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*

[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? : )

[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!

[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.)