Poll Weirdness: Woman in MAGA hat asked me who she should vote for.

[Coventina]

Here's what happened:

My polling place was very busy: all the stations were filled up, and the only place to complete your ballot was at card tables set up with the special markers. So, I joined one of those tables to fill out my ballot.

A woman in a white MAGA hat was sitting across from me, but I ignored her. (I live in a VERY RED area of AZ).

As I was finishing up, she asked, "Can you help me? I am very confused about who to vote for."

She was also speaking in a Russian or other Eastern European accent.

The combination of those two factors, plus, who asks a complete stranger how to vote? made me wary.

We had a short conversation, I was pleasant, and encouraged her to Google the candidates to see what their positions were on the issues.

She said she was a new citizen, and hadn't received a sample ballot in the mail like I had. What I do is I fill out my sample ballot at home and then bring it to the polling place to complete my actual ballot.

The whole thing was just too strange. Russian accent? MAGA hat? Asking how to vote?
It was just too weird.

After encouraging her to use her smart phone to look up the candidates, I wished her luck and left (after turning in my own ballot, of course).

Am I just being paranoid?

And, if it was some kind of weird plot, what on earth was it meant to accomplish?



on edit: dumb typo

[PatSeg]

1. That is rather weird

especially being she was wearing a MAGA hat on top of not knowing who to vote for.

[ailsagirl]

2. Definitely weird... but then

consider the source

[SweetieD]

3. Sounds like she was trying to set you up.

[Coventina]

6. But, set me up for what?

That's what I can't figure out.

I know there are laws against electioneering in polling places, but I think there are also provisions that the voter can ask for help if they want it.

However, I wasn't about to tell her anything, no matter what!

[NYC Liberal]

16. "electioneering in polling places" - But wasn't she doing that with her "MAGA" hat?

I think I would have said something about that.

Something was definitely off.

[NurseJackie]

23. ... a possible accusation of "interference" with another voter??

Help is available from POLL WORKERS. That's their job, not yours. They can explain how to use the machine or how to fill in the ballot, but not which one to vote for. They can also fill-in the ballot for people needing help (with another poll worker as a witness). They can also void a ballot so the voter can go home (or to their car, or to the lobby) to research and come back later.

You made the CORRECT choice by being non-committal, polite, providing generic advice, and not getting involved.

[J_William_Ryan]

4. It's actually Trump supporter weirdness.

[beachbum bob]

5. she may not know what a MAGA hat means

[Coventina]

19. I don't believe that. I think everyone knows what a MAGA hat means. n/t

[eleny]

7. Would she have been able to tell how you were voting?

[Coventina]

10. Yes, we were sitting at a table with our ballots in full view. n/t

[eleny]

22. Well, then, I think you handled it just right

Mostly we see things happening to other people who were filmed. If you were on camera there was nothing to nail you on as being inappropriate. Feel good!

[Jersey Devil]

20. Once when I was running for office I told a voter I knew how she had voted.

I was running for town Council and brought some donuts to the polling place for the election workers. A woman came out of the voting booth that I knew and told me she was rooting for me to win. I said, well, then you should have voted for me but you didn't (I knew she was a die hard Republican). She asked, "How could you tell who I voted for?" and I told her I could tell how people voted by how their feet were positioned when they were in the voting booth and the lower legs and feet were the only things you could see from the outside. Well, she looked at me, not knowing whether to really believe me or not, and then quickly left. Was pretty funny.

[eleny]

26. LOL!

Love it! The body language angle. Hey, who knew?!

[Jersey Devil]

8. I once had a client call me at my law office to ask me how he should vote

It was pretty funny because my boss was a Republican and I caught him listening in on my conversation. When I told the guy "you should definitely vote a straight Democratic ticket" and hung up my boss freaked out a bit and I started laughing.

