Just voted and I had to call in a complaint - I'll drive by later to chec

[Mabus]

I just got back from voting. As we pulled up I noticed this huge honking "Bush 04" bumpersticker right by the door. It was at least a foot long and 4" to 5" in height. It pissed me off.

After I voted I asked the poll workers if any of them owned the car. They all said no. I told them that the car being parked there was in violation of state law. They said it wasn't theirs and they couldn't do anything about it. I told them they had better find out who owned the car and get the owner to move it. They looked at me like I was crazy. Well, I got home and called the County Clerk's office to complain. I was right. The only bumpersticker exception is if the car belongs to a voter. My husband and I were the only ones voting. There was a couple who left as we were entering so it wasn't their car either. Anyway, the Clerk assured me that they would make sure that the car was removed. I told them I woulld go back by and make sure it was removed or I would file a formal complaint. They said they would call the cops and track down the owner and have the car removed.

God damn it. You have to watch these fucking pukes like a hawk. I'm so pissed. It was a bit intimidating to see that big honking sticker as I walked in the door.

fwiw, we voted using an optical scanner. The votes were counted and automatically sent to the courthouse. We have a paper trail. More importantly we have a county clerk who is a Democrat. I feel a little bit better that my vote will count.

[chat_noir]

1. did you get the license plate number?

Some pictures would have been great! Refute that, you pukes!

[Mabus]

2. Naw

But I'm taking the camera with me when I go check in about half an hour to make sure the car has been removed.

LOL, they told me that if they couldn't find the owner they would have the car towed at his/her expense. That made me feel better.

on edit: Waugh wasn't on my ballot. I'm pulling for her though. We need to keep her on the BoE and make sure that stealth creationist doesn't get the nomination.

[Mabus]

3. Got the plate number and pictures of the car

I tried to post them but it was taking too long. I'll post them later.

What I thought was funny was the car was moved across the parking lot, in a shaded area, along with all the other cars. It was originally parked in full sun right in front of the voter entrance. Our polling place used to be the judicial center. In the last election the polling table had to work around the metal detectors. It was moved to a local church so our voting wouldn't interfere with the courts. I'm going to keep an eye on this new location.

[MuseRider]

4. So it was moved.

Was it far enough? I can't remember how far they have to be, 30 feet?

I wanted to respond to this but my connection slowed way down for a while.

Sounds like you and I had interesting experiences.

You simply MUST be an informed voter.

[Mabus]

5. law says 250 feet

It was clear across the parking lot.


The red square indicates where the car was parked when we went to vote. The polling place is just inside the door and to the left in a large room (where, we had a dinner when Grandpa's services were held there years ago).


Here is the offending car, with the license plate covered. The bumpersticker is homemade and looks new.


Here is the text of the Kansas statute that covers this:

25-2430. Electioneering. (a) Electioneering is knowingly attempting to persuade or influence eligible voters to vote for or against a particular candidate, party or question submitted. Electioneering includes wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election within any polling place on election day or advance voting site during the time period allowed by law for casting a ballot by advance voting or within a radius of 250 feet from the entrance thereof. Electioneering shall not include bumper stickers affixed to a motor vehicle that is used to transport voters to a polling place or to an advance voting site for the purpose of voting.

(b) As used in this section, "advance voting site" means the central county election office or satellite advance voting sites designated as such pursuant to subsection (c) of K.S.A. 25-1122, and amendments thereto.

(c) Electioneering is a class C misdemeanor.

History: L. 1974, ch. 157, § 24; L. 2001, ch. 125, § 3; April 26. http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/getStatute.do?number=13517

In this particular instance, the homemade bumpersticker in question was on a vehicle parked at the voters' entrance and was parked there by an employee of the church, not a voter. This employee had a Republican bumpersticker and a "Support Our Troops" ribbon on their vehicle. It struck me as totally inappropriate as to time, place and manner. On every other day this summer that I've driven by this church the employees' cars are parked in the shade. Most shaded areas are a distance from the church. Today, this one car was parked in full sunlight right next to the entrance of polling place. Remember this is a city full of independent voters (who can choose which ballot they wish to vote on) during a primary. In my mind, any display advocating one political party or political ideology near a polling place should be forbidden. Besides, once I complained the clerk's office wanted to make sure that I didn't pursue the matter (especially since this is the first time this particular polling place was used) and, if the person had refused to remove the vehicle it would have raised some eyebrows. It was a stretch but it worked. :evilgrin:

[MuseRider]

6. Hooray for you!

Really, good job.

