Well, I served our democracy yesterday.

[crispini]

I took a vacation day from work yesterday and I served as an Election Judge for the first time in my precinct. We had 81 voters in our Democratic primary. We didn't get much turnout. That was actually helpful for me (although I wish we had had more voters) because there was so much to do and I had a chance to learn it all. I made sure everything was set up right for the voters. In addition to regular paper ballots we had provisional voting (two voters) and new ADA electronic voting machines for the blind (no voters). That meant a LOT of paperwork to fill out and seals to seal and hoops to jump through. It was an incredibly complex process. After the balloting I chaired our Precinct Convention, also for the first time. We had seven delegates, all of whom will be going on to the next level, and we passed six resolutions. After that I loaded everything in my car and dropped my election results over to the office. My day started at 5 a.m. and was over by 9, well actually a little later since I went to the watch party for awhile to get the results.

If you haven't served in this way I highly recommend that you do so. It is very gratifying and empowering to be there as the process operates. The world, after all, is run by those who show up.

[sui generis]

1. 73 in my precinct. 73!!!!

There were people jogging, playing soccer, riding bikes, attending a karate class, doing yoga.

Seventy three people at 6:45 last night.

It just boggles the mind.

[crispini]

3. One of my friends had 17 at her precinct.

Meh.

[bryant69]

2. That is a good idea

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Divernan]

4. "Condi will make the base stay home on election day", in this GOP blog

I'd say that is an accurate assesment of her appeal to most white GOPers.

[bryant69]

11. Are you talking about my blog?

My blog is not a GOP blog - I review conservative commentary, so naturally there is plenty of it there, but it is not GOP.

Just so you know.

Bryant

[JNelson6563]

5. Bad number but thanks for your efforts!

Now to beat the bushes (as it were) and get out the vote for November!

Year round party building is the key to higher primary particiapation. Is there an active local party where you are?

Julie

[crispini]

8. Yes,

but we have two independent candidates running for governor and if you vote in the primary then you can't sign their petition to get on the ballot. So I think that depressed turnout. That said, though, it was pretty poor turnout anyway.

[lavenderdiva]

6. Thank you crispini...

thank you for contributing to our process. I went to vote yesterday, here in Houston, and was kinda unsure of where to go. So Mr. Lavenderdiva and I went to our normal voting place, where we were greeted by oodles of Republican signs. Also there were 2 people standing outside the location trying to give out brochures. They must have heard me kevetching about all the Republican signs, because they said, 'Are you here for the Republican primary?' 'No Republicans!' was my reply, and they told us we were in the wrong place. One of the people that was standing there, came over and said, 'I guess I can't interest you in voting for me for Republican chair?' Again, I said, 'No Republicans!'

I had remembered seeing something on the internets about where the Democratic primary was being held, so we went in that direction. We saw one piddly little sign pointing to where we needed to go. No other signs. No people. It was in the very back of a motel, in a meeting room. We made our way inside, and the lady taking our information said this was the busiest they had been all day, and there were only 3, yes 3 voters there!!!!! I remarked about the lack of signs outside, and she said they were prohibited from putting them outside the motel. It seemed unfair at the least to me. She said they had had VERY low turnout.

The Republican primary in our area, where we first went, was in an upscale apartment complex lobby. The Democratic primary was held in the back meeting room of an obscure motel, that didn't look to have many, if any, occupants. Hmmm... who sets this stuff up?

[crispini]

9. It sounds like someone else had a similar experience to yours.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x27671

Please, complain IN WRITING about your experience to the HCDP and to the Harris County Elections office. http://www.harrisvotes.org/index2.htm I see your elections office is responsible to the Harris County Clerk, which is an elected office. So that person should be a little responsive to you.

And next time, please consider becoming a clerk or judge yourself so you can take care of these things yourself. The lack of signage sounds like bullshit to me. I think she just made that up; I don't think there are any laws about that. We had two REALLY BIG signs outside of our school pointing the way to the voting place.

[CornField]

7. Applauding your efforts, crispini!

Way to go!! :toast:

[crispini]

10. Thanks!

Every little bit counts.