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Top Comments: Primary Pollworker Edition [1]

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Date: 2022-09-26

Dominion ImageCast, the type of voting machine my city uses

This is the diary inspired by cohenzee’s diaries on the topic that I meant to write on September 13th but which was delayed for two weeks because Vorpal had to go to Rainbow Bridge. September 6th was Massachusetts State Primary day and I was a precinct Warden for the first time, after a couple of stints as Clerk. I wanted to share a bit of my experience. Forgive me for being almost three weeks past the event, so my memory is a little faded but there are observations I’d like to share both about the process as a whole, and what I noticed this time that didn’t happen in 2020 or 2021 (I started pollworking during the pandemic).

First of all, as Warden it was my job to set up the voting machine for my precinct. To say I was terrified of this was an understatement. Thankfully it’s relatively easy, especially when an experienced Warden ten feet away (my city votes all in one location with 14 precincts in one school gymnasium) helped me out. I understand the many ways the machine is protected from tampering, from locks and tabs removed only with chain of command signatures to zero tapes and multiple eyes watching.

Next, I can go on at length to anyone suggesting it’s ‘easy’ to commit voter fraud that it is in fact not. It’s damned near impossible with all the checks and counterchecks we have in place to assure that only legally registered voters vote. Once and once only and if you voted early YES we know you did.

We also make sure if you are on the inactive list (because you didn’t fill out your yearly city census) you get to vote. If you moved, but are legally able to vote in our city, you do (or we tell you where you are legally able to vote). If you weren’t registered in time we’ll gently explain to you, and if you aren’t registered we will give you the form so you can vote next election. We also cheered every time someone had to show ID for any reason other than being inactive, because it meant they were probably a first-time voter!

When the polls closed at 8pm, we went into action. The voting machines were opened, and again with multiple eyes watching we counted every paper ballot to make sure we had an accurate count. Then we compared that to the tallies our check-in inspectors had, to make sure they matched. We dealt with ballots that couldn’t be read by the scanner, and with write-ins. It took hours. But we did it. And I can confidently say NO fraud occurred.

Several things happened that I think suggest we’ll have controversy even in our mostly-blue Massachusetts town:

- I had one voter insert their ballot face-down as instructed into the machine. Then go “Is this one of those Venezuelan machines?” Gee, wonder where this elderly gentleman with a Republican ballot heard that? I responded that these were the machines our city had used for YEARS.

- I had another voter insert their ballot then confidently assert “that machine counted my ballot four times!” Well, because this was a primary I could tell by watching as voters approached the tabulator whether they had a Republican or Democratic ballot. I’m strictly nonpartisan in elections, caring more that every eligible voter gets to vote, but when a Republican ballot holder approached, my words were basically “OK, insert your ballot face-down to protect your privacy (really it’s so later that evening the ballots all face the same way!) then watch here ::pointing:: so you can see the ballot counter rise by one and know your vote was accurately counted! ::big smile::” I was able to tell this particular voter exactly what the tabulator number had been as they approached, and that in fact it had gone up by ONE. (All kidding aside, if it counted your Republican ballot four times, isn’t that a Thing you want? :-))

- I heard one of our election officials speaking to two Inspectors over lunch. We are not allowed to discuss politics while working but this was lunch and they were off duty. I overheard an Inspector “we should just make everyone show ID, we all have to have REAL IDs anyway” and my ears perked up. I then heard the election official say “and do away with mail-in voting… I mean, it’s not our job to provide 50 ways to make it easy for people to vote. They should just show up on Election Day.” I didn’t say anything because as long as all of these people were *doing their jobs* I can’t police their opinions. But I’ll be damned sure to pay attention on Election Day in November to make sure everyone gets in to vote.

- Lastly, when Mr. Brillig came to vote I leaned over to the Inspector in our voting precinct (I was working next one over) and said “hrmm, I may need to challenge this guy”. They knew he was my husband and laughed. But then he said “well, I’m more worried about the guy with the MAGA hat on sitting talking to the cops outside the entrance.” I had a talk with our Elections staff and learned that in Massachusetts, while many explicit campaign items are prohibited within 150 feet of a polling center, “Issue Slogans” are not. And since MAGA is tied to TFG who was NOT running, and no other candidate used it, it was allowed. However, I also learned that Black Lives Matter is an Issue Slogan and ALSO is allowed ::grin::.

I’m really glad I’ve gotten involved in poll working. It’s a long, brutal day requiring me to be there at 6am and leaving only after everything is counted and secured. But it’s worthwhile and I think our system functions best when people invested in free and fair elections work. I hope if you’re willing and able, you’ll consider getting involved!

Got pollworking stories? Do tell, after the roundup of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures that we’ve accumulated over the weekend!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/26/2125385/-Top-Comments-Primary-Pollworker-Edition

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