VOTING REPORT FROM TEXAS...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

My sister just called from Lewisville, TX.

She went to her regular polling location and a polling volunteer asked for her Voter ID card. He then looked at her Kucinich shirt she was wearing, got nasty, and said she would not be voting here, that this location was only for Republicans voters.

My sister said she wasn't notified of any change in polling place and asked where she was supposed to go. The first worker said he had no idea. The first worker than told her, "Are you sure you don't want to change parties?", and Diana told him no. She again asked for information on where the polling place had been moved to and was told coldly there was none to give.

She then went next door to City Hall, where there was no information posted and election workers who had no idea where the new location was.

Diana finally called a Dallas Democratic organizer she had just met at a Kucinich event last week and told him what was happening. They went ballistic, want her to make a report, and then gave her the new location.

Her new polling place is HALF AN HOUR AWAY in Argyle.

She is so steamed, she is making posters with the new info on it and putting them up at City Hall and the old polling place.

Now you have to know there will be Democratic voters in her area who will not have the determination to ferret out the needed info and then drive half an hour away to vote.

If this is the way the 2004 Presidential election is going to go Texas is in trouble.

[redqueen]

1. Typical Texas politics

Kudos to her for taking the initiative to help others. Unfortunately those signs might just walk away the minute no one is watching. (This is Texas, remember.)

But the shirt issue is a no no. She shouldn't have worn that into the polling place.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. She didn't know that....

She is a political newbie and didn't know that rule. If the polling worker had just been nice and told her it was the law, she would have understood why the fuss and complied.

[redqueen]

9. Sorry to hear she had to learn this way

but I'm glad her experience was early. No one benefits from having any illusions as to how the game is played down here.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

38. My sister's already seen how...

the Texas police game is played -- what utter bullshit.

Now she gets a taste of the politics.

I wouldn't last a month down there without getting arrested. :)

[salin]

7. Have worked at a polling place - and the shirt thing is standard

can't wear it inside the polling place - even heard the 'folks have to turn it inside out...' thing as a possible solution if/when the issue comes up.

The rest... BIG concern. I can not believe that they would have no information about the democratic polling place. Is it typical that for the same precinct there are segregated by party polling places? Or am I misunderstanding the story. Have never heard that one before. And no information available through those working the polls on where the new polling place is? We had information - and an emergency number to call (through to the county clerk's office) - if we had to redirect a voter to another precinct and couldn't determine which one (and where) it was.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. I too udnerstand the shirt thing but...

the whole separate polling places for Reps and Dems I have never heard of and find bizarre.

Here in SF we all share the same polling location, and we SURE as heck don't have to drive half an hour to vote!

[salin]

16. when I used to vote just south of you

on the penninsula... we had periodic polling place changes (always a bit disruptive)... but there was always clear directions to the 'new' polling place for those who were moved.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. That is what is disturbing...

To not have the information available is negligent, plain and simple.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

20. negligent? not as far as Republican vote

suppression goes.

[salin]

31. What is amazing - and even more alarming to me

is the absolute arrogance and the chutzpah of those who decry that there is no problem with things like unverifiable voting machines - even in the face of clear problems. So the republican official in florida - angrily states that there is no NEED to recount because there is nothing to recount (allusion: technology never messes up)... even in light of a special election which was decided by a smaller number of votes than the "undervotes" (registered a vote - but didn't vote in that race)... which was odd in that the special election was for only a single vote (no other races, no other issues)... to believe this - more than 160 people went to the trouble of going to vote - to then cast a nonvote. In that light... having the arrogance to dismiss the problem is utterly astounding. And frightening, in that there are NO boundaries around which this behavior would be somewhat moderated. So the anti democracy behavior gets more and more blatant. Back to this story, it sounds, of segregating, and working to hide polling places for democrats... and when challenged/questioned.. responding with a lacksidasical "whats the problem" manner... as if there is nothing wrong, no intentional or unintentional voter disenfranchisement, nothing...

[redqueen]

33. They're cocky as hell

ever since the redistricting fiasco. It's like they think they own the state.

