Disenfranchised!

[icepixie]

Okay, not really. But it does sort of feel like it.

Hey, everyone who voted absentee in 2004, I hope your state, unlike mine, doesn't assume that you want to keep voting absentee from that address forever. (Actually, that isn't a bad assumption to make, and there was probably fine print somewhere on that ballot that said, "Write to us if you'll be in the country in 2006!" which I just didn't see, so in addition to my outrage I feel like a right idiot.)

Anyway, I tried to vote early today and found that out. After a call to the election commission, I find that I'm allowed to vote provisionally, and that I have to get a new registration card.

This is okay, I guess. I'm not totally convinced that provisional votes don't go into some black hole somewhere, never to be seen, but it's better than nothing. I don't actually care about any of the races; I only want to vote against the "definition of marriage" amendment that they're trying to add to the state constitution. (I do not have enough *rolls eyes* IN THE WORLD.)

Mostly, I was irritated that the bunch of old ladies running things kept asking me, "Are you sure you haven't voted already? You sure? You positive? Isn't there an absentee ballot laying around your house somewhere?" No! I would've noticed had it showed up, I promise! Also, their attitude of, "We don't really believe you and we can't do anything anyway; better luck in 2008" grated, particularly as when I called the election commission, I found out that they actually COULD HAVE done something for me, namely given me a provisional ballot. (Apparently even the person they called at the election commission didn't know this. Hmmm. I begin to wonder who is actually wrong, and what will happen when I try again to go vote.)

Bah, bureaucracy. Down with the system! (...even though it was almost certainly my own absent-mindedness that put me in this situation. But "Up with observation skills!" just doesn't have the same ring.)

Comments

[missizzy]

Virginia has you reapply, complete with copying your address down again, every time you vote absentee. I guess the absentee voters aren't the ones they want to disenfranchise...*mutters darkly*

[icepixie]

I could've sworn that reapplying for an absentee ballot every time was the way Tennessee worked as well, but apparently not. Perhaps they changed it in the last two years. Or perhaps I've just been screwed by the system. (They claim I applied for an absentee ballot in August, which I definitely did not. Madness.)

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

(Actually, that isn't a bad assumption to make, and there was probably fine print somewhere on that ballot that said, "Write to us if you'll be in the country in 2006!" which I just didn't see, so in addition to my outrage I feel like a right idiot.)

I doubt it. I don't remember anything like that on my Ohio absentee junk. Odds are the bureaucrats are just morons. Keep trying until you find one that has an opinion that's convenient for you? : )

[icepixie]

Yeah, I don't remember any fine print like that either, but I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. However, it's very hard when they tell me that I "requested" an absentee ballot in August, which I definitely did not do.

If they get snooty again tomorrow, perhaps I should casually say something like, "I'm sure Newsweek would be interested to hear about this..." *eg*

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Bwah! Tell them you're from Kenyon and you have election-snafu connections!

[icepixie]

I have election fraud cred and I didn't even vote in Ohio!

[nickless.livejournal.com]

Also, their attitude of, "We don't really believe you and we can't do anything anyway; better luck in 2008" grated, particularly as when I called the election commission, I found out that they actually COULD HAVE done something for me, namely given me a provisional ballot.

I had a similar experience last fall, when a grumpy old man didn't want to let me change my address, even though it was on my drivers' license and still in the same precinct. He gave me all this bull about having to go down to the courthouse to change my address, and then when I walked out there's this huge poster that basically says "Change your address on-site! Ask an election worker for a form!" I went back in and very bluntly drew his attention to that information. Amazingly, he was very quickly able to find exactly the form that was being referred to. Lazy old jerk...

We're scheduled for parent/teacher conferences on election night so they're really encouraging people to get absentee ballots. I'm glad I'll have time in the afternoon to do it in person, because UGH. Sounds like a (lingering) pain!

[icepixie]

Yeah, so far I am not a fan of election site workers. Grrrr.

I'd be okay with voting absentee if I had, y'know, an absentee ballot. Which I apparently requested in August. This is news to me, I must say. *rolls eyes*

[nickless.livejournal.com]

They had a commercial or something on the news about "find out what you need to do to volunteer at the voting sites! Tonight on whatever!" I snarked "Yeah - You must be at least 60 years old. You must be cranky. You must..." My dad was in the other room and after a beat he asked, "Did they really say you have to be over 60??" He *totally* thought I was serious, which says more about the system than either of us, really... :)

On top of trying to find time to vote in between conferences? Some of the schools are actually voting sites. Talk about a parking and overcrowding nightmare...

[icepixie]

Yeah, I don't think I've seen a voting site volunteer under 60 in oh, ever.

Some of the schools are actually voting sites. Talk about a parking and overcrowding nightmare...

Silly scheduling people!

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

Whoa, funky. It seems NYS just assumes you'll vote in person unless you request an absentee ballot. However, I do know someone who has tried to register to vote 4 times (PA and MO) and the paperwork was screwed up every single time.

Are you registered in a party? Sometimes that seems to make a difference. (Independent here.)

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

I do remember that there were some trials and tribulations about my registration and first absentee ballot though. I was in Holland at the time and my parents ended up having to go to the Board of Elections. The folks at the Board had looked at my requested absentee ballot address and didn't believe the street name was real. Aerdenhoutsduinweg is a real street. :)

The election site workers at home are a bit more helpful than yours, but being asked "Are you sure you're old enough to vote?" gets annoying after the first three or four times.

Anyway, good luck!

[icepixie]

The folks at the Board had looked at my requested absentee ballot address and didn't believe the street name was real.

Awww! At least I never had that problem. Yay for English street names.

I found out where they keep the helpful election site workers today. *g*

[icepixie]

It seems NYS just assumes you'll vote in person unless you request an absentee ballot.

I found out today that that's what TN is supposed to assume, but the computer system doesn't believe in that kind of thing. Or something. Eitehr way, it ruins that particular voter ID for all time, and you have to get a new one if you ever want to vote again.

No party here. Er, I don't think. It was in high school; I think I registered as an independent or declined to answer, one of the two.