My Georgia voting experience - Democratic Underground

Debau2005

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Tue Jul-18-06 07:32 PM
Original message

My Georgia voting experience

You know you can't make up stuff as good as this!!

I showed up to vote. At the time I was the only one in line. So I had the full attention of FIVE poll workers. I filled out my form, checked Democratic as my ballot choice, had that form checked and double checked, and asked to move to station number 2. The form was scrutinized once more, and then my information entered into a DIEBOLD touch screen. They were quite proud of their new touchscreen systems for logging people in. They handed me my card, I walked over to the Diebold voting machine, inserted my card. The screen that came up had Sonny Perdue in the first box. Ok, I thought that can't be right, I asked for a Democratic ballot. I backed out to the main screen and tried again. Again a Republican name came up.

I called over a Poll Worker who looked at me slack jawed and did not understand the problem. I tell him THREE TIMES I asked for a Democratic ballot. He then told me I was lucky a Diebold rep was there to watch the proceedings. Lucky me..... Mr Diebold came over and touched some screens, and then took my card out. Back to the poll worker desk we went.

The poll worker that had entered my information, who turned out to be the poll manager, looked at me in disbelief when I told her that she gave me a Republican ballot when I had asked for a Democratic one. She had to check my form, I guess to make sure I wasn't lying to her. She just stared at me, like I had two heads. She then told me that all she had entered all day were Republican requests so SHE JUST ASSUMED...I pointed out that she had two piles of forms, one with Republican boxes checked the other with Democratic boxes checked. Again the slack jawed look. By this time Mr Diebold has had to call someone for a secret code to get into the system to negate my "vote" and re-issue me a ballot.

I asked for a paper ballot and was told that no paper ballots were available. I asked to speak to the poll manager about that, only to find out that the woman who had entered me as a Republican, was the poll manager. I pushed the issue and she told me she did not issue paper ballots, and that I had technically already voted. I told her entering the card into the PAPERLESS, FRAUD RIDDEN machine did not make a vote. I don't think she liked my response.

I asked how the system would know I had already voted if my votes were to be secret and anonymous. Another slack jawed look, although one of the poll workers not involved in this was very amused. She winked at me once or twice, She was definitely on myside in this. Probably a rogue Democrat in the group! haha Anyway...I asked again if my votes were some how listed under my name. Again no answer or even a look of comprehension. By now Mr Diebold has his code, and has SUPPOSEDLY negated my Republican vote and re-entered me as a Democrat.

So now I don't know what to do in November. Do I vote absentee and risk my vote not being counted? Do I vote in advance and wonder if it counts? Can I get a paper ballot? Any suggestions would be helpful.

By the way the Democratic pile of forms was impressive! So for you North Fulton Georgia Democrats...GOOD JOB!