Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Maybe we'll paper the walls with them


You can only imagine the names I have called the Washington County Elections Office late at night while waiting for voting results at the newspaper. I've even harbored suspicions that it might not be the most competent sector of our county bureaucracy. My suspicions were bolstered when we moved to our new house and it took the office not one, not two, but three tries to correctly switch my wife's registration details. But it appears they're trying - maybe a bit too hard - to make up for past failures. The missus, in just the past few months, has received not one, not two, not three, but four voter registration cards (the example above comes from Lancaster County). Maybe we're supposed to distribute them to people who could reasonably pass for my wife and have them try to cast ballots. Sure, that's it. It's a test to make sure the poll workers are on their toes. I've also been fortunate enough to receive a couple of spares, and the guy who built my house back in the '70s and moved to Florida many moons ago got a new card, too. I'm thinking of calling him to see if he wants to meet me on Election Day at the Hopewell Township garage and cast a ballot. Even if they stop him from voting, he can get some of the delicious baked goods the ladies sell there. And, baby, that's democracy to me.

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6 Comments:

Blogger Brant said...

Folks: I had to remove and re-post this item because people were making totally unsubstantiated remarks about people working in the elections office. While you are more than welcome to share specific experiences you have had with the office, please do not single out, by name, individual employees. We all know that Mr. Spahr is the head of the office and ultimately responsible for what goes on there, but let's be specific with our criticisms and also keep political party infighting out of the mix. Thanks.

August 20, 2008 at 11:40 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Darn... and I spend all that time writing an anecdote about something that had almost nothing to do with your blog post... It's like watching my sand castle melt back into the sea.

-ellipses

August 21, 2008 at 7:52 AM  
Blogger Brant said...

To recap for Ellipses, he has been getting hosed by the state regarding vehicle registration. Original comment, we hardly knew ye. Rest in peace. Sorry, E. That's the best I can do.

August 21, 2008 at 8:31 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Don't worry, I won't lose any sleep over it :-)

August 21, 2008 at 8:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have never once been asked to show ID or a voter registration card in any election, and that's in Allegheny County. Maybe it's cause I'm a 59-year-old white male. But it's not exactly rigorous screening.

August 21, 2008 at 8:49 AM  
Blogger Brant said...

It's one thing if the poll workers know you, but I also have voted (including in Allegheny County) where the people didn't know me from Adam, but they let me vote without any confirmation of my identity whatsoever.

August 21, 2008 at 9:00 AM  

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