[dfong63]

23. in my county (in CA), poll workers are trained

to (a) help voters who are in the wrong precinct to find their correct precinct (calling HQ if necessary to find out where the voter belongs);
(b) have them vote provisionally if they live in our county and can't make it to their correct precinct.

a half-hour drive to the polling place is outrageous. here, we had 10 polling places just on one college campus.

[mrgorth]

8. Why not?

on the shirt thing.

[salin]

17. considered a form of electioneering which is prevented

by law for any/all candidates. That is why candidate signs are on the outside of polling places, if volunteers for a candidate shows up, they work outside of the polling place... once inside it is to be neutral. Thus any shirt or the like which advocates a particular candidate has to become neutral (hence the advice of turning it inside out.)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

37. I've been trying to get ahold of her...

to see how things went, and suggest she make sure the polling staff are aware of the info, then have someone else stop by and ask specifically for that info to see if they cough it up. :)

[rocktivity]

2. CALL EVERYONE YOU CAN THINK OF!!!

Every local news outlet and newspaper! Get this story broadcast far and wide!!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[SangamonTaylor]

3. that's horrible

I used to live in Carrollton, and I can not imagine having to drive all the way over to Argyle.

Well, I'm off to my polling place here in Houston. Hopefully it hasn't been moved.

[Rainbowreflect]

4. How the hell can they have different polling places for Dems & repubs?

Is that legal????
This really pisses me off.
How dare they ask her to take off her shirt. She should charge the male poll worker for even suggesting she remover her clothes.
This is soooooo disgusting.
Please let us know what happens with this.

[R3dD0g]

40. The first primary I voted in had different

locations for the Dems & Pukes.

The Dems had 4 polls around the city, the Pukes had 1 in the fire station. Arkansas was strictly a one party state back then.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. How the hell can you segregate poll locations by party???

Talk about seperate but equal.

[redqueen]

10. Not all of them are... some are in the same location

But some aren't. It's bizarre.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Bizarre isn't the word...

That GOP in Lewisville get to vote locally and Dems have to travel a great distance stinks in my book.

If thast is how it works under the election law, that looks like something that needs fixing -- and FAST.

[Imalittleteapot]

49. We vote according to precinct. How can Argyle and

Lewisville be in the same precinct? I have never heard of separate polling places for Dems and Repubs. A complaint or inquiry must be filed at the
Secretary of State's Office,
Election Division.
1-800-252-8683
www.sos.state.tx.us

[rucky]

32. Argyle, TX is not equal to much of anything

trust me

[democrat in Tallahassee]

11. why would there be republican voting places in a democratic primary?

is there a republican primary in texas, too, today?

[redqueen]

12. Yes, for state races & some local ones too n/t

[SangamonTaylor]

21. yes, we have a bunch of republican primaries today here in TX

Like the evil 10th Congressional district.

[Padraig18]

14. You have SEPARATE polling places for Dems and Pubs?

:wtf:

That is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard about. Here in IL, all parties vote at the same precinct polling place...

[WilliamPitt]

19. CHECK YOUR PM

[Padraig18]

22. Kick

[VelmaD]

24. This shit happens in Dallas all the time

My best friend has been involved in several voter lawsuits in Dallas over this kind of nonsense. Tell your sister to call more people at Dallas County Democratic headquarters. Get them stirred up.

I'm gonna forward this to a couple of people I know in Dallas and see if I can't round her up some help.

[Magginkat]

25. Kucinich Shirt A No No.......?

Is this some strange Texas Law? I've always worn shirt, political buttons, etc., when I go to vote. I know that people who are working at the polling places cannot do likewise which makes sense.
Also the candidates cannot get too close to the polling place itself, but I have never heard of an ordinary voter not being allowed to vote because of this.

[redqueen]

26. Good idea

DCDP Tel No [phone]

[Magginkat]

27. Voting today

I'm wearing my "impeach Bush" Button today when I go to vote in this republican hell hole. I may be an old lady but they had best leave me & my button alone.
I'm already in a foul mood because my son is heading to Iraq to fight that lying illegal war.

