Placebo Ballots: Stealing California from Bernie Using an old GOP vote-snatching trick

[Gregorian]

Alert! Some California poll workers have been told to give "provisional" ballots to all independent voters in Tuesday’s Democratic Party.

Here’s the 411. If you’re registered as an independent voter in California, you have the right to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary. Just ask for the ballot.

Who would benefit from this switcheroo from legal ballot to “provisional” ballot? It’s just a stone cold fact that independent voters favor Senator Bernie Sanders. Among voters who describe themselves as having "no party preference," Sanders leads Sec. Hillary Clinton by a humongous 40 points—though Hillary is hugely ahead among registered Democrats.

With the attempt to steal votes by giving independent voters provisional ballots; a lot of white people are being treated as if they turned Black. So to Bernie voters experiencing vote suppression for the first, welcome to the United States of Apartheid voting.


http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=33e4ec877eed6a43863a4a92e&id=40d81f1fbb&e=fe39e3d3e6

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I was reading that a second ago

and Pallast has been extremely reliable since 2000.... mark my words, they will cry when the same shit happens in November.

[upaloopa]

16. It only applies to primaries.

Everyone votes in November on their own affiliated type of ballot.

You don't even understand the non problem here

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Actually I do

and I expect major issues in November,

But you go on, thinking we don't get it.

now go on, NADER, you were missing Nader. I will counter that stupidity with VOTER CAGING.

[qdouble]

2. *Sigh* How do you guys end up coming with a conspiracy before every election?

I'm sure if Bernie wins we'll never hear about this again...but if he loses it's FRAUD!

[workinclasszero]

13. They are worried that Sanders isn't going to win California

so they invent a conspiracy.

Its so transparent. They have been playing this game for months.

[Andy823]

20. Yep it's plan B

Always be ready to claim "Hillary cheated" if Bernie loses the primary. It's really getting old, but when you have nothing else going for you, except praying for an indictment, you have to rally the troops anyway you can to keep that money coming in, and Weaver knows how to use this card very well by now.

[workinclasszero]

21. You got it

[seabeyond]

3. Ahhhh, already.

[Skwmom]

4. Someone on one of the shows mentioned voters not knowing to ask for the Democratic ballot.

Aren't poll workers there to HELP, not hinder the voting process.

[Skink]

5. No need to count those

Early voting. What ballot would you like Dem or Rep. All in the state of Texas.

[upaloopa]

15. Repubs go not allow non declared people to vote

in the republican primary in CA

[brooklynite]

18. Neither does the Green Party...

How ironic.

[WhiteTara]

6. There are 3 parties that allow

NPP to vote in them. How would the poll worker know which one you want if you don't ask. To hand out provisional ballots is the logical thing to do.

[Retrograde]

27. Not provisional - Non Partisan

There are separate non-partisan ballots that the NPP voters get by defaults: we're also voting in primaries for US Senator, Congress, State Assembly, State Senate, as well as local elections - those are all open primaries. There's also a state proposition, and several counties have local propositions on the ballot as well. The default ballot for NPP voters has everything except the presidential candidates and party-specific offices.*

In California, the recognized political parties get to decide for each election whether or not NPP voters can vote in their partisan elections. This year, 3 decided yes, 3 no. NPP voters can chose a ballot for any of the 3 that decided yes: I don't think many of them would be happy if the election official at the polling place randomly handed out equal numbers of NPP, Democratic, Libertarian, and American Independent ballots, so they have to ask for their choice.

A provisional ballot is something else: this is given to a voter if there are other problems, such as not being able to find them on the voter roll, or their being in the wrong voting location, or if they're listed as a permanent mail voter and they claim they never received their ballot and so forth. They're allowed to vote, but those ballots are put aside for further scrutiny, and if found to be valid (eg., the polling place moved and the voter just went to the old one out of habit, or there's no mail ballot from the person who said he didn't get it) they're counted. If they're found to be invalid (e.g., the voter isn't on the books because he registered on June 2, past the deadline, or already returned a mail ballot with the same signature) it's not counted.


*the ballots can get even more complicated. In my county - Santa Clara - there are two different Democratic ballots. One -which contains an election for county party officials - went out to registered Democrats. The other - the same except for this party election - went to NPP voters who requested a Democratic party ballot. Mine, incidentally, reads Non-Partisan: Democratic on the top of each page.

[SFnomad]

7. Taking excuses why BS loses California out for a test drive? n/t

[ucrdem]

8. CA to Pallast: take a hike.

"That’s wrong. That’s evil. That’s sick and illegal." Unless he's a registered voter in CA he's just trolling.

[tandot]

9. These conspiracy theories are so freaking stupid

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/provisional-voting/

From the CA Secretary of State:


What Happens After You Cast a Provisional Ballot?

Your provisional ballot will be counted after elections officials have confirmed that you are registered to vote in that county and you did not already vote in that election.

You may vote a provisional ballot at any polling place in the county in which you are registered to vote, however, only the elections contests you are eligible to vote for will be counted.

