I voted Saturday in Orange County, where county voters have just one ballot item to decide: the quarter-cent sales tax hike. When the poll worker asked my name and then started to hand me a form to sign, I asked if she’s like to see my drivers license. She replied that she didn’t need it. It was very clear that anyone could have walked in, given my name, and voted in my place — an unbelievably insecure voting system.
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31
2011 At 9:20 pm, mike978 Said:
Any actual data for voting fraud? From what I have read it is very rare and it seems to be an issue that raises it head for partisan gain. You don`t seem to mind low turnout or low voter registration, but then that benefits your party. Lets be consistent with our democratic (original meaning of the word) outrage.
As for the argument about the northern citizen of Orange County not having their voices heard for the tax vote this November remember that they can turnout just like everyone else in Orange County. If you are being consistent then I expect you disagree with the timing of the Constitutional amendment next year when only Republican’s have “a reason” to vote since it is the GOP primary date and Democrats have only this on the ballot.
01
2011 At 10:20 am, Skyler the Weird Said:
In 2010 we had 100 people in my precinct fill out provisional ballots. Most of these folks were from Mel Watt’s safe Congressional District. Had the race between Larry Kissell and Harold Johnson been close you KNOW that the local Democratic (party meaning of the word) outrage would have made sure that ‘every vote counted’ even though these folks were already represented by unopposed Mel Watt.
01
2011 At 11:42 am, mike978 Said:
Skyler – I am opposed to voting fraud, just as I am opposed to restrictions on voting hours, or voting convenience. It is important for the Democratic system (original meaning of the word) to have as full a involvement of the public as possible. That is why I favor early voting (within reason), convenient voter registration processes and the ceasing of political control over how long voting centers stay open. I prefer independent control, like in the UK where the hours are always the same (7am to 10pm) to allow people the option of voting.
01
2011 At 2:01 pm, clayj Said:
Mike: We got along FINE for a LONG time with people making it to the polls on that ONE Tuesday in November, from a set time in the morning until a set time in the evening.
All this provisional ballot, extending voting hours, early voting nonsense seems designed to ENCOURAGE voter fraud — primarily by Democrats.
It’s obvious that Democrats are in favor of all this flexibility because they can use it to manipulate the system — “Oh, no! Exit polls show that we’re not in the lead! Go round up as many people as you can, pay them $5, drive ‘em here on buses, get ‘em in line at the last minute, and then get ‘em to fill out a provisional ballot! And YELL and THREATEN if they don’t get to vote!” Those of us who bother to register ourselves IN ADVANCE, and who bother to go to the polling place in the morning on that day, look at mess like this and all we see is cheating.
02
2011 At 3:18 pm, mike978 Said:
clayj – plenty of countries have “flexible” options for voting with minimal issues. Yes in the past when America was 50-100 million people (upto 1960 – not that far back actually) one day did it. Just like we all coped without cell phones or the internet back in 1980. Things move on. Now progress can be for good or bad – lets make this for the good.
I completely agree with you about known, standard hours. I have seen them (not in North Carolina) change depending on the say so of a partisan (usually Republican) official. Republicans know the rules of early voting and can benefit from it, just think people who work (like me and my wife) like the flexibility of voting on a Saturday since we have full time jobs and three young children to look after (family values in action). What about people who are away with work (two colleagues are in China for the next month, early voting helped them) and overseas military.
I assume since you are so concerned about voting integrity that you support a paper trail for voting machines. Since I can assert (just like you did) that the voting machine companies primarily donate to the GOP and as such could swing elections.
You seem so pleased with yourself that you can register in advanced and turnup early in the morning. Not everyone is like you, I know that is hard to accept. But some people (actually most voters if you look at the stats) prefer to vote in the afternoon/evening on the way home. Should we restrict voting to 7-9am just for you?