the Voter number and didn't see my question addressed on lavoter.net
I wanted to double-check that I was given the right
ballot as the precinct worker didn't seem positive. I am registered Green but the ballot I was given said American Independent. Perhaps all the third parties use the same ballot but that doesn't seem right that one party's name only is at the top of my ballot.
The poll worker didn't know and had only three ballots.
What caused me doubt is that my ballot did not go through the machine and was sorted into the hand-count box. I wonder if it was because I was not given the proper ballot.
--Norma Edwards
Lakewood
I was _pleasantly_ surprised; I moved on December 22, 2007 from one apartment a larger apartment in the complex.
I sent in the voter re-registration by the deadline, which also included a re-registration for my husband, who had moved from Corona in Riverside County to where I live (Chino Hills - San Bernardino County)
I half-expected not to be on the voter rolls - but BOTH of us were - they had updated the list, and we were both listed! The poll worker even brought the ballot to the car for my husband, who is fairly disabled, and cannot walk without a walker or a scooter.
Thanks!
I voted this morning at a house in Orange County. It was well-organized, but not crowded. It was an electronic machine, which is a little concerning, given the recall of so many other electronic machines in California.
I arrived at my polling place to see NO signs indicating where to go. The entrance of the building on the side indicated by the address on the voter card was blocked off, and there was no indication of where to go/turn. I imagine that many people gave up when they saw an apparently abandoned building.
Once I was inside, the retired volunteers were friendly, but were clueless as to which table I should check in. Upon entering the voting hall, I was very confused by the lack of indicators as to which table I should go... I stopped at three tables before I was instructed correctly.
Besides all this, everything was ok.
Although, the bubble issue on the ballot itself was quite confusing!
I just voted. I assumed that I was a registered Democrat, but they had me listed as non-partisan. That's ok and makes sense that I had registered that way...many years ago...as I can see not wanting to be stuck in a category, rather being able to vote for the best candidate. I got the NP ballot and was told to go to a DEM voting booth. No one gave me instruction on how the voting ballot works, so I asked and a poll worker showed me. He told me to slide in the ballot and mark the candidate of my choice. I did that. As soon as I walked into my house, I heard all the reports on KPCC about this"bubble" on top that I should have marked. So this means that all of my hours of research, discussion with friends & co-workers doesn't count?! I even read a book on one of the candidates to help me decide...and now my vote doesn't COUNT!?!?! (I didn't read the instructions because I asked a poll worker.)
Oh it's disheartening to hear problems that some/many DTS voters are experiencing. I voted this morning, felt great after voting, made sure I got my "I voted" sticker and left feeling part of the experience.
It's a shame for others who put in the same amount of effort, cannot experience what I had.
Hello,
I just came back from voting. On the way over I was tuned into Patt Morrison's show which informed me of the "bubble" problem. I voted, then checked over my selections and sure enough I had not punched in the bubble. Thanks for the information or my ballot would not have been in the count! I then informed the workers of the situation. They seemed like they did not know what I was talking about. This seems like a tricky election. Hmmmm. I hope all turns out well.
I am a registered Democrat. I was confused by the bubbles above the actual ballot...I interpreted what it said to mean that as a registered Democrat I should not mark either bubble. I voted absentee ballot. I had not seen these choices before and thought it was VERY confusing. I hope my vote counts!
I'm REALLY concerned. I'm a registered Democrat but marked the bubble that I later found was for non-partisans only, because it said "Democrat" next to it. I'm praying that I was not disenfranchised. I hope both Democratric campaigns challenge this because I want my vote to be counted!!
For the last 25 years, my polling place has always been within a few blocks of where I live and I could take care of voting in a matter of minutes. This time it was about a half mile away and I had to wait in line for a half hour. I suspect that several polling places were consolidated. It was also in a church, which as a non-Christian and firm believer in separation of Church and State, made me a little uncomfortable.
After my experience voting today I have resolved to serve as a poll worker next time. The workers at my polling place all spoke English only, despite the fact that perhaps as many as 25% of the voters in my neighborhood are monolingual Spanish speakers. My Spanish is passable, though not perfect. But I ended up translating for two voters even during the short time I was in the polling place to vote myself. One problem that could be fixed with more training is that the poll workers need know to look a bit harder to find Hispanic names, especially for women. Married women in Latin countries keep their full names but add on their husbands name with the word "de." So Maria Flores marries Juan Gomez and becomes Maria Flores de Gomez. The registrar doesn't always treat these names consistently, so Maria might find her name under F for Flores or G for Gomez or, as happened while I was at the polls, under D for "de." Since I helped the poll worker to find the voter's name, this first-time voter didn't have to cast a provisional ballot and wonder what had happened.
And now I'm VERY worried about this bubble at the top issue. I didn't mark a bubble at the top either.
Went to vote in person with my wife. We were told we're registered as Republican. My wife is registered as a Decomcrate and I am Libetarian from years ago. How is it possible we are both registered as Republican?
My mother-in-law went with us. She is a 'Decline to State' voter. No one told her about the additional circle she needed to mark.
Nobody knew anything about 'Decline to State'.
Doesn't this all sound like the election is rigged again?
I arrived at my designated polling place, was sent from one room to another and finally told that my polling place had been moved down the street (I should have gotten a postacard apparently...). My new polling place had inadequate parking and a line out the door at 8:30 AM. This kind of run around is unnecessary and discourages people from voting. Think I'll vote absentee next time.
Voting always fills me with pride, and we are now passing along a tradition of voting to the next generation. Since she was a tiny infant, our now-10-year-old daughter has accompanied my husband and I when we go to vote. We waited until school had finished today so we could all go to the polls together. Robyn knows how to use several kinds of voter machines, too. She sees us studying the issues, of course she listens to KPCC, and she has some nascent political opinions of her own. It's very exciting to see her dawning awareness of democracy.
I noticed on the voter roll that I was listed as Non-Partisan and given a Decline to State ballot even though last week I was on the phone with the LA County Clerk's office and they asked me to confirm I was voting Democrat. So, that means that they changed my voting preference since Thursday!
And I was on the phone with them on Thursday to followup on re-registering because I had called them the day before asking why I didn't receive a sample ballot. They told me that I was unregistered and I asked why; the guy said that happens when people don't vote for two years but I had voted last year and hadn't even lived where I live now for two years.
So I got re-registered on Wednesday and confirmed it Thursday and my info got changed since that time. I'd love to think this was a mistake but I can't help but think that there were lots of people who had voter records that were altered in advance of the election. People's voting record info doesn't get changed on its own.
I was listed as non-partisan but luckily had received information via email from the Obama campaign that we needed to ask for a democratic ballot. This was the first time I voted via electronic and found that the machines used in my Orange County polling place seemed user friendly. I didn't have to insert any type of paperwork, I was assigned a voter number that I input and the machine recognized. Once I got the hang of the buttons it was a breeze. I was also impressed that I was asked 3 times to confirm my vote and even verified it on a paper printout that rolled out from the side prior to the final casting of my vote. It was the best of both, I input my vote electronically and had a paper ballot produced. I am very concerned however about that 2 bubble problem in Los Angeles because I don't feel people were properly notified and from what I've heard on the radio and news so far I can't say that I wouldn't have had a problem. If Obama's campaign did not take the initiative to put the word out about the potential problem with the democratic ballot, I can't say whether or not it would have gone so smoothly for me.
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