[redqueen]

28. Good for you!

They can't say squat about that!

And if they do, would you mind posting afterwards about how you responded to them? :)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

39. Thanks!

If I know my sister, she's raising a stink. :)

I was very proud of her -- she went from an apathetic voter/news viewer (she didn't know the Soviet Union had fallen for well over 6 months) to a firebrand.

There may be hope for the world after all! ;)

[Zookeeper]

29. I'm sorry, I just don't believe...

...that the poll volunteers had NO idea where she was supposed to vote! And how likely is it that she would be the only person not voting Republican in that precinct?? I would say the poll volunteers should be barred from any further work at the polls, since they are interfering with the election process!

[redqueen]

30. Won't matter too much

I think you can find low-down dishonest swindling GOP volunteers by the bucketload down here.

[harmonyguy]

34. Apparently True - different parties = different polling locations

Never seen it before, but I have now!
Some of the locations are the same, but some appear to be different.

Locations for Democrats
http://elections.dentoncounty.com/go.asp?Parent=678&Link=680

Locations for Republicans
http://elections.dentoncounty.com/go.asp?Parent=678&Link=681

HG

[Zookeeper]

35. Welcome!

Welcome to DU, harmonyguy! Thanks for the links!

:hi:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

36. I just checked that site...

and Lewisville City Hall is listed as a polling place for Democrats from certain precincts.

My sister WENT there and they gave her no information on the other polling places! :crazy:

And why would she be sent to a precinct in another city half and hour away when there was a polling place IN HER OWN TOWN?!??!?!?!

This just doesn't make sense....

[DoYouEverWonder]

42. That's blatant discrimination

Then everyone knows exactly what party you belong to. The most important thing about voting in a democracy is that who you vote for is a secret. By segregating voters based on party affiliation, your sacred right to a secret vote has been abolished.

If these abuses of power by the incumbent party are allowed to continue then America is dead. We now live in a dictatorship.

[MaineDem]

58. Party affiliation is public record

Voting registration lists are part of the public record and your party choice is shown.

I think the discrimination in polling places is a serious problem but not the disclosure of your party affiliation. Sorry.

[newyawker99]

59. Hi harmonyguy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kanary]

41. Isn't there a way to fight this at a federal level?

I realize I'm naive, but this is just...... nutso. Silly me, I thought there were laws since the Civil Rights days to preotect us from such idiocy.

When I run up against this kind of injustice, I just get... furious.

Kanary

Another Delusional Diehard for Dennis!!

Kucinich 2004!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

43. UPDATE...

Just talked to sis. Once she made it to Argyl, the voting was a piece of cake. It was held in a bank (!?) and the folks there were very helpful. She voted with an optiscan ballot.

One odd thing did happen: she has been registered to vote in Texas almost 20 years. There is no indicator on her Voter ID card as to her affiliation. This time, when she handed her ID card, they stamped it "Democrat".

Do any of you Texans know if this is something new?

She was so fired up about her situation she's off to a precinct meeting tonight to ask some big questions.

Also, she told me to tell folks there were at least five Dems she knew who didn't vote (including her husband) because they didn't know where to vote and/or the ride to Argyle was just too far for them.

[Ilsa]

47. It's for run-off purposes.

You can only vote in the runoff for your party, should there be one, if you voted in the primary. So they stamp the voter card and the name listing with "Democratic". I believe it's been done this way since I started voting in 1976, at least. It doesn't mean you are tied to a party, but I did get Republican phone calls after I voted for John McCain in the 2004 primary, and before I voted for Al Gore in the GE. SO they do have lists to share with the campaigns.

When primaries' facilities are being shared by all parties, I think keeping things neutral in the neutral zone is appropriate. I don't want someone investigating me to see if I actually am a paid employer of a campaign because I wore a particular t-shirt or pin to go vote, and I wouldn't want my candidate charged with violating election law, but I usually am non-confrontational about these things, as long as everyone is following the same rules.

[NoPasaran]

50. A slight correction

You can vote in a party's runoff in Texas if you (1)voted in that party's primary or (2) did not vote. You cannot vote in the other party's runoff. Also, having your card stamped shows that you are eligible to participate in your precinct caucus.

