quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

I also was uncomfortable with the fact that in 2004 and in 2006, the "volunteers" helping out were often senior citizens who moved extremely slowly, who at one point wasted several minutes w/ the paperwork, and in one case, an otherwise warm and nice grandfatherly man did not even speak English.[/font][/size]

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

Are you required to bring a government-issued photo ID to vote in your area?

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

I also was uncomfortable with the fact that in 2004 and in 2006, the "volunteers" helping out were often senior citizens who moved extremely slowly, who at one point wasted several minutes w/ the paperwork, and in one case, an otherwise warm and nice grandfatherly man did not even speak English.

RichLP,
I know that you do not like my responses to your posts, but being an election judge, our proper title, I feel I need to respond to this post. We are not merely "volunteers" We have duties and responsibilities on election day. Those duties and responsibilities take time, because they have to be precise so that every vote has a chance to be counted, especially when a voter has a problem that needs additional paperwork to resolve.

Yes, most election judges are elderly. Some may not even speak English very well. However, they are more active and more involved in the process than those who sit back and do very little else but be critical and judgfemental about the process than actually take part in it, and get to know it.

I'll get off my soap box now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

I also was uncomfortable with the fact that in 2004 and in 2006, the "volunteers" helping out were often senior citizens who moved extremely slowly, who at one point wasted several minutes w/ the paperwork, and in one case, an otherwise warm and nice grandfatherly man did not even speak English.

RichLP,
I know that you do not like my responses to your posts, but being an election judge, our proper title, I feel I need to respond to this post. We are not merely "volunteers" We have duties and responsibilities on election day. Those duties and responsibilities take time, because they have to be precise so that every vote has a chance to be counted, especially when a voter has a problem that needs additional paperwork to resolve.

Yes, most election judges are elderly. Some may not even speak English very well. However, they are more active and more involved in the process than those who sit back and do very little else but be critical and judgfemental about the process than actually take part in it, and get to know it.

I'll get off my soap box now.

If this was a stab at me, it didn't work - although I will continue to be critical and judgmental.

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3
No it was not so much a stab at you as it was meant to be an attempt to educate and challenge you to be less judgementl and critical of people who actually take the time to be involved in the process rather than standing on the sidelines.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zhi

Yep. We're required to.

I'm really astonished that some places don't require the level of security to safeguard your sacred right to vote that, say, a mere credit card company would require for you to get a credit card.

quote:

In my area a piece of mail is sufficient to "prove" your identity. The democratic party has fought hard to prevent any requirements for ID here in my state. (Likely because ID could shift the balance of power)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zhi

quote:

In my area a piece of mail is sufficient to "prove" your identity. The democratic party has fought hard to prevent any requirements for ID here in my state. (Likely because ID could shift the balance of power)

Amazing.

I mean, I needed a photo ID to get a library card for crying out loud, plus a bill to my new address because I hadn't got the change in quite yet. Why do some places seem to think that honesty and accuracy in voting has so little worth? I mean, our entire government is based on that. It's horrifying.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3
No it was not so much a stab at you as it was meant to be an attempt to educate and challenge you to be less judgementl and critical of people who actually take the time to be involved in the process rather than standing on the sidelines.

Ah, but I'm entitled to my opinion, and if I am not comfortable with non-English speaking senior citizens who move slowly, I have the right to feel that way.

And if you had presented your point in a less than hostile manner, I might've been more open to what you said. But it almost seems as if when you write me, you want to 'attack' me. Not that it bothers me - I like to argue.

Thanks for serving as a judge btw.

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichLP

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3
No it was not so much a stab at you as it was meant to be an attempt to educate and challenge you to be less judgementl and critical of people who actually take the time to be involved in the process rather than standing on the sidelines.

Ah, but I'm entitled to my opinion, and if I am not comfortable with non-English speaking senior citizens who move slowly, I have the right to feel that way.

And if you had presented your point in a less than hostile manner, I might've been more open to what you said. But it almost seems as if when you write me, you want to 'attack' me. Not that it bothers me - I like to argue.

Thanks for serving as a judge btw.

RichLP,
I am well aware that you are probably going to tell me that this is not neccessary , but I would like apologize for the way I responded to your post. Yes, you are entitled to your oponion. Like others on these forums, there are some things I tend to take very seriously, almost personally. Being an election judge seems to be one of those. I do not seem to be as patient as I usually tend to be with with people who seem to demean or put down election judges.

To begin with I do not believe a whole lot of Americans take their responsibility to vote seriously enough.

I also tend to feel that a lot more people rather complain about the system than learn about it, or even become a part of it, in some way.

In the time I have been an election judge I have seen a first time voter sit and wait 45 minutes, for us to resolve an issue with his ability to vote. I have also seen a voter who had not voted in so long that he was removed form the roll storm out after 15 minutes as we tried to resolve his problem so he could vote. I have seen a person on his his death bed brought in on a stretcher because he insisted on voting, in person, before he passed away. I've seen an untold number of mistakes people have made while voting, some we were able to help with, and some we were not able to help with.

There is a very good reason why election judges are slow and deliberate during the day. Aside from all that we are responsible for during the day (keeping the polling place neat, ordely, the line moving, and problems resolved)), at the end of the day, after the polls close, we HAVE to make sure that the number of voters who came into vote matches the number of ballots cast, or at least come very, very, close to matching. If we are unable to get the numbers to match up then it becomes the job/ responsibility of the election commission to resolve the issue.

Back to our issues. I know you like to argue, may be you like to argue more than I am comfortable with. Maybe that is why it seems that I not only have to be on the offensive with you, but also on the defensive. Arguing about issues makes me uncomfortable, though I seem to like the challenge. Trouble is, I also tend to get a little hot under the collar and a little carried away. Discussing issues, seems to be more of what I am more comfortable with.

See you around the forums

quote:

ORIGINAL: leonfigg3
RichLP,
I am well aware that you are probably going to tell me that this is not neccessary , but I would like apologize for the way I responded to your post. Yes, you are entitled to your oponion. Like others on these forums, there are some things I tend to take very seriously, almost personally. Being an election judge seems to be one of those. I do not seem to be as patient as I usually tend to be with with people who seem to demean or put down election judges.

To begin with I do not believe a whole lot of Americans take their responsibility to vote seriously enough.

I also tend to feel that a lot more people rather complain about the system than learn about it, or even become a part of it, in some way.

In the time I have been an election judge I have seen a first time voter sit and wait 45 minutes, for us to resolve an issue with his ability to vote. I have also seen a voter who had not voted in so long that he was removed form the roll storm out after 15 minutes as we tried to resolve his problem so he could vote. I have seen a person on his his death bed brought in on a stretcher because he insisted on voting, in person, before he passed away. I've seen an untold number of mistakes people have made while voting, some we were able to help with, and some we were not able to help with.

There is a very good reason why election judges are slow and deliberate during the day. Aside from all that we are responsible for during the day (keeping the polling place neat, ordely, the line moving, and problems resolved)), at the end of the day, after the polls close, we HAVE to make sure that the number of voters who came into vote matches the number of ballots cast, or at least come very, very, close to matching. If we are unable to get the numbers to match up then it becomes the job/ responsibility of the election commission to resolve the issue.

Back to our issues. I know you like to argue, may be you like to argue more than I am comfortable with. Maybe that is why it seems that I not only have to be on the offensive with you, but also on the defensive. Arguing about issues makes me uncomfortable, though I seem to like the challenge. Trouble is, I also tend to get a little hot under the collar and a little carried away. Discussing issues, seems to be more of what I am more comfortable with.

See you around the forums