My Experience
.
The hubby-man took the morning off so we would have plenty of time to vote together. Good thing, too. There were 2 electronic voting machines and a table with corrugated cardboard shields for paper ballot voting. Most people chose the paper ballot. When we walked in the door, I saw people sitting at the table filling out ballots and a line of maybe 8 people for the electronic touch screen machines. Then my eyes took in the rest of the scene. There was a line of at least 20 people winding around the table. There were people filling out paper ballots at the table, in benches, in chairs, leaning against the wall, and a mom who was using her baby stroller to fill out her ballot.
There were at least 60 people crowded into a space not much bigger than my (admittedly large) living room. Everyone was quiet and patient while waiting for their chance to vote. Volunteers and poll workers helped voters find any available nook or cranny to vote with at least a little privacy. Even though the poll workers were clearly exhausted (at 11:30 am); they were cheerful, helpful, and they moved us along as quickly as they could. The entire process took about 35 minutes.
Hubby and I chose the touch screen machines because it prints a paper trail, and Missouri is unlikely to throw away those ballots prematurely. The machine prints your ballot so you can see what a recounter would see, and make sure that every single vote you cast is correct. The paper ballots are fed into a machine, then lord knows what happens to them.
I called my mom and asked her how rough it was at her polling place. She said they were slammed, but things were moving smoothly.
Showing posts with label Voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voting. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
Angry
.
I've been angry all day, and I didn't know why. After listening to a crapload of political news, I understand my anger now.
I DON'T TRUST THAT OUR VOTES WILL BE COUNTED.
And I hate that.
On my 18th birthday, I registered to vote. I have voted in every election except one since then. (I just forgot to vote that day) I have been voting for 19 years. Every time, I hope that what I favor passes and who I choose wins -but if they don't, they don't. The people have spoken. I had faith in the system; if not in the intellect of the masses.
But then the Florida recount of the presidential votes was disrupted by right wing rioting religious groups. Remember. It wasn't that long ago. They blocked the doorways, clogged the halls, and eventually broke down the doors in one recount office. The entire office had to move to a secure location. JUST TO COUNT OUR VOTES.
As a result, not all the votes were counted in time; and Bush became President.
4 years later - votes were lost, added, subtracted, or changed. Not just in a few districts in Ohio. There were problems across the country. Our government did nothing. And Bush remained President. And this isn't about the President. There have been voting problems everywhere there has been a tight race over *anything*. People have been turned away from the polls, experienced excessively long lines, or suffered ballot mis-management for local elections and mid-terms too.
My mom, who is a Republican election judge, had an incident where no one was coming in to vote during one of those small elections. She went outside and saw that the Fire Department had blocked off the entrance to the polling place, and an officer was directing people away. (Admittedly, the police officer thought the polling place had been closed. He really wasn't trying to cause problems. But if it can happen over a misunderstanding, think what could be done on purpose!) My mother dutifully reported the incident, cleared up the misunderstanding, and got the officer to tell people the polling place was still open and safe. To his credit, the cop stuck around for hours, making sure people knew they could vote.
My mom lives in a politically mixed neighborhood. She has taken to marking the boundaries of the polling "no pester zone" with chalk, and the judges take turns standing outside to keep voters from feeling intimidated. I find that necessity outrageous.
And I feel threatened and defensive. I don't expect any problems voting tomorrow at my particular polling place; and I'm terrified about what might happen at some of the other places. Every vote should count. Every voter should feel secure while entering or exiting the polls. Every voter should be able to have faith that their elections are secure. Are they?
.
I've been angry all day, and I didn't know why. After listening to a crapload of political news, I understand my anger now.
I DON'T TRUST THAT OUR VOTES WILL BE COUNTED.
And I hate that.
On my 18th birthday, I registered to vote. I have voted in every election except one since then. (I just forgot to vote that day) I have been voting for 19 years. Every time, I hope that what I favor passes and who I choose wins -but if they don't, they don't. The people have spoken. I had faith in the system; if not in the intellect of the masses.
