Full disclosure - I am a temp worker at the local Elections Office. This is my second "tour of duty" at the office.
You know...sometimes it just isn't a conspiracy. Sometimes it's downright human stupidity. You heard me. Plain old freakin' stupidity. And, I will tell you, this election year is really bringing out the stupid AND THE MEAN in people.
Go below "the fold" if you dare.....
Why not treat the voting registration form like a legal document, which it really is if you want to get down to brass tacks. TAKE SOME TIME TO FILL IT OUT PROPERLY. You know, like spelling your name correctly. Knowing the difference between a residence address and a PO Box. Knowing what freakin' county you live in. If you live in, say, Bakersfield (Kern County) don't send in your registration form to Los Angeles County.
If you move...REREGISTER.
If you get married or divorced or otherwise change your name...REREGISTER.
If you change your party affiliation...or become unaffiliated...REREGISTER.
If you change your signature...REREGISTER.
(Hint...if you sign your ballot with your "check signing" signature instead of your signature you registered with because you can't take a freakin' 3 minutes out of your day...you might have a problem with your ballot.)
TAKE SOME TIME TO FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM...and GASP! write legibly. Surprised to get a letter saying there is a problem with your registration because you scribbled the entire thing? Ha! Kids are dying in Iraq for your "right" to vote. Take some freakin' time to fill it out correctly.
If you've already turned in your ballot weeks ago, you can't take back your vote because your candidate is dropping in the polls. If you've already sent in your ballot, don't ask for another one because you want to change parties.
Don't use whiteout on your ballot.
Don't put blood on your ballot.
Don't send razor blades in with your ballot.
Don't wash your ballot.
Don't send your spouse's ballot in with yours in the same envelope.
Don't sign both yours and your spouse's ballot...in fact, don't even SIGN your ballot...SIGN YOUR ENVELOPE!!!
Don't write "Congress sucks" on your ballot.
Don't fill out your ballot with crayons.
Don't crinkle up your ballot.
Don't use previous years envelopes to send in your ballot.
CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICE to make sure if you have to have something IN THE OFFICE or post marked by a certain date.
You are NOT the only one in the universe. If you go into the Elections Office DON'T think that you can take up hours of the office time simply because you want to argue some minute point about the "horribleness" of the state of politics or you have some gripe about college students being able to vote where they go to school.
Don't threaten to pee on the floor because you think an elections office has to provide Public Restrooms.
Your registration doesn't "float" around the universe with you. Register to vote where you live...or as we put it..."where you put your head at night."
Don't threaten to sue the Elections Office simply because you no longer have the same polling place you are used to. Polling places change. PAY ATTENTION TO THE INFORMATION SENT TO YOU ON YOUR VOTING INFORMATION.
Don't throw a hissyfit if you can't work the polls with the same people you did last year. Things change. Deal with it. Try working with the poll staffing folks instead of quiting or throwing verbal insults.
In California, DECLINE TO STATE does NOT mean "Independent"...when you check American Independent on your registration, you are affiliating yourself with an official party.
In California, DECLINE TO STATE voters MAY NOT "crossover" vote on a Republican ballot for the February 5th Presidential Primary, however, you may in the JUNE 3 STATEWIDE PRIMARY. If you have a problem with that...call the Parties. It's NOT the Elections Office decision.
"INDEPENDENT" does not mean you can vote for anyone running for any party on a single ballot during PRIMARIES. That's what GENERAL elections are all about.
SLATE MAILERS are NOT sent out by the Elections office. If you are pissed off at a mailing sent out to "independent" voters saying to ask for a Democratic ballot...call THIS GUY.
Oh, yeah...try knowing what a PRIMARY is vs. a GENERAL election. Better yet, KNOW WHEN ELECTION DAY IS. That's a dang good start.
ELECTION OFFICE HORROR STORY OF THE DAY.
So, this woman comes in with registration forms in her hand. She turns them in saying that she was doing a registration drive. I notice that she has a "Hillary" button on. I asked her to take off the button as that is "electioneering" as we have polling stations set up in the office. She does so and then let's go with "well the Obama people have their banners and buttons and things all over public places..." and lets go rants on "the Obama people."
(Side note, one Obama precinct person came in and had no problem removing her Obama pin...even the local conspiracy theorist Drudge dressalike had no problem removing his Ron Paul pin. Both even said "thank you for reminding us. "Sorry.")
I look over her registration forms. I explain to her that the last day for registering for the Feb. 5 Primary was Jan. 22. She said she knew that. One of the forms was for someone who lived in Ventura. I told her that. She huffed. I explained that in our county, we require a No or Yes answer to "have you been registered before." Either bubble MUST be checked. And, if the answer is yes, that past registration information should be provided, name, address, city, etc. If you can't remember the exact street address...no problem, but city and state can suffice. She huffed. She then looked at one of the registration forms and said "I don't know about this one. He was born in Mexico." I explained to her that many American citizens registering to vote are born in foreign countries. She huffed.
She then asked for a "handful" of registration forms as she was planning to do a registration drive up at the local City College. She needed more than 50, so she filled out the proper paperwork to get those. I noticed that she was from a local Hillary for President contingent. I counted the reg cards out. Took her information. Sent her on her way as she huffed her way through the door.
About 1/2 an hour later, we get a message from the phone bank. Seems this caller who would not give her name but wanted to complain about "an overweight blonde woman who told her that the Obama people could have their signage in public places. It was WRONG information." But she refused to give her name. She took the time to call and get petty and ugly over me asking her to take off her f**king Hillary for President pin.
So...Ms. C.R. from the local Hillary for President campaign. F**K Y**!
OK. I feel a little better now. I get to go back tomorrow to have people yell at us, threaten us, throw temper tantrums, lie directly to our faces (perhaps I'll tell you about the mysterious disappearing handicapped woman in the car in a later rant) and make me wonder if perhaps having certain people able to vote is such a good idea. But....
I have a strong belief in Democracy. I feel I am helping out my City, my County, my State, my Country with my little temp job.