I was way off on my guess.

Once again, I am proud to be your friend!

[Mabus]

7. LOL, my husband was a little startled

After we voted, I started off asking questions about the vote counting machine I had put my ballot into. They showed me how it registered my votes. I asked if there was a type of receipt that could be printed that I could take with me. Then I said I wasn't convinced about the infalability of electronic voting machines. Apparently neither was one of the poll workers who nodded her head when I said vote tallies could be changed on some machines with just a screwdriver or a flashcard.

As we started out the door I noticed that the car was still sitting there next to the entrance. I walked back and started asking the poll workers if any of them owned that particular car. Two said they drove and told me where they had parked. The third said she had walked. Then I told them about the bumpersticker and told them that it was a violation of the law. I told them it was inappropriate for polticially oriented materials, whether they were signs, buttons, literature or bumperstickers, to be that close to the entrance of a polling place during an election. They looked scared by that time. I then told them that they should find out whose car it was and ask them to move it. I also told them that I was going to call in a compliant and would be back within half an hour to make sure car had been moved. One of the poll workers came out to see what I was talking about. He said he wasn't sure if it was a violation. I said, if there's a question about it, that it shouldn't be there. Then I said I felt intimidated walking up to the church to vote and that seeing a Bush sticker made it that much more intimidating.

When we got to our car, which we had parked in the shade across the parking lot, my husband looked at me and said "I don't know if that's a violation" and I said "well, we'll find, out won't we?"

When I called I made sure to tell them that I understood their moving the polling place out of the courthouse but I didn't understand why they couldn't move it to the basement of the courthouse where it used to be before we were moved upstairs in the middle of everything. I reminded them that when we voted in the basement there was a small parking lot and we entered without interfering with either the courts or the police in their normal course of duties. I also reminded them that there was a community building across the street that they could utilize, then I made my complaint. ;) In other words, I reminded them that there were other city-owned options before I told them my complaint.

I told them how intimidating it was in a time when emotions are so raw over the war and what I saw as incursions on civil liberties and problems with the separation of church and state. Finally I reminded them that there were federal legislators on the ballot and the "support our troops" sticker just upset me because I was voting on people who would decide what would happen in Iraq in the future. Then I got to the part of my rant that it was the Bush sticker at the entrance of a public polling place that made me call in and complain. I tried to stack the deck in my favor before I got to my problem.

[MuseRider]

8. Wow,

you did great! You covered it all. I vote now in a high school but when we move it will be at the Presbyterian church. I guess that is what I get moving out into a "town" with 4 buildings in it, one being the church

Boy, you mean what you say don't you. I hope I never end up on your bad side. :hug: for a job well done.

[Mabus]

10. I watch too much TV

I know how to develop a plot.

[evlbstrd]

9. My polling place was moved to a church, too.

I've voted at Big Brothers/Big Sisters on 39th St. for years. I got a letter from KCEB saying it was moved due to smoke damage from a fire. Funny, the building looks fine from the outside. Our primary isn't until next Tuesday, and I volunteered to be a poll watcher. I don't know where I'll be assigned, yet, but I intend to live up to my name! Good for you, Mabus. I'm proud of you.

[Mabus]

11. LOL

Just realized my husband was wearing his "Gore '08" hat when he was voting. :blush:

I asked him and he confirmed he was. :rofl:

[evlbstrd]

12. Electioneering?

But since they weren't on the ballot...
Oh, neither is Shrub.

I wonder if I'll be allowed to take my camera?

[Mabus]

13. Gore says he's not running

so he doesn't count. wink, wink

[evlbstrd]

14. Wink back.

I guess there's no way he could be persuaded to, say, accept a draft nomination. Of course, the Left could never get their (our) shit that together to accomplish such a draft.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Way to go, Mabus!

You need to post this in GD! DU doesn't realize what a gem we have in you!! I am so proud to be your friend! :hug: