Voting problems?

Tippiechick · #1 10-15-2008, 08:40 PM

SIDENOTE(Heads up Winniebug and Squirrelygirl if you are still registered to vote where I live...)

I knew going in to early vote that the election commission would be extra stringent on checking ids. But, I provided my voter reg. card AND my driver's license.

I was initially turned away b/c the lady said my signatures didn't match.

On my d.l. from 2004, I signed (as I was told) my full name (first, maiden, last). When I sign my WHOLE name, I end up printing my last name. Then, Tennessee shrinks it down to fit on the card.

On my voter reg. card, I signed (as I do on everything official, unless told otherwise) my first two initials, last name, all in cursive.

She said there was NO way they were the same. I told her I don't always sign everything the same everytime. She told me, "People's signatures DO NOT change!"

Thank goodness I had signed my social security card with my whole name all in cursive and had it with me! She was going to turn me away and refuse to let me vote if I hadn't had it!

What the hell? I showed MORE than is required by law. I showed a state-issued photo-i.d. in addition to the county issued voter card...

epchick · #2 10-15-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

SIDENOTE(Heads up Winniebug and Squirrelygirl if you are still registered to vote where I live...)

I knew going in to early vote that the election commission would be extra stringent on checking ids. But, I provided my voter reg. card AND my driver's license.

I was initially turned away b/c the lady said my signatures didn't match.

On my d.l. from 2004, I signed (as I was told) my full name (first, maiden, last). When I sign my WHOLE name, I end up printing my last name. Then, Tennessee shrinks it down to fit on the card.

On my voter reg. card, I signed (as I do on everything official, unless told otherwise) my first two initials, last name, all in cursive.

She said there was NO way they were the same. I told her I don't always sign everything the same everytime. She told me, "People's signatures DO NOT change!"

Thank goodness I had signed my social security card with my whole name all in cursive and had it with me! She was going to turn me away and refuse to let me vote if I hadn't had it!

What the hell? I showed MORE than is required by law. I showed a state-issued photo-i.d. in addition to the county issued voter card...

Sorry that happened to you Tippie. I can't believe she didn't believe you especially when you showed your Driver's license which has your picture on it!!! Argh lady. She's obviously clueless, because no one can sign their name the exact same way twice--which means a signature does change.

Tippiechick · #3 10-15-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

Sorry that happened to you Tippie. I can't believe she didn't believe you especially when you showed your Driver's license which has your picture on it!!! Argh lady. She's obviously clueless, because no one can sign their name the exact same way twice--which means a signature does change.

What she did was illegal. I know my voter reg. laws... That was part of my job description in the 2000 election. She told me it was because I had registered by mail.

http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/electio...ementChart.pdf

ETA: This was not my first time voting. It was my first time voting in this particular county. Before this, I absenteed my "home" county where my family has always owned multiple homes.

aephi alum · #4 10-15-2008, 09:45 PM

People's signatures can and do change. Mine changed drastically when I got married.

Actually, for the first few months after I was married, my signature with my new last name did evolve... it changed from being legible to being my first name, last initial, and something that looks like an ECG of a patient with a serious arrhythmia.

If you sign your name in one place using your initials and in another place spelling out your full name, you're still the same person and you still signed both documents.

I'm glad you were able to vote in the end.

barbino · #5 10-15-2008, 10:44 PM

Tippie, your post was scary. I have worked as an election judge in almost every election for the past 7 years-local/primary/or presidential. I am now an equipment manager.

This type of challenge regarding a signiture can occur, but I think that it requires a consensus of several election judges and in Chicago it could require a call down to the central elections office to make the final decision. This decision would be made by them (not an individual judge) and then related to the potential voter. I don't believe any single election judge has the right or the power to deny a voter the right to vote based solely on a signiture. There are other ways to verify if a voter is really who they say that they are. Asking for picture id's are important at times like this.

Sorry that this happened to you. I know that I would probably have been outraged if it was me. I have seen alot of strange irregularities occur, and this falls into this category. I am so glad that you insisted and were able to vote.

AKA_Monet · #6 10-15-2008, 11:51 PM

Tippie,

What makes this dumbass a writing expert? Not 4.2 hours of a writing forensics class for voting... And I would be the one to tell her that to her face and act all kinds of crazy...

navane · #7 10-16-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

She said there was NO way they were the same. I told her I don't always sign everything the same everytime. She told me, "People's signatures DO NOT change!"