[Ilsa]

54. Thanks for the clarification. On the second part, I haven't heard

of us having precinct caucuses, though.

[texasmom]

68. They stamp your card "Democrat"

so you can participate in the precinct caucus the night of the election. (which apparently your sister did) There is another roll/list which proves you voted in the Dem primary that day (or in early voting) which I saw last night, but that's the reason they stamp it.

Also, in Bexar County a couple of years ago we had separate polling places for Democrats and Republicans. It was the Dem party chair who decided that, and he got loudly criticized for it. Never again!

[Pikku]

44. They moved me, too. Sorry I didn't see this thread before posting the othe

Anyhow, this is what happened to me, reposted below.

There are NOT different polling placed for D/R here in El Paso.

Anyhow, it's interesting that I was not alone. It's interesting that I voted Kucinich, too (no shirt though), and it's interesting that they moved me to a very hard-to-access area of town. Without notice.

Hmmm.


I went to vote today (Texas) and lo and behold, I no longer vote at the elementary school a mile from my house! Instead, I have to go 5 miles down the road, to a small community waaaayyy off the beaten track. I've never been there, but I have an hour to get there before the polls close.

I call the elections office. The poor guy on the phone gets an earful. No, he doesn't know where it is. Maybe he can find someone who does. Uhhh, it's off the freeway. By where they sell diesel trucks. He thinks it's a paved road. No, I can't vote where I used to.

I go to where he said I should turn. The roads aren't marked. Some aren't paved. I drive around lost, until I pull into an auto body place, and ask directions.

I voted, but D&*#&(* this is bull! There are four polling places within a mile of my house. Ridiculous.

On the happy side: I got polled by a Fox/AP pollster. DU'd it, totally. Kucinich voter, gay marriage yes, bush no, Iraq HELL no, union member yes (NEA, hee hee!), diebold crooked. Yay me.

Thanks for letting me rant. Does anyone know how to get my polling place changed? I want to vote where I live.

[ByRillYAN]

45. New voting place for Dem.s here too

I went to vote for me mum (i'm 17 and she's cool enough to let me choose who she votes for) at the local elementary school, but this time its repuke only. tht pissed me off. this lady comes up to me and asked if i'm looking for the Dem. poling place and tells me its down the road at a resteraunt and not to here for direction, they don't know where it is. i knew though (apearently lucky me) so i went there and was shocked to find that this place was both Dem. and puke. well of coarse i vote for KUCINICH!:) but that took a lot longer and was alot more frustrating than i hoped for.

[Imalittleteapot]

51. See post #49 for info on voting in TX

:kick:

[snoochie]

46. I've heard of things like that before

So I always check the day of to make sure there hasn't been a change. I voted in Dallas and didn't have any trouble, thankfully. Optiscan here too.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

48. Plano/Collin County

Dem and Repub voting at the same location but you have to go to registration tables at opposite ends of the room depending on which primary you are voting in. Diebold touchscreen. The power was out during my voting but the machines were on and running (I guess they get their power from a generator from Rove's office). Volunteer leads you to the machine and explains how to get things going.

While I was voting, my wife saw a (apparently) Repub voter come in, confused, didn't know where to go. The volunteer at the Repub side of the room said "Are you for or against Bush?" and the woman, apparently a Repub, went to that table to check in and vote. I just about blew my stack when she told me this when we were back in the car.

Also the Diebold stations are separated by tiny partitions and there is no curtains covering the process.

[NoPasaran]

53. My precinct in Austin

Dem and Repub primaries in the same room. Walk in, Dem table to the left, Repub to the right. Six e-slate machines in a row beyond that. Actual amount of privacy while voting is about the same as making a phone call at an airport terminal.

Are there actually places where folks really go into a private booth and cast a ballot in secret?

[fromadam]

52. Heh, I Just voted in Lewisville as well

I'm 40, and I just popped my political cherry!!

lol, long story, but the essence is that I've been a Jehovah's Witness my entire life till a couple of years ago... and JW's don't do politics. At all. Frickin' cult.