[Garrett78]

9. Make small talk. Talk about the weather and how your favorite letter is 'D'.

[peggysue2]

11. Definitely sounds like a set up, hoping . . .

you'd tell her who to vote for while possibly audio taping your suggestions at the same time. Then the maniacs could scream: Voter Fraud, Voter Interference.

I don't trust anyone in a MAGA hat. This whole thing sounds hinky. And no, I don't think you're paranoid, just watchful and cautious.

[Dennis Donovan]

12. That would b a violation in NYS

The MAGA hat is campaign gear and isn't allowed inside the polling places here.

[Coventina]

15. I wasn't a bit surprised she was allowed to wear it.

The MAGA is strong in our neighborhood.

*sigh*

[Nay]

17. Yeah, this woman would never get in the door at any VA polling place. nt

[herding cats]

30. Same here in Texas, but I think it's legal in AZ.

The Supreme Court overruled a Minnesota law (I think?) prohibiting political gear at polling places this year, so I expect it may become a norm in many states soon.

[jodymarie aimee]

33. this is illegal

folks don't know what they are doing if they didn't tell her to take it out to her car immediately...

[salin]

39. Indiana, as well.

Down to holding literature that was handed to me outside of the polling place. "Excuse me maam, you need to put that away, you can't have anything naming candidates or campaign in the polling area." Got that just the other day when early voting.

[Doreen]

40. That was my first thought but was not sure if I was right.

[MaryMagdaline]

13. Trying to set you up for "campaigning" at a polling place?

[genxlib]

14. I'm guessing

That some O'Keefe wanna-be was trying to get you to provide campaign recommendations when it would not be allowed.

You were very professional so no matter what the weirdness was, you handled it well.

[octoberlib]

18. This sounds like GOP ratfucking to me.

I believe Kemp had a woman in Georgia arrested for helping her grandmother vote. He claimed she was telling her who to vote for and it was fraud or something. Good thing you didn’t fall for it. Russians damn well know what the MAGA hat stands for as its all over Russian media. I’d report it.

[Hekate]

21. Crap. The times we live in make me suspect a set-up with a hidden camera & James O'Keefe.

Aaaaaaaaagggghhhh. I hate this.

[RKP5637]

29. Yep, exactly!!! That's my take on it too. Fortunately our DU'er did the right thing. n/t

[rainbowsnunicorns]

24. Kudos to you!

Kudos to you for encouraging her to learn about the candidates and their positions before voting! That's what we all should do.

[allgood33]

25. Setting up for breaking some kind of voting law.

[RKP5637]

27. I think she was trying to set you up, like trying to influence a voter in a polling location.

Plus, I bet cameras were rolling someplace and she had a mic. It's just too F'en weird, especially with the hat and all.

[MagickMuffin]

28. Maybe she was confused because her babydaddy's name wasn't on the ballot

Tee-hee

[11 Bravo]

31. Sounds suspiciously like a bit of Project Veritas bullshit.

Was a guy with a face just begging to be punched, and dressed in a cheesy pimp outfit hanging around?

[Coventina]

35. Haha! Well, this is Trump country, so there were any number of men looking as you describe.

[samnsara]

32. you did GOOD! This is how that film maker scammed ACORN employees to....

...sound and act guilty of something.

[msdogi]

34. You did the exactly right thing

Polite and neutral. Could have been innocent on her part, but so much is making us all very paranoid. As a veteran precinct inspector of many years, we always try to provide privacy for voting, and make ourselves available for any questions.
This is a very hopeful sign, another really busy precinct.

[Coventina]

36. Yes, I was voter #307. Usually I'm still in the double digits at this time of day.

[Act_of_Reparation]

37. "Russian or Eastern European" accent?

Any chance it could have been Polish?

[Coventina]

38. Could have been. I'm not an expert.

I can recognize the difference between most of the Western European accents, but not the Eastern ones.

[Act_of_Reparation]

41. It could have been Polish.

In which case, no. The hat would not have been unusual.

[meow2u3]

42. Could this be one of the illegal voters tRUMP forever talks about?