Texas voting emergency....Dallas area. Precincts 2506, 2507, 2503, 2504

[madfloridian]

I received an email this morning from a voter in the Dallas area. I am alarmed at this lack of response this person is getting. I don't have precinct details yet.

Here is part of the email. Note the lack of responses and the inability to get through to anyone. This person signed up and got directions from the Obama campaign earlier.

Arrived to vote at 7:10 am this morning. New precinct - four precincts combined. There were 100-200 people in line. No sign in tables were set up and only 2 staffers (one an election judge) were still setting things up. There were only 8 booths and one scanner (that I could see) and they looked like they were having trouble getting it running. Several of us went to ask how we could help and they just glared at us. One man who had been handing out flyers for a sheriff candidate had come in and started telling people that if you were voting Republican they could go down the street and vote at another school. Only 1 person left (another story there ). Another volunteer nearly had people rioting because he kept saying that they were open 7-7 and we could come back. Its 8 am moron! Staffers claimed that the Precinct Chair just didn't show up the night before to set up. I'm certain 300 people passed through those doors in an hour unable to vote.

I've been trying to call Bruce Sherbert's office (Dallas Elections Official) 214-637-7937 and Secretary of State's office, Elections Division 1-800-252-8683 all morning but the line is busy or it rings for a while and then disconnects you. How do you report an irregularity if no one answers the freaking phone!

So, I e-mailed Channel 5 an e-mail saying all this and when I sent the e-mail I got a bounceback with a phone number. So I called Channel 5. The "girl" who answered the phone, said it was probably just because of the snow this morning. I tried to tell her it wasn't snowing and the roads were dry and that wasn't the problem. All she could do was apologize and say none of this was her fault. I said I was just trying to give her a story and suggested, perhaps, she should give the information to someone who knew a little something about elections. HELLO!

Then I e-mailed Fox 4. I'm desperate I suppose.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Does anyone in the area have more info? I will get the precinct number soon.

I edited to bold the part about the man handing our Republican fliers so close to the precinct...telling them to vote down the street. Weird or what?

[NJSecularist]

1. This is getting ridiclous

And all too familar.

Dallas? An Obama stronghold. A black stronghold.

Understaffed precincnts? Just like Cuyahoga in 2004.

What a joke.

Voter surpression at its worst.

[madfloridian]

2. Help me keep this kicked.

There is outrage there according to a second email..angry people.

[madfloridian]

6. Here are the precinct numbers. 2506, 2507, 2503, 2504

2506 is mine. I believe it was also 2507, 2503 and 2504.

I guess they were combined.

[VolcanoJen]

3. Call the Obama people. Now.

1-866-675-2008.

[NightWatcher]

4. Call the Obama campaign right now, they have people on the ground

If you have any problems before, during, or after the voting and caucusing begins, call 1-866-675-2008.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/txhome

[Capn Sunshine]

44. Call Obama's Campaign OR Board of elections-here's Dallas Co #

DALLAS COUNTY ELECTION BOARD
214-637-7937

[Name removed]

112. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[redqueen]

5. 214-821-8331

This is the number for the Dallas County dem party. Maybe they can help.

What absolutely PISS-POOR volunteers. I'd be frickin LIVID.

[goclark]

46. Voice Mailbox is full ~ I'm trying another way

[UndertheOcean]

7. kick

[Coexist]

8. 1-866-675-2008

thats the number from the Obama camp to call for problems.

[UndertheOcean]

13. I suggest you call that number

TV. Stations don't care , voter suppression is not sexy enough

[Coexist]

9. 1-866-675-2008

thats the number from the Obama camp to call for problems.

[NightWatcher]

10. go cross post this in the Obama forum so it will stay up longer

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=388

[spanone]

11. k&r

[madfloridian]

12. Obama campaign was called. Got voice mail.

Will post more when I get it from the person in Dallas.

[UndertheOcean]

15. I thought you were in Florida

If us out of Staters can call too I doing so right now!

[madfloridian]

18. It is in an email from someone in Texas.

[Tatiana]

14. Need the SD/precinct #. n/t

[madfloridian]

16. Here are the precinct numbers. 2506, 2507, 2503, 2504

.

[Irishonly]

37. I am in CA and tried calling

The mail boxes are filled. I hope this means they have received thousands of calls about the problem. People deserve to have their votes counted. LA county had problems and I may be naive but they should get off their behinds and make sure the problems are fixed.

[UndertheOcean]

17. See post #6

[grantcart]

19. kick

[babylonsister]

20. You might want to post this in the TX forum; some people

in Dallas are working polls and might have some ideas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=180

[madfloridian]

29. I just did, thanks.

:hi:

[UndertheOcean]

21. VoiceMail picks up

Lets see what happens

[doublethink]

22. EVERYBODY WITH A CELL PHONE IN THIS THREAD .......

Please call the Obama numbers given ....... don't rely on Madfloridian to be the only person on top of this. We can do this from our computers, the information is all in this thread. Ground-roots ..... get busy. Peace. :)

[UndertheOcean]

23. Yay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blue_Roses]

24. The voter turnout is very high in Tarrant county too...

Posted on Tue, Mar. 04, 2008


Officials brace for challenges of high turnout
By AMAN BATHEJA
[e-mail]
Related Content


Voting and caucusing may be a bigger challenge than usual today for many Texans in today's primary elections.

Among the possible problems: long lines filled with thousands of first-time voters and precinct caucuses expected to attract record numbers of people.

Polling locations were selected weeks before anyone knew that the Texas presidential primary would become so important. Now local party and election officials are worried about whether the locations will be able to handle the crowds at the precinct caucuses. They're also concerned about parking at some locations.

more...

http://www.star-telegram.com/elections/story/509754.html

[boston bean]

25. Snow in TX, did I misread something? Is this Ohio or Dallas TX? nt

[UndertheOcean]

26. And in March too

you did not misread ...

[madfloridian]

27. Just talked to this person....they called Dallas Dem party.

They said they had someone there at the precinct/precincts now. Heads need to roll over this. I don't know if it is Democratic heads or Republican heads....but I want them on the floor. (that is my opinion)

Luckily this person is going back to vote later.

[1776Forever]

32. Thanks! And We Americans send people around the world to watch others voting!!

Right!!!! They knew if they were listening at all that there were going to be thousands of more people voting! Disgusting!!!!
:rant:

[madfloridian]

41. They have known for a long time there would be crowds.

And the phones not being answered reminds me of Florida in 2000 and 2002

[babylonsister]

28. "Messages cannot be recorded at this time" is what I got.

Mailboxes must be full. x(

[Tatiana]

30. It's a mess.

I called Dallas Co. elections office [phone]

They are aware of problems in the area and are trying to correct them. Seems to me like something may be going on in nearby Garland.

Poor lady on the phone sounded pretty stressed.

[madfloridian]

31. Thanks for trying. This is sad to see this.

The person called me, will go back after work to vote.

We need to keep this getting attention. Even if the phones are jammed, maybe it will get attention.

[UndertheOcean]

33. double kick

[Irishonly]

34. Cripes

Good luck. They knew there was going to be a large turnout. I hope you can get the story covered.

[Laurab]

35. k&r n/t

:kick:

[Luftmensch067]

36. K&R!

Thanks for putting this out there!!!

[Catbird]

38. Deja vu all over again

I used to live in Dallas. There were serious problems voting at predominantly minority precincts. Not enough paper ballots printed and distributed.

New technology. Same old problems.

[UndertheOcean]

40. Old fashioned passive agressive voter supression

pure and simple.

[madfloridian]

45. A note I just received.

From the person who emailed me. This is apparently not a minority precinct. Seems more like just plain poor planning. I want the head of the precinct captain on a platter.

[Igel]

56. The only person so far to assign blame where it probably belongs.

The precinct captain.

[madfloridian]

39. BTW it is Dallas County.

.

[liberal_rxstudent]

42. What?!?!?

Too suspicious- why in the hell would repubs have the opportunity to vote elsewhere?? This seems ridiculous and this is happening during the primaries. This s*&t should not be happening- there is something here that is foul... This will be another one of those factors ultimately influencing the outcome at the convention, which will in turn affect the general election. WHY is this happening..this is a barrier that will keep the voice of the people from being heard. Keep up the great posts! You are doing a fine job, and thank goodness someone is putting this out in the open. :mad:

[madfloridian]

43. I would love to hear from someone else voting at that precinct

later in the day to see if they have the problems solved.

[NJSecularist]

47. Kick

What an outrage.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

48. Damn. There's no excuse for this. None.

K&R

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

49. K&R

[RedLetterRev]

50. Call 1-866-My-VOTE1

There's a call center set up specifically to report and resolve voting problems. Thanks to Tom Joyner (syndicated all over the US). Believe me, they want to hear about these problems. The call center is there for your use -- use it.

Best of luck and we're all watching.
Bill

[madfloridian]

51. Does it have a 1 after it?

Will share it when I am sure.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

52. Yes it does

It's 1-866-MY-VOTE-1

[RedLetterRev]

54. Right, that's a one

Best of luck! Go get 'em!

[Jane Austin]

53. Anybody who doesn't take advantage of early voting

where it is offered is just asking for trouble in these days of voting snarlups.

If you're at the wrong precinct, you can fix it in time.

If the machines break, there's time to fix them.

If they run out of ballots, try again tomorrow.

If the lines are long, you have ten days to come back.

If the weather is bad, go when it's nice.

