The voting post
I voted today.
I was totally sketched out by my experience.
I was not asked for identification.
I was given a paper ballot in a “privacy folder” which I handed to pollster volunteer who verified that it was legit, then removed the folder and handed me the ballot to put in the scanner.
I cannot believe they went to the trouble of giving me a folder to hide my ballot in, since they opened it and handed it back to me. What is the point? It feels worse than if I didn’t have a folder to begin with.
Jason blogs about his experience at the same polling station here.
I think the lack of ID requirement is a good thing. They can already identify you by your signature, and requiring a photo ID would disenfranchise voters who for whatever reason don’t have it. IMHO, as long as there isn’t any evidence that people are casting fraudulent votes, there’s no reason to make it more difficult for people to vote.
The not-so-secret ballot thing is a little sketchy, but I think it’s just a matter of training the election judges to be a little more hands off. I think the high school kids were just a little bit over-eager to help.
Well ladies (and J), my usual source for good info is the League of Women Voters. Unfortunately the LWV site for Champaign county only has a nice directory of who’s actually in office. (and oddly includes link to Urbana Free but NOT Champaign Public – what’s up with that?). In other places I’ve lived the LWV actually provided a report card comparing candidates.
You’ve got two years to whip them into shape with your uber web skillz…(where ever you end up…)
My voting experience in Roscoe Village was slightly better. They didn’t ask for ID, but they did let me keep my votes private, allowing me to put my ballot in the scanner from the privacy folder. However, the volunteer did insinuate that I was going to steal one of the special pens. Back off! I mean, seriously, I’m an good, honest citizen. I can go buy my own Sharpie.
P.S. Thanks to all that voted. Democracy rocks.
Interestingly, depending on your location, some places don’t ask for ID. Most likely because well, you can be legally able to vote without having a photo ID (don’t want to disenfranchise people that way).
I turned 18 as a resident of MD (though I was in college in GA at the time) and I was always surprised that they did not ask me for ID, they just asked for my name and address (which I could have read from the paper in front of them). I voted here in VA on Tuesday, and VA requires an ID check (plus my name and address check).
However, the ballot check? That I’ve never seen (MD, GA, WA, and VA). That would make me feel weird, too.