But then the Florida recount of the presidential votes was disrupted by right wing rioting religious groups. Remember. It wasn't that long ago. They blocked the doorways, clogged the halls, and eventually broke down the doors in one recount office. The entire office had to move to a secure location. JUST TO COUNT OUR VOTES.
As a result, not all the votes were counted in time; and Bush became President.
4 years later - votes were lost, added, subtracted, or changed. Not just in a few districts in Ohio. There were problems across the country. Our government did nothing. And Bush remained President. And this isn't about the President. There have been voting problems everywhere there has been a tight race over *anything*. People have been turned away from the polls, experienced excessively long lines, or suffered ballot mis-management for local elections and mid-terms too.
My mom, who is a Republican election judge, had an incident where no one was coming in to vote during one of those small elections. She went outside and saw that the Fire Department had blocked off the entrance to the polling place, and an officer was directing people away. (Admittedly, the police officer thought the polling place had been closed. He really wasn't trying to cause problems. But if it can happen over a misunderstanding, think what could be done on purpose!) My mother dutifully reported the incident, cleared up the misunderstanding, and got the officer to tell people the polling place was still open and safe. To his credit, the cop stuck around for hours, making sure people knew they could vote.
My mom lives in a politically mixed neighborhood. She has taken to marking the boundaries of the polling "no pester zone" with chalk, and the judges take turns standing outside to keep voters from feeling intimidated. I find that necessity outrageous.
And I feel threatened and defensive. I don't expect any problems voting tomorrow at my particular polling place; and I'm terrified about what might happen at some of the other places. Every vote should count. Every voter should feel secure while entering or exiting the polls. Every voter should be able to have faith that their elections are secure. Are they?
My Voting Dilemma
.
I live in Missouri. I can't stand the Democrat candidate for the Senate. I *really* can't stand her. I don't know what her political aspirations are, but I don't have any faith that her aspirations have anything to do with representing *me* or *my* concerns.
Her Republican opponent, while a decent guy; is completely unpalatable to me. He is pro-life, anti-homosexual rights, anti-stem cell research, pro-war and voted perks for big businesses while Missouri was (and still is) unable to provide the basics for our poor. Missouri has cut medicare, medicaid, food stamps, AFDC, and funding for sliding-scale clinics. Missouri's governor has closed several free clinics, cut school funding, and raised taxes. He has done that because Republicans have voted repeatedly to cut federal funding. Suddenly, a state that had consistently been able to meet it's citizens needs, was running in the red. (Talk about a RED STATE, sigh.)
Normally, If I can't stand either Republican or Democrat candidate, I vote independant. I can't afford to do that this time. My home state cannot afford another term from Jim Talent, and the United States cannot afford another round of corrupt Republican rule.
I'm not saying that Jim talent himself is corrupt. I'm saying that the Republican party as a whole is corrupt. I feel sorry for the decent Republican candidates, because their party's policies are bringing them down. It's insulting and degrading to those Republicans who genuinely have the best interests of our country in mind.
Fortunately, the Democratic party has been moving more and more toward the center. Most of the "liberal" Democrats vote along the same lines as the "conservative" Republicans of 20 years ago.
So. Even though I want to slap the TV every time I see Claire McCaskill's face on it; I'm swallowing my bile and voting for her.
(gag)
I also have serious doubts about the integrity of my vote. With as tight as the race is in Missouri, I wonder if we'll be the next Ohio or Florida. Are we next in line for obvious vote fraud? Will we encounter impossibly long lines, obstruction, misplaced votes, or outright vote theft? I just don't have any confidence at all.
And if I don't vote, I won't be part of the count - miscount - or recount. So vote I shall. I'll also be bringing my fully charged cell phone. We have plenty of minutes that I can use to let people call in late for work or report any kind of voter abuse. I don't care which party someone is voting for, either. Our votes (should be) sacrosanct -untouchable-. And nothing nor anybody is going to stop *my* vote. :p
.
I live in Missouri. I can't stand the Democrat candidate for the Senate. I *really* can't stand her. I don't know what her political aspirations are, but I don't have any faith that her aspirations have anything to do with representing *me* or *my* concerns.
Her Republican opponent, while a decent guy; is completely unpalatable to me. He is pro-life, anti-homosexual rights, anti-stem cell research, pro-war and voted perks for big businesses while Missouri was (and still is) unable to provide the basics for our poor. Missouri has cut medicare, medicaid, food stamps, AFDC, and funding for sliding-scale clinics. Missouri's governor has closed several free clinics, cut school funding, and raised taxes. He has done that because Republicans have voted repeatedly to cut federal funding. Suddenly, a state that had consistently been able to meet it's citizens needs, was running in the red. (Talk about a RED STATE, sigh.)
Normally, If I can't stand either Republican or Democrat candidate, I vote independant. I can't afford to do that this time. My home state cannot afford another term from Jim Talent, and the United States cannot afford another round of corrupt Republican rule.
I'm not saying that Jim talent himself is corrupt. I'm saying that the Republican party as a whole is corrupt. I feel sorry for the decent Republican candidates, because their party's policies are bringing them down. It's insulting and degrading to those Republicans who genuinely have the best interests of our country in mind.
Fortunately, the Democratic party has been moving more and more toward the center. Most of the "liberal" Democrats vote along the same lines as the "conservative" Republicans of 20 years ago.
So. Even though I want to slap the TV every time I see Claire McCaskill's face on it; I'm swallowing my bile and voting for her.
(gag)
I also have serious doubts about the integrity of my vote. With as tight as the race is in Missouri, I wonder if we'll be the next Ohio or Florida. Are we next in line for obvious vote fraud? Will we encounter impossibly long lines, obstruction, misplaced votes, or outright vote theft? I just don't have any confidence at all.
And if I don't vote, I won't be part of the count - miscount - or recount. So vote I shall. I'll also be bringing my fully charged cell phone. We have plenty of minutes that I can use to let people call in late for work or report any kind of voter abuse. I don't care which party someone is voting for, either. Our votes (should be) sacrosanct -untouchable-. And nothing nor anybody is going to stop *my* vote. :p
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Voting In Missouri
.
Constitutional Amendments 2,3,6 and 7 -plus Proposition B
When you go to the polls, each issue will have a short paragraph describing the intent of the issue to be voted on. Sometimes these paragraphs are misleading, vague, or deliberately worded to confuse the voter. Don't be fooled! Read the entire amendment or proposition online at: the Secretary of State's webpage.
Amendment 2 bans human cloning. It bans the sale of embryos and eggs for the purposes of creating stem cells. Any embryo or egg used to create a stem cell line must be donated with the full written consent of the donor and without any monetary or non-monetary reward. (As an example: An couple pays for fertility treatments. The treatments result in a dozen fertilized eggs. Four eggs are implanted in the womb, the rest are frozen. The implanting results in two healthy babies. The couple decides they have enough children. If amendment 2 passes, the couple has the option of donating the remaining fertilized eggs to the research project of their choice -but only in Missouri, to Missouri researchers and companies. The donated eggs cannot be collected in Missouri and subsequently moved to a country with less lenient laws.)
In addition, Amendment 2 cannot allow any stem cell research that goes against Federal Law. Amendment 2 provides for an oversight committee, and all proposed research must be recorded and approved every year by the oversight committee. The committee would consist of researchers, physicians and common citizens. Amendment 2 clearly defines "embryo" as a zygote aged 14 days or less -not counting time frozen.
Why amendment 2 is good: It will make Missouri more attractive to research companies, bringing in more revenue and jobs. It will place restrictions on stem-cell research and use. It will provide oversight of those restrictions, and harsh penalties for abuse. It will offer stem cell therapy opportunities to those desperately seeking a cure.
Why amendment 2 is bad: It puts a lot of power in the hands of government.
Amendment 3 taxes tobacco products. The proposed tax is 4 cents per cigarette (80 cents per pack) and 20% on other tobacco products (like chewing tobacco). The tax revenues raised will be used to shore up medicaid and medicare (funding for both have been cut by our current Governor).
Even though the descriptive paragraph begins with
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to create a Healthy Future Trust Fund which will:
1. be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use, to increase funding for healthcare access and treatment for eligible low-income individuals and Medicaid recipients, and to cover administrative costs;"
17.5% of the revenue would be used for smoking cessation and prevention programs. That 17.5% breaks down to: 15% for community smoking reduction programs, 15% for advertising, 5% for oversight, and up to 30% for medicaid.
82.5% goes to medicaid and medicare.
Why amendment 3 is good: It will increase revenue through taxes
Why amendment 3 is bad: Low wage workers and unemployed persons are more likely to be smokers. This tax hits the addicted poor harder than anyone else, and doesn't do a damn thing to help them quit. It's taking money from the poor to pay for programs for the poor.
Amendment 6 fiddles around with the tax laws, and tries to count veterans organizations as non-profit entities for the puropses of taxation.
Good or bad: I don't honestly know. I don't know enough about out tax structure to make sense of this one.
Amendment 7 adds to a law passed in 1996 about a comission deciding wages and compensation. It's a good law. The new part reads as follows: "12. Beginning January 1, 2007, any public official subject to this provision who is convicted in any court of a felony which occurred while in office or who has been removed from office for misconduct or following impeachment shall be disqualified from receiving any pension from the state of Missouri.
13. No compensation schedule filed by the commission after the effective date of this subsection shall take effect for members of the general assembly until January 1, 2009."
Why amendment 7 is good: Currently, there is no provision for disalowing compensation. Passing amendment 7 would ensure that any elected state official, member of the general assembly, or judge, except municipal judges would not recieve a paycheck after being convicted of a felony, removed from office due to misconduct, or impeached.
Why amendment 7 is bad: I can't think of any reasons.
Proposition B raises the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour, or the Federal minimum wage -whichever is higher. Don't get your hopes up, there are lots of exceptions. Small farms, apprentices, persons employed for 6 months or less(learning period), etc. Can be paid less.
.
Constitutional Amendments 2,3,6 and 7 -plus Proposition B
When you go to the polls, each issue will have a short paragraph describing the intent of the issue to be voted on. Sometimes these paragraphs are misleading, vague, or deliberately worded to confuse the voter. Don't be fooled! Read the entire amendment or proposition online at: the Secretary of State's webpage.
Amendment 2 bans human cloning. It bans the sale of embryos and eggs for the purposes of creating stem cells. Any embryo or egg used to create a stem cell line must be donated with the full written consent of the donor and without any monetary or non-monetary reward. (As an example: An couple pays for fertility treatments. The treatments result in a dozen fertilized eggs. Four eggs are implanted in the womb, the rest are frozen. The implanting results in two healthy babies. The couple decides they have enough children. If amendment 2 passes, the couple has the option of donating the remaining fertilized eggs to the research project of their choice -but only in Missouri, to Missouri researchers and companies. The donated eggs cannot be collected in Missouri and subsequently moved to a country with less lenient laws.)
In addition, Amendment 2 cannot allow any stem cell research that goes against Federal Law. Amendment 2 provides for an oversight committee, and all proposed research must be recorded and approved every year by the oversight committee. The committee would consist of researchers, physicians and common citizens. Amendment 2 clearly defines "embryo" as a zygote aged 14 days or less -not counting time frozen.
Why amendment 2 is good: It will make Missouri more attractive to research companies, bringing in more revenue and jobs. It will place restrictions on stem-cell research and use. It will provide oversight of those restrictions, and harsh penalties for abuse. It will offer stem cell therapy opportunities to those desperately seeking a cure.
Why amendment 2 is bad: It puts a lot of power in the hands of government.
Amendment 3 taxes tobacco products. The proposed tax is 4 cents per cigarette (80 cents per pack) and 20% on other tobacco products (like chewing tobacco). The tax revenues raised will be used to shore up medicaid and medicare (funding for both have been cut by our current Governor).
Even though the descriptive paragraph begins with
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to create a Healthy Future Trust Fund which will:
1. be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use, to increase funding for healthcare access and treatment for eligible low-income individuals and Medicaid recipients, and to cover administrative costs;"
17.5% of the revenue would be used for smoking cessation and prevention programs. That 17.5% breaks down to: 15% for community smoking reduction programs, 15% for advertising, 5% for oversight, and up to 30% for medicaid.
