When I walked into my polling place this morning at around 11:30 AM, the worker attending my precinct was actually asleep, head on the table. I was only the third person to vote in my precinct, and the 26th to cast a ballot across all five precincts.
“Busy day?” I asked the roomful of aged poll workers, who responded with a mix of forelorn bemusement and total confusion. If there is a retirement home for fictional Maytag repairmen, I imagine it looks pretty much like this.
Turnout is reportedly low throughout the state, but particularly in heavily Democratic King County, one of the only counties yet to move to all vote by mail. I’d say this bodes poorly for Democrats if I could say this primary means anything at all. Things will be different in November with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket.
Still, if you haven’t voted yet, don’t give the other guys the opportunity to spin the results into campaign momentum… get out there and cast your ballot.
UPDATE [Lee]: When I walked into my polling place a little after 8am this morning, the poll workers let out a small cheer just to see somebody, anybody coming in to vote. While there wasn’t a person sleeping at my precinct table, there was an orange and white cat sleeping on the chair. Not a single person came in to vote while I was there. I put my ballot in the machine, told everyone there to “stay awake,” and went across the street to catch my bus.
Times are tough all over, Goldy.
At least you and I are of the same mind about the voting process, the stupid nature of primaries, and actually going to the polls.
This so-called “Top Two” primary is going to backfire, and the so-called “good government” types who eschew party affiliation will be responsible.
Where is it written that it makes sense to choose only from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Stupid? Isn’t the essence of an election the making of clear choices between contrasting alternatives?
I was number three in my precinct. Checking other precincts (some six or seven all told), less than 30 people total had voted by 11:30 a.m.
Now, I know some are always absentee, another false “reform” that caters only to the lazy and uninvolved, but still…
At least the old babe that worked my precinct demanded picture ID of me making no bones about it. I thanked her for her fidelity to duty.
Anyone who comes to a polling place without the ability to prove who you are doesn’t deserve to vote – the rules are simple, it ain’t rocket science, and part of voting is being informed enough to do it right.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of this vacation season primary.
The Piper
Goldy,
Curiously, the Dem-run elections office already showed 129 live Gregoire votes in your precinct by the time you arrived at 11:30.
Goldy–
I’m sure that cheer must have lifted your low self-esteem for a split second.
Keep taking the Prozac.
I dropped off our ballots at the local polling place at about 5:30, as people wee headed home from work. About 1/2 of the voting stations were in use, several people were checking in, and there were 3 others there to drop their ballots into the box (and avoid having to put a stamp on it). Not as busy as I’ve seen it before, but not as slow as it has been for some of the off-year stuff.
A good portion had probably already voted and mailed in the ballots.
52 votes in my polling place and a bunch of absentee ballots. More than some primaries, less than others.
Piper:
You thanked that “old babe” for failing to follow the law. There is no requirement to “demand” photo ID from voters. Here’s the official statement from King County Elections:
Only one of the above categories of acceptable ID would display a photo.
As I have for several years now (we’ve been a full vote by mail county for sometime) I took my ballot down to city hall (last polling place in the county (well and the Auditor’s in Colfax) and made sure they watched me sign it. I want a witness if they refuse to count it. And I’ve known Lauren for many years :)
One thing we miss these days is the true appreciation and thanks we owe poll workers. I’ve never done it, and I think I am some ashamed by this fact.
# 7: I’m not aware of any proceedure by which you would be informed that your ballot wasn’t counted, or give you a chance to defend it. The 2004 election challenge created a unique opportunity to defend a challenged ballot, simply because one party or the other was going to take steps to contact you and let you know what was going on, since every vote was important to the final result. In less close elections, I doubt this will ever occur.
One of the reforms we need, right after this election, is a better way to handle challenged ballots. Voters have a right to know if their vote isn’t being counted, and an opportunity to defend their ballot.
At least the old babe that worked my precinct demanded picture ID of me making no bones about it. I thanked her for her fidelity to duty.
Anyone who comes to a polling place without the ability to prove who you are doesn’t deserve to vote – the rules are simple, it ain’t rocket science, and part of voting is being informed enough to do it right.
Vell, I vant to see your papers, pooper. Zay are not in order – exit here immediately or you vill be shot!
I bring my registration card which is signed on the back.
Nothing more – ever.
If anyone insists on photo id – they are a wingnut – calmly point out to them that a registration card, a utility bill and the like are acceptable ID.
As in the recent case of the experience of a voter in Missouri, a wingnut will not accept anything but a photo id – even if you bring documentation of state law with you. If you have the time, go up the chain of command until someone makes the wingnut poll worker relent and allow you to exercise your franchise.
Of course everyone has busy days. If you don’t have the time then inform the wingnut that you will show photo id only under protest. Then take down the poll worker’s identification and report his/her actions to the state’s secretary of state office and the local country election authority at first opportunity.
Of course not everyone has photo id as in the recent case of the Catholic nuns in Indiana. The wingnut may or may not inform you to fill out a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are for all intents and purposes ballots that are not counted. In 2004 over 3 million provisional ballots were cast and one third of them were not counted.
Wingnuts (like Pooper) are determined to suppress votes at every opportunity using every trick in the book. We all have to be aware of these tricks and fight back with everything we’ve got. Of course if they can’t suppress enough votes, they will commit outright fraud with the voting machines – the record of “undervotes” in battleground state counties is utterly appalling – that’s where recent elections were stolen. For that reason – I will never use a voting machine.
Curiously, the Dem-run elections office already showed 129 live Gregoire votes in your precinct by the time you arrived at 11:30.
Back that up surreal one. Put up or shut up.
@11
I think he’ll be shutting up now…
12 – Apparently, the “former journalist”, the surreal man, has made shit up.
How Republican of him.
Why do democrats have a problem with showing id when voting. Is it solely because it would cut down on voter fraud which would hurt the democrats.
Like they said…
Vote early, vote often.
14 – I showed ID. I followed the law. I registrered and was on the voting rolls. Why do I have to be treated like a criminal suspect when I exercise my franchise?
Many people don’t have picture ID. Turning them away like what happened to the Catholic Nuns in Indiana is taking away their rights and…
helps elect Republicans – like these:
http://republicansexoffenders.com/
Jump Marvin Jump!!!