PA: Westmoreland Poll Workers Threaten to Quit (over Hand Counting)

[Wilms]

Westmoreland Poll Workers Threaten to Quit

By David Hunt
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Saturday, February 18, 2006

The prospect of spending long hours counting paper ballots has some Westmoreland County election workers threatening to quit.

If so, some voters could be plucked from the voting line to carry out those duties during the May 16 primary.

Just ask George Sproat, 70, a 15-year Westmoreland County election judge who says he may have to enforce a little-known state law that allows him to draft voters on the spot and press them into service as election workers. That makes for an 18-hour day.

snip

"They were concerned, and rightfully so, about counting paper ballots. I don't think it's a groundswell. I think it's just a concern," she said. "At this point, I'm trying to let everyone know it's still a work in progress."

snip

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_425573.html

[kster]

1. In * economy it won't be hard to replace them..nt

[MercutioATC]

2. Can't we just outsource to India? Maybe let illegal immigrants count 'em?

Hell, it'd be cheap...and if THEY complained, we could just lock them in the building and refuse to feed them until they finished..

[Jim Sagle]

3. Tell 'em to fuck off.

[autorank]

7. Exactly...take a hike. Cry babies. I'm sick of people who think it's

all about them...oh, don't make me get off my fat you know what, get it for me; oh, I can't move, it's too hard; I'm not paid much, I don't want to do any real work. No wonder the country is broke. People who work at the most important job in the democracy don't want to do the work; they want it automated...and of course that means they'll be out of a job. I say assign them the task of figuring just how much the PA Turnpike system (which is totally insane) depresses that great states economy.

:rant:

[GuvWurld]

11. cut them some slack

my sources tell me they are suffering from PTSD as a result of front line duty in the War on Christmas...c'mon man, where's your patriotism at?...support the dupes

:sarcasm:

[autorank]

13. Thannks, I needed that;) ..."support the dupes" .... what a line!

[Wilms]

4. The title is alarming but the text downplays it quite a bit.

I wonder if the few who are complaining have fairly busy precincts, and if the ones who aren't don't find the task too great.

I also wonder how much money is being saved not having to pay ES&S, and if that money could hire additional help.

[kster]

5. Maybe a showboat article

"Jack Olhoeft, who has served as judge of elections at Murrysville's Newlonsburg precinct, one of the largest in Westmoreland County with 3,168 registered voters, said he's heard nothing of his six poll workers turning down the job this year".

[Wilms]

6. Could be.

Like ES&S, or e-vote loving BoE's, making a little noise so no one gets ideas about abandoning e-voting, but not so much that someone gets ideas about abandoning ES&S...or something.

My fingers are crossed that they do very well, and save money, in the absence of ES&S.

Without making the argument that higher costs matter less than our vote, I'll bet many jurisdiction would have less expenses by not using any e-voting. Rural counties are the most likely in my mind.

[BR_Parkway]

8. Six poll workers to count 3,136 ballots over an 18 hour period? Even if

you only used half the poll workers for ballot counting, that's under 60 per hour. ONE (wait a minute) TWO (wait a minute) THREE (wait a minute).....

[Yellow Horse]

10. Actually the polls are OPEN for the first 13 hours....

... you work the polls 7 AM to 8 PM, and THEN you start the counting.

[demodonkey]

9. I'm the lead plaintiff, a pollworker, and I WILL count the damn ballots!

As I told reporter David Hunt after this article came out -- as the lead plaintiff in this lawsuit, and an Inspector of Elections (pollworker) in Westmoreland County, I WILL stay as long as it takes to get the ballots counted no matter WHAT form they take!

[tech3149]

12. I've gotta go to the BoE office on Monday

I'll volunteer in advance!

[Junkdrawer]

14. The Tribune-Review is owned by Richard Scaife...'nuff said n/t