Anywho... I went to City Hall as well. They looked at my card, as I stood there eager to vote, couldn't find my name, looked at my card some more... and told my to go across town to a rec center "for preceint 306" voting. huh? This was 15 minutes till polls close.

I got a lot to learn about politics I see.

I raced over and voted though. Sure, my vote for Clark was totally for me, won't make any difference, but I was honored and privileged to cast my first ever vote for Wes Clark.

After Clark dropped out, I told people that voting for anyone other than Clark to me would be like having cheap anonymous sex with Pamela Anderson after having had a love affair with Grace Kelly. Sure, I'll do it once in the general election, but that is it!

[Caromill]

55. In the civilized part of Texas . . .

there is no problem with voting. I'm in El Paso, the ONLY part of Texas still solidly Democratic, and they make it easy to find the polling place and vote. Dems and Repubs are in the same rooms here too, with voting machines right next to each other.

I voted for Clark too, because I figured it was safe. Right now Kerry has 82 percent of the vote statewide.

[newyawker99]

60. Hi fromadam!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kathee]

61. Hey Fromadam

I too am your age, ex JW, and in texas~ also a newbie voter....

small world and welcome to DU!

[fromadam]

65. OMG!!

Really small world.

lol, of course, we new that in the "borg", heheh.

Hey, e-mail me at [e-mail], let's see who we know.

ps... ain't it great to be part of the world? :-)

Mark


ps. Thanks for the welcome everyone.

[Jack Rabbit]

56. There's another thread about this up right now

This is sounding almost conspiratorial.

I hope Texas Democrats stick together so they don't end up disenfranchised like Florida voters in 2000.

Get organized!

[yowzayowzayowza]

57. One in twelve...

Texas repubz are "Uncommitted" to shrub: http://www.khou.com/elections/race9048.htm

Hmmm...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

62. UPDATE #2

My sister did go to the precinct meeting, and was the ONLY PERSON there from her area! Before you can say "Bush sucks eggs" she was named a precinct captain AND a Denton County delegate.

There were three other folks there from one other precinct -- one guy had only found his polling place by literally stumbling onto it just a few minutes before closing.

It turns out there were some 500 Dems registered to vote in my sister's precinct and only a HANDFUL voted that day. We're going to dig around and see if having the polling location half an hour away had an impact.

She still didn't find out why her polling location was moved so far away, but now that she's working in the system, she is going to be asking some tough questions.

Glad to hear things went more smoothly for other Dems in Texas!

[Blue_Roses]

63. I had this problem

when voting for Ron Kirk last year in Denton county. I had to go 30 minutes out of my way as well--BOTH times. When there was a runoff too. I called and asked about this and they told me the Democratic party decided where to set up voting. Still total bullshit.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

66. If this is true....

"...the Democratic party decided where to set up voting"

Then somebody down there needs to get their ass kicked!

Living in San Francisco/CA I am totally spoiled. I get a voter guide for both local and state elections, WITH my polling location printed right on it. That polling place hasn't changed in the 20+ years I have been voting, and it is within walking distance of my home. I get mailers from the local Democratic Party org with recommendations for candidates and initiatives.

In other words, folks work VERY hard to to make sure you 1) get the info you need and 2) get the chance to vote.

I wish to heck the rest of the states would work that hard.

[fudge stripe cookays]

64. In my teeny precinct in Rockwall County...

they were amazed that so many folks showed up for the caucus. (We had 7)

3 of us were brand new to the process. And surprise, surprise, we were also Dean supporters.

We were allowed 8 delegates, so all 7 of us are going to the county convention on March 27th.

4 for Kerry, 3 for Dean. We felt pretty great after that.

The only change in our venue was that there was a Chili Cookoff in the cafeteria at the elementary school I vote at. We had it in the gym around the corner instead.

[serryjw]

67. Please post on Kerry's website

You can actually reach the campaign directly here...scroll to the bottom

http://forum.johnkerry.com/

[Hell Hath No Fury]

69. Will do!

eom