The 6th Circuit's Provisional Ballot Ruling: Worst of All Possible Worlds

[dolstein]

My understanding of the 6th Circuit's ruling is this: a person who shows up at the polls on the election day and isn't listed on the voter rolls must be given the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot, no questions asked, but that provisions ballot won't count unless it is determined that the person casting the ballot was elible to vote IN THAT PRECINCT.

Now just imagine the following scenario: after waiting a few hours in line, a would-be voter is told that their name doesn't appear on the precinct voter roll. No explanation is given as to WHY they aren't listed, and no or not they have shown up at the correct polling place. The person is then given a provisional ballot, but they aren't told that the ballot won't be counted if it turns out that they have shown up at the wrong polling place. I'd say that under those circumsatnces, the odds are pretty good that the person will simply fill out the provision ballot and go home (or back to work, etc.). And I'm sure that prospect thrills the Republicans, because they know that many of the provisional ballots will end up being disregarded.

Personally, I think the poll workers should be under an affirmative obligation to determine whether a prospective voter who isn't listed on the voter rolls has shown up at the right polling place, and, if they haven't to direct them to the correct polling place. Handing them a provisional ballot that won't count is a sham.

[MNEyeDoc]

1. I haven't read the ruling...

but shouldn't it be implied that the person should be directed to the proper precinct? I thought the all polling locations had precinct maps overlaid on street maps...so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to expect that a "wayward voter" could be directed to the appropriate polling location. Does it mention anything explicitly about helping voters find their correct voting location? Reading between the lines in your post, it seems no mention is made of this.

[GAspnes]

2. good point

Since the proper precinct is based on where the voter currently lives.

Of course, that only makes sense out here in the rational world.

Welcome to DU, MNEyeDoc.

[dolstein]

3. I wouldn't infer anything

I have a hard time imagining GOP poll workers going out of their way to direct inner city voters to the correct polling place. I'm sure that the GOP is hoping that people will simply cast a provisional ballot (which won't count) and leave it at that.

There's also the question of how people are going to feel about being told to go to a different polling place after they've already been on line for an hour or more.

[Cadfael]

4. We have election judges from both parties in IL

There are supposed to be judges from both parties at each polling place here in Illinois. And I know I would (and have) gone out of my way to direct a voter to the correct polling place - regardless of their party affiliation

[Demoiselle]

5. At my polling place....in Philly...

All the regular poll workers (both parties) work very hard to send a voter to the right place--as long as they know where they live, we can usually get em to the right place. I know how worrisome all this is, but remember that there are a lot of people of integrity out there working who really believe in a person's right to vote and have it counted.