[NCTraveler]

10. Setting expectations? I like it. nt.

[upaloopa]

11. That is so full of it. Poll workers are trained

in their jobs here. They know the law.

We don't play those games in CA.

If you are a non declared person ask for a Dem ballot. Nobody has any plans to do otherwise.

This voter fraud shit just does not meet the smell test.

[Starry Messenger]

12. Pro-tip for next time:

Register as a Dem. You get cool mail, slate info, updates, reminders, all part of being in an organization.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. No thank you

And I get all that crap anyway, from everybody. It is quite helpful.

Pro tip though. Ignore this shit at your peril

[LoverOfLiberty]

28. Sometimes I read all of these negative posts about Hillary

and I start to get worried. Then I read a post like yours and remember that this place is full of people who will say anything to turn their fantasy into a truth.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. So you think it is my fantasy

That the November election, or any election for that matter gets rigged? Democrats used to care about electoral integrity. My concerns are not situational. And there is enough evidence of those allegations at least in Orange County. Do you know why it is called a wall?

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Oh and dn't worry sweet one

Starting in 2000, you might remember, last time dems cared...I stopped believing my vote actually counts as cast. I just pretend to vote, to hopefully overcome the torta effect. I don't expect you to get that term, at all by the way

[Starry Messenger]

34. Yes, this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. What that I do not buy the bullshit that these issues would magically go away

if you register as a democrat? For the record I do not intend to.

[vintx]

35. lol

[Arkansas Granny]

14. *sigh*

[ucrdem]

17. Pallast was the limited hangout champeen in 2004

Running around telling anyone who would listen how it was all just a big misunderstanding etc etc. Now he's full-on CT. Wonder whose side he's on?

[AtomicKitten]

22. Poll workers are being trained to give out provisional ballots instead of advising independents

-- they are entitled to ask for a party ballot in a further election-rigging effort.

[senz]

43. THANK YOU. California independents must request Democratic ballots

or "Democratic crossover ballots" if you wish to vote for a Democratic candidate. Do not accept "provisional ballots."

In California you have a right to vote for a Party candidate.

[ucrdem]

23. "a lot of white people are being treated as if they turned Black"?

Did he really say that?? Yes he did, I just checked:

With the attempt to steal votes by giving independent voters provisional ballots; a lot of white people are being treated as if they turned Black. So to Bernie voters experiencing vote suppression for the first, welcome to the United States of Apartheid voting.

Well now we know who Pallast really is.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. In 2004 I was the receiving end

Of an attempted voter suppression. Ever since I carry my passport. You think this does not happen? Of course you do. Should I have to carry a passport? You tell me

[vintx]

38. Do you think white people are traditionally as disenfranchised as black people?

[FSogol]

25. ALCOA!

[LonePirate]

26. The best thing about the end of primary season is the end of absurd crackpot theories like this one.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. And then when the other side steals it in Nov

You might care. Quite partisan and situational. Oh the caging has started by the way...

[LonePirate]

37. How far deep does one need to be in the rabbit hole to believe these CA ballot stealing claims?

They are PREPOSTEROUS!

The conspiratorial nonsense being spread by some Sanders supporters around here is nothing short of disgusting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. I have been the target of these practices

Why I carry a passport when I go vote. 2000 was mass voter caging. That was one of the mechanisms. 2004 was a hack to the SOS site in OH. We even had hearings over that one, I forgive you if you do not remember.

This year we have had a major issue, a lawsuit by both campaigns by the way was filed, in AZ. You either care about this or you don't. There are other possible ones.

Myself, will write and run the procedural article reminding people they need to request a partisan ballot if they want to vote in the primary of the thee parties that allow it, and they are NDPs. I will point out, yes I talked with a few poll workers in this county, that they have to receive a partisan ballot, not a provisional ballot, and if they have problems to call the SOS office and will update that as soon as DOJ tells us where to call. My local workers were trained correctly. The issue with OC is not new, or surprising if you live here. I hope the usual other groups that monitor this will be on tap as well.

[frylock]

42. Until they effect your candidate in November.

At which point, I'm all like

[kstewart33]

32. Another conspiracy.

Around every corner. Under every rock.

[Tarc]

36. This has been the Sanders supporter method for the last dozen or so primaries

Plant the seeds of conspiracy, wait for something even slightly out-of-kilter to happen, then scream "I WAS RIGHT" in every tweet and blog.

[jamese777]

41. Its Magical

Every primary or caucus won by Bernie Sanders the charges of voter fraud or suppression immediately and magically disappear!

To this day some Republicans attribute Barack Obama's 2012 win to "George Soros' voting machines."

[senz]

44. California independents: ignore the distractions in this thread.

Some people don't want you to know that you should not accept provisional ballots -- request a Democratic or Democratic crossover ballet.

Your vote should count.

[asuhornets]

45. If Independents have not figured out on how to vote yet-then that's their problem.