82.5% goes to medicaid and medicare.
Why amendment 3 is good: It will increase revenue through taxes
Why amendment 3 is bad: Low wage workers and unemployed persons are more likely to be smokers. This tax hits the addicted poor harder than anyone else, and doesn't do a damn thing to help them quit. It's taking money from the poor to pay for programs for the poor.
Amendment 6 fiddles around with the tax laws, and tries to count veterans organizations as non-profit entities for the puropses of taxation.
Good or bad: I don't honestly know. I don't know enough about out tax structure to make sense of this one.
Amendment 7 adds to a law passed in 1996 about a comission deciding wages and compensation. It's a good law. The new part reads as follows: "12. Beginning January 1, 2007, any public official subject to this provision who is convicted in any court of a felony which occurred while in office or who has been removed from office for misconduct or following impeachment shall be disqualified from receiving any pension from the state of Missouri.
13. No compensation schedule filed by the commission after the effective date of this subsection shall take effect for members of the general assembly until January 1, 2009."
Why amendment 7 is good: Currently, there is no provision for disalowing compensation. Passing amendment 7 would ensure that any elected state official, member of the general assembly, or judge, except municipal judges would not recieve a paycheck after being convicted of a felony, removed from office due to misconduct, or impeached.
Why amendment 7 is bad: I can't think of any reasons.
Proposition B raises the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour, or the Federal minimum wage -whichever is higher. Don't get your hopes up, there are lots of exceptions. Small farms, apprentices, persons employed for 6 months or less(learning period), etc. Can be paid less.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Voting
.
The hubby-man came home for lunch, and we both went to vote together. It was sweet. We punched our individual choices, watched the paper ballot scroll past, confirmed our votes, (crossed our fingers), walked out the door, and said "dammit." In unison.
Because we had both chosen "The other guy" rather than choose the person who keeps running for whatever office is available, and keeps being rejected by the voters.
Upon leaving the polling place, we spotted the sign for "the other guy". Yeah. The one who's billing himself as "The Pro-Life Democrat"
Shit.
Can I have a do over?
.
The hubby-man came home for lunch, and we both went to vote together. It was sweet. We punched our individual choices, watched the paper ballot scroll past, confirmed our votes, (crossed our fingers), walked out the door, and said "dammit." In unison.
Because we had both chosen "The other guy" rather than choose the person who keeps running for whatever office is available, and keeps being rejected by the voters.
Upon leaving the polling place, we spotted the sign for "the other guy". Yeah. The one who's billing himself as "The Pro-Life Democrat"
Shit.
Can I have a do over?
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Just so you know, I like Dean and Clark.
Great Dean soundbites:
"The bottom line is, though George Bush may choose his words to appeal to America’s heartland, his actions are starving it."
"I will appoint an Attorney General who sees our constitution not just as a document to be manipulated, ignored, and violated, but who recognizes and respects it as the fabric that binds the American community together."
"A healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand."
Great Clark Soundbites:
"There are two big legacies we leave to our children: Constitutional government, and the environment itself. Every day we wait the problems accumulate and get worse. We should work right now on clean air, clean water, and climate change. We need to support upgrades to air pollution controls, for example -- a lot of measures have been rolled back by the Administration."
"If you want to fire an assault weapon," he said, "join the army, we've got plenty of them."
Great Dean soundbites:
"The bottom line is, though George Bush may choose his words to appeal to America’s heartland, his actions are starving it."
"I will appoint an Attorney General who sees our constitution not just as a document to be manipulated, ignored, and violated, but who recognizes and respects it as the fabric that binds the American community together."
"A healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand."
Great Clark Soundbites:
"There are two big legacies we leave to our children: Constitutional government, and the environment itself. Every day we wait the problems accumulate and get worse. We should work right now on clean air, clean water, and climate change. We need to support upgrades to air pollution controls, for example -- a lot of measures have been rolled back by the Administration."
"If you want to fire an assault weapon," he said, "join the army, we've got plenty of them."
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