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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

A Day at the Polls

As I mentioned to you yesterday, I was busy yesterday working as an election judge in Hanover Tp. The elections office suffers from a shortage of poll workers. This is a good way to pick up a little cash while simultaneously performing a public service. Poll workers get $175 for their work, while judges are paid $200. You can apply to become one by calling (610) 559-3055, but I'd wait a week or two.

It's long day. We start at 6 am, and judges like myself are not free until 9 pm or even later.

In my district, things got off to a bad start at 6 am when I turned on one of the machines and it just died. Fortunately, elections machine technician Dave was able to square me away over the phone in time to be ready for the 7 am opening.

I must have hounded the elections office with at least 30 calls. Someone in the Brown administration screwed up and the phones into the elections office itself were not working until 8:30 am.

One call was a result of my own stupidity, but the rest were attempts to find out precisely where several voters needed to go to exercise their rights.

In all but one case, we got them to the right place. In one instance, we blew it. A young man voting for the first time was not listed, and when I called in, I was told he is not registered. He assured me he was, and I suggested he go home to get his voter registration card. I told him if he couldn't find it, I would let him vote provisionally until elections officials could sort things out. I then called voter registration and learned that he was registered after all, and should be voting in another Hanover precinct. I hope he discovered that when he went home, but never heard back from him.

I also lost a vote. What I mean by that is that we had one more person signed on the register than actually voted. This happens when someone walks away without actually casting his ballot on the machine, and we miss it.

That likely happened when I was operating the machines so that the regular operator could take a break.

I also filled out four provisional ballots by Independents who insisted they were either Democrats or Republicans. One fellow told me he has changed his registration many times, but always shows up as a Republican. I got the opposite claim from a woman who said she is always listed as a Democrat.

Most people were very cheerful, even when bounced to as many as three different districts. Little flag stickers were a big hit. They were brought in by elections worker Ellen Solarek, and really made up for waiting in line or having gone to several different places.

One lady insisted that the elections office had "conveniently" removed several delegate candidates from the ballot. When she went home, she discovered that she had written down the wrong names. She made a point of coming back and saying she was sorry.

It was quite busy, with a little under 50% turnout.

My precinct is at a school,and the principal pulled me aside to ask me not to let people wander down the halls because of concerns raised by some parents. We did our best, and he rewarded us with coffee.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

It appears Dave Mattei won his write-in bid to get on ballot versus" Do Nothing " Joe Emrick.

Anonymous said...

Actually still very surprised to hear they have voting at schools. That's a bit scary.

Dennis P said...

In Lehigh County --- I was the Judge of Election at the Allentown's City Hall --- That's were the 9th Ward district votes .... City Hall was hot and muggy as the Air Conditioning was not working ... So hot and muggy that Allentown's Financial Director Brent Hartzell went casual not wearing a suit ... What our poll workers found at 6:00 AM was that the County had not delivered Voting Machines to the precinct ... We sort of assumed that if they did, the incumbent Mayor hid them ... Well after a few calls, we learned that the machines were delivered to the Head Janitor's Office next door --- The Lehigh County Courthouse --- But we were dependent on the Janitor being there to get our machines --- Lucky the Janitor came in early and we were able to get in touch with him and learned that initially he was not aware that the machines were delivered there ... We were prepared to use Emergency ballots if need be but as happened the machines arrived and we quickly put them in service just be 7:00 AM.. During the day we had a number of Assisted ballots but no Provisional Ballots ... One person walked out in disgust when she learned that she could only vote on the questions ... But a surprise occurred in the afternoon when three officials claiming to be from the U.S. Department of Justice arrived to investigate Lehigh County procedures in regard to facilitating Latino's Spanish language needs at the polls ... And also, what procedures are in place to encourage Latino voting ... Throughout the day we had a number of people going to the wrong poll, expecting to register on the same day as the primary, registered the wrong party and wanting to vote in the other party's primary ... And it was obvious as well... Some people came and I will not identify the ethnic group just to vote for one candidate period ...

Ray Nemeth Sr said...

Congratulations on you community service, I believe this election has brought out many first time voters, I know of several that I personally provided voter registrations and answered questions about voting, delegates, etc. It looks like there definitely is a renewed interest in the political process, I believe that is a good thing.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Ray, I deserve no congratulations bc I was paid.If I truly wanted to volunteer, I would return the $. But I need the dough. But thanks.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Actually still very surprised to hear they have voting at schools. That's a bit scary."

That is completely irrational on your part.

Ray Nemeth Sr said...

Yes, voters are notorious malcontents , who know what damage they may do to the schools or children. Actually if the schools had there act together, they would take the students down to watch the proceedings, explain about voting and possibly interview some voters. but no they would rather filter out real life experience and replace it with positions endorsed by the NEA

Anonymous said...

Wait wait wait......

Irrational, how so? You even mention in your article the principal had an issue with lingering "voters." Adults cant just wander into schools these days, but election day clearly allows that sort of action. Yeah, totally irrational.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The principal had no issue with lingering voters. That is a complete perversion of what I wrote, which makes me wonder aout your reading comprehension skills. One parent raised all kinds of concerns that voters would stroll the halls, looking for kids. It was completely irrational and so are you. In reality, every voter came in through the only door they could use to get into the building. Access to the rest of the school was completely blocked off. In addition, a constable in uniform was there the entire day.

Dennis P said...

In the General election, the Presidential election actually constitutes 51 separate elections which merger in the electoral college ... That is why it is possible for a candidate to have less popular votes nationwide and win .. But no candidate who doesn't win a plurality of votes within a state can win that states electoral votes... A candidate to win the President must have 50 % plus 1 in the electoral college .. If no candidate does that then the election goes to the house with each state getting one vote ... The Vice President would be selected by the Senate.

Anonymous said...

I saw a transgender person vote yesterday at the school I vote at. I notified the Governor's office so that the national Guard could be called out immediately.

People please get a grip, you will give your self an aneurism.

Worried MD.

Anonymous said...

I heard that they moved another precinct In at the school. Had to be tight in there.

Hank_Hill

Bernie O'Hare said...

It was tight. I am little concerned that people in line could go to wrong machines.

Anonymous said...

That was my old voting location many moons ago. Enjoyed going there as it was a nice walk.

Hank_Hill

Anonymous said...

In Lehigh County, The Judge of Election receive 125.00 and the other poll workers receive 115.00.