Some people just don't get it. This reminds me of the time I lost my wallet at the county fair. I went to the lost and found office, described my wallet and the lady at the counter said one matching that description had been turned in.

Then she asked me to present a photo ID so I could claim it.

I was like, "Uhm...yeah....my photo ID is in the wallet." She got exasperated with me and said she wasn't going to hand over a wallet unless I could confirm my identity. I asked her if a driver's license would be acceptable and she said it was. I then said, "Ok, great, here's an idea. Why don't you open the wallet and look at it?"

I'm glad you were found eligible to vote after all. Good grief.

.....Kelly

RU OX Alum · #8 10-16-2008, 09:28 AM

wow, Tippie, that sucks

Very Elite · #9 10-16-2008, 03:12 PM

Maybe they knew of your foul mouth and decided you shouldn't vote.

knight_shadow · #10 10-16-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Very Elite

Maybe they knew of your foul mouth and decided you shouldn't vote.

Shut up.

#11 10-16-2008, 04:00 PM

Seeing stories like this makes me so happy that I vote absentee.

I voted last night before dinner and dropped the envelope in the mail this morning. I don't think I can ever see myself waiting in line at the precinct ever again!

Nanners52674 · #12 10-16-2008, 06:20 PM

I'm currently not even registered TO vote. . . I moved towns since last election mailed in my application a few weeks ago and received a voicemail i could barely understand saying something was missing and to mail it in so my registration could be complete. Instead I went to town hall today (was there for another reason) and inquired about my registration. The woman couldn't find the paper and i wasn't in the pc system. So i filled out a new card and gave her that. She then told me she cant take that card because there all ready is one they just have to find it. (I got a bit annoyed at this point)

The register of voters comes out and im like she cant find my mailed in card here is a new one and my id can i register. She said no we have to find your old card. So I said ok lets try it this way "Hi im jane and i just moved to town, how do i register to vote" She told me to can the attitude i was registered and i could leave now. And refused to give me any confirmation that im registered.

Sorry for the hijack but yea i definitely understand your frustration!!!!!

Tippiechick · #13 10-17-2008, 12:51 AM

****Update****

All day, I was still thinking about what had happened. So, I decided to call and talk to the Election Commissioner for our county. She started out telling me I was simply wrong and misinformed. Then, I showed her the state website's Voter Requirement page. She then admitted that was what the state used to do and then told me the STATE had told her to do something different. She brushed me off and said she'd double check with the state.

I told her I would also double-check with the State Election Commission.

Turns out, they were VERY surprised to hear her story. They said in no uncertain circumstances that I was correct. And, what she had been telling people was WRONG. She was told to retrain her staff correctly and hand them a printout of the link I provided above.

It is pretty bad when I know the State election laws better than the freakin' County Election Commissioner.

Sad part is, yesterday, 2200 voted. And, by the time the mess was fixed today, half the day was gone... So, more people were given a hard time. At least a few were either denied voting or given a provisional ballot. There's no way to tell. But, there were some people who had been pressed like me for additional proof of identity over and above what the state mandates.

honeychile · #14 10-17-2008, 10:41 AM

Between the yahoos you dealt with and ACORN, this election may not be decided for a LONG time. This has to be a record for the amount of voter fraud. In your case, it was the people who tried to keep you from voting, in other cases, it's a 7-year-old child being registered, or one person being registered 27 times, or, or, or.

I dread the next few months.

jwright25 · #15 10-17-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

So, I decided to call and talk to the Election Commissioner for our county. She started out telling me I was simply wrong and misinformed. Then, I showed her the state website's Voter Requirement page. She then admitted that was what the state used to do and then told me the STATE had told her to do something different. She brushed me off and said she'd double check with the state.

What county are you in? (PM if you prefer) I always like to go vote on actual Election Day - just gives me a little extra satisfaction for some reason. Plus I just don't trust that early votes are counted - don't have ANY evidence for that, just a feeling. ha!

Our precincts are always manned by 500-year-old people who (1) treat me like a toddler who can't read the letters on the tables to know which line to get in; and then (2) treat me like a criminal as they review every last letter on my license, voter registration card, etc. I have to get "checked" by at least 4 people before punching the buttons.

I also recently had my wallet stolen and have all new stuff. I'm waiting for drama on that as well.