Voter Fraud is a REALITY! :(

[UGAalum94]

When I voted early in Georgia, there were signs up that said as long as you were in line by a certain time, you got to vote. I'm pretty sure it was the posted poll closing time, but I'm not 100% on that.

Is "voter fraud" the right label for this? Isn't voter fraud when would be voters falsify documents and that the OP here really describes vote suppression?

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I don't understand the outrage here honestly.

Hmm, and I think it's a no-brainer. Wouldn't you be angered if when you go to vote someone tells you that you can't?

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Is "voter fraud" the right label for this? Isn't voter fraud when would be voters falsify documents and that the OP here really describes vote suppression?

Yeah, it's not voter fraud. It's voter intimidation and it's illegal. I'm sad to hear about this happening.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

Hmm, and I think it's a no-brainer. Wouldn't you be angered if when you go to vote someone tells you that you can't?

Not if I was using the early voting method and I showed up five minutes before the polls closed. You can't expect the volunteers running the polling station to be happy about someone showing up right when they're ready to close up and go home. I would at least be willing to take partial responsibility for it if I showed up at 4:55pm.
Labeling this as "voter intimidation" or "voter fraud" is certainly a little melodramatic.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Not if I was using the early voting method and I showed up five minutes before the polls closed. You can't expect the volunteers running the polling station to be happy about someone showing up right when they're ready to close up and go home. I would at least be willing to take partial responsibility for it if I showed up at 4:55pm.
Labeling this as "voter intimidation" or "voter fraud" is certainly a little melodramatic.

The person in question did NOT show up five minutes before closing. She showed up THREE HOURS AND FIVE MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING. Telling someone they can't vote by lying to them and saying the polls close at four, even though they close at seven IS ILLEGAL.

[barbino]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Not if I was using the early voting method and I showed up five minutes before the polls closed. You can't expect the volunteers running the polling station to be happy about someone showing up right when they're ready to close up and go home. I would at least be willing to take partial responsibility for it if I showed up at 4:55pm.
Labeling this as "voter intimidation" or "voter fraud" is certainly a little melodramatic.

I am a paid election judge in my area. I think that most of the "volunteers" around the country are actually paid. Working the polls makes for a very long day (Chicago: 4:45am to approx. 10-11pm). Also, most precincts spend 2-3 hours the night before setting up. I know the rule in the county that I live in is that you have to be in line before closing. If people are in line at the time the polls are scheduled to close, we are supposed to post a judge at the end of the line. Anyone who comes after that person cannot vote.
During the primaries one of the poll watchers in my precinct was really upset with me because I did not allow two of his friends to vote- they came after the scheduled closing time. Anybody that is in the line at closing time should be allowed to vote, I believe--but as previously mentioned, each state does it dfferently. Every voter is responsible for knowing the rules in his/her own state. The election judges are there to enforce the state & county rules "by the book." There are books/manuals that govern the proper procedures for all aspects of Illinois elections. I would imagine all other states have this as well.

[SWTXBelle]

Yep. I worked as an election judge - if the voter is in line at the time the polls close, they get to vote.

I was a judge in Nederwald, TX - population in the dozens. This was not a problem for us.

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by barbino

I am a paid election judge in my area. I think that most of the "volunteers" around the country are actually paid. Working the polls makes for a very long day (Chicago: 4:45am to approx. 10-11pm). Also, most precincts spend 2-3 hours the night before setting up. I know the rule in the county that I live in is that you have to be in line before closing. If people are in line at the time the polls are scheduled to close, we are supposed to post a judge at the end of the line. Anyone who comes after that person cannot vote.
During the primaries one of the poll watchers in my precinct was really upset with me because I did not allow two of his friends to vote- they came after the scheduled closing time. Anybody that is in the line at closing time should be allowed to vote, I believe--but as previously mentioned, each state does it dfferently. Every voter is responsible for knowing the rules in his/her own state. The election judges are there to enforce the state & county rules "by the book." There are books/manuals that govern the proper procedures for all aspects of Illinois elections. I would imagine all other states have this as well.

In New York it's the same way. It's been a few years since I've worked the elections (2004 was my last) but unless something has changed drastically, it still is the same way.

I miss working the election...although it is a SUPER long day and tiring, it was always a lot of fun.