"Instructions to Voter" --Is it just me ???

[marions ghost]

or is this a problem anywhere else?

I realize there are lots worse problems around the country, and I was voting early in the morning after having had nightmares about being prevented from voting (for no good reason, just over-identification with those who will be prevented today) ...anyway I was frazzled but found these "Instructions to Voter" forbidding. Data collectors and people who work with forms--any opinion?

The polling place was busy but not swamped by any means. When I asked an official a question about the instructions, she said she was not allowed to explain the ballot. The election judge also said that she could not explain the ballot. When I appeared astounded and asked her specifically who to complain to about this on the elections board, she motioned me closer. Then she nodded towards an inconspicuous person writing on a pad in a corner and said (wink, wink), "she's a poll watcher. She might help you." The woman she indicated was not otherwise identified in any way. She was very helpful, answered the questions and said she would log my complaint (implying that I was not the first). It's very clear to me that every effort was made NOT to refer me to the poll watcher for info until I became a person with too many questions...ie. a problem.

The thing that REALLY bothers me is not so much the byzantine language BUT that the poll workers were not able to help anyone who doesn't understand them (like a lot of young and new voters perhaps? or people with limited reading skills?) I have been voting for 20 some years but have always had questions about procedures answered with no hesitation before.

---------------------------------------

I am copying this exactly (from the sample ballot)--imagine a microscopic font:

Instructions to Voter:

a. To vote for all candidates of one party (a
straight party ticket), fill in the oval next to the
party for whose candidates you wish to vote.
b. You may vote a split ticket by not filling in the
oval next to the party, but by filling in the oval
next to the name of each candidate for whom
you wish to vote.
c. You may also vote a split ticket by filling in the
oval next to the party and then filling in the oval
next to the name of any candidate you choose
of a different party.
d. In any multi-seat race where a party oval is
completed and you vote for candidates of
another party, you must also fill in the oval next
to the name of any candidate you choose of the
party for which you filled in the oval to assure
your vote will count.
e. If you wish to write in a candidate, where
permitted, fill in the oval associated with the
office and write the candidate's name on the
line. Write-in votes are authorized only in certain
races.
f. A straight-party vote does not vote nonpartisan
offices or other issues.

[Horse with no Name]

1. I had a question about my ballot

and had no problems getting an answer.

[marions ghost]

2. thanks

that's how I THOUGHT it was supposed to be...but I was treated like "sorry, no answers for you!"

AM I to understand that unmarked poll watchers are the 'go to' people then (and only when you get the special handshake?)

:dilemma: :banghead:

Anybody else found this sort of deliberate unhelpfulness under the guise of a "rule"? I mean the poll
workers acted like I had asked for the code for the tabulator or something...embarrassing. Everyone was looking.

[Richard Steele]

3. The poll workers at my location have always been very helpful.

Obviously, the quality and INTENT of poll workers varies
greatly by location.
Sorry to hear about your troubles today. What's worse is
wondering how many others got NO HELP at all.

[mittenlandgirl]

4. my poll wrokers were more than helpful

We were using the optical scan ballots for the first time here. Probably because it was new, they not only helped and answered questions, each voter had to receive intructions and complete a form that showed you could correctly draw a line to "complete the arrow" before we could go on down to where actually voted. Kind of felt a little silly it was so simple.

Then when we got the ballot we were asked if we had ever voted on that kind of ballot before and if you said no, they gave directions explaining it again. And reminded us to make sure and turn ballot over to vote on the back.

Poll workers seemed energized and eager to help. I loved it!

[marions ghost]

5. more evidence

that what I encountered was not OK....:(

Thanks for relating your positive experience. That's how I imagine it SHOULD be.

[marions ghost]

6. thanks dicksteele

yeah--that's what bothers me. That others might just accept the 'rule' and not push it. I tend not to be shy in situations like this, when I know I'm being deliberately obstructed (and have in fact, done nothing "wrong").

Yes, how many got no help and just winged it? It's like they're saying...this is a test of your reading comprehension (or of your prior voting experience)...and there will be NO help during the test. I'm reminded of the "prove you're fit to vote by making it difficult" mentality.

[marions ghost]

7. anyone else reading this

had problems getting help due to the poll workers acting like they were forbidden by law to speak to you? One of them even looked scared when I asked a very simple obvious question.

It was bizarre. I'm trying to decide whether to follow up on this through the Dem party. If it's a county "rule" --which it appears to be--I'm sure I'd just get the cold shoulder from the Board of Elections.