If a campaign comes on the last day with false attack ads, you've already voted.

There are a thousand reasons to vote early, and almost none to wait until the last day.

[Freddie Stubbs]

55. Dallas? I'll bet J. R. Ewing is behind this

[frog92969]

57. K&R

Thanks madfloridian, good work as usual.

[ariesgem]

58. kick

:grr:

[madfloridian]

59. 1-866-My-VOTE1.....Incident # 3233. 3, 233 incidents.

Note in email:

"I called this number - it is automated, left message about what
happened, precinct no., etc., and then it transfer you to you local
election office at 214-819-6300 where the phone just rings with no
answer ."

"Just spoke to another dem who voted at a place where several precincts
combine. She said they had dems on one side and repubs on the other.
No one was on the repub side. goose egg!"

Sounds like that phone number just tracks you back to the local election office where no onE answers the phone.

:shrug: :shrug:

[mythyc]

61. kick

Madfloridian you the man...

[madfloridian]

66. Make that woman.

:hi:

[mythyc]

89. oops! sorry =)

i have mucho respecto for your work with this and other work in election ethics.

[madfloridian]

60. "Staffers claimed that the Precinct Chair just didn't show up the night before to set up."

Wonder why, wonder who? Wonder that things will be like when this voter goes back after work?

[AtomicKitten]

62. Aaarrggghhhh!

Why can't America pull off clean and fair elections?

:banghead:

[man4allcats]

63. k&r. n/t

[suston96]

64. The problem is aggravated by "combining precincts" for the primaries.....

...that happened here in AZ last month. Looked like there was a big turnout but in reality the combining of the precincts because of not enough workers is what caused the long lines and long delays. We were assured that no precincts would be combined for November.

And one more thing. The precinct workers are ALL volunteers. They don't get paid. And training is minimal or non-existent. IOW: chill out......Those who want will all get to vote.

[madfloridian]

65. You just told me to "chill out"?????? Did you really?

"And one more thing. The precinct workers are ALL volunteers. They don't get paid. And training is minimal or non-existent. IOW: chill out......Those who want will all get to vote."

No, I don't give a damn if they are volunteers. This is our vote we are talking about here.

Never ever ever tell me to chill out about voting.

[suston96]

67. OK, then: Chill out when posting. And keep your facts straight .....

....about volunteers who are mostly seniors and take great pains to perform their thankless jobs.

Having said that, I just read of a "precinct captain" who was not a senior. He is all of 21 years of age. Uh, not "experienced" fer sure.

[madfloridian]

68. How dare you. I posted parts of an email. It should alarm you.

Instead you tell me to chill out.

It is just insulting. You should be ashamed.

[suston96]

73. I am alarmed. I am a retired voting rights activist.....

I spent 20 years chasing election fraud and voter suppression and much more. One of the first things I learned was that anecdotes of "voter suppression" have to be analyzed to determine malicious suppression or just plain negligence based on unfamiliarity with the process by the participants - both precinct workers and voters.

Elections take place every two years. Add new machinery to the mix and you have potential for disruptions based on unfamiliarity or just plain forgetfulness. These are primaries. You want to blame someone? Blame your political parties who should have helped out with the training of both precinct workers and voters.

[orleans]

84. my daughter has been an election judge for the past couple of years

THEY ALL GET PAID!

[suston96]

87. Some get paid - just barely - but most are volunteers:

"Ohio has its share of poll worker problems that have little to do with the ballot format. In 2006, nearly 20 percent of election volunteers didn't show up in Cuyahoga County, for instance. But a peer review panel also cited poorly trained poll workers in insufficient numbers.

Election officials responded by spending more money on training and by recruiting volunteers from high schools and colleges. Pairing young people with elderly poll workers has been implemented in several states, along with corporate and government programs allowing employees to be poll workers without losing pay."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080223/ap_on_el_ge/pollworker_problems

[orleans]

111. where in this does it say some get paid barely and most are volunteers?

[madfloridian]

69. Oh, and....

good by. I am tired of being insulted. I just won't see it now.

[UALRBSofL]

77. suston96 I find it interesting that people who claim a vote

But would denounce there own vote and not want it to count and disenfranchise voters. I'm not calling out any names. :crazy:

[suston96]

79. Yeah, I was going to mention that but you know....the milk of human kindness....

[madfloridian]

70. Dallas Morning News says all working well, few glitches.

Okay. I hope so. Great. Will see how it goes tonight when this person goes back to vote after work and to caucus.

Apparently no coverage of this event.

[PretzelWarrior]

71. just as I indicated yesterday

this kind of thing would happen in big cities.

[Kajsa]

72. Madfloridian, could you have your friend

( who sent you the e-mail) call the Obama office at 1-866-675-2008?

I just talked to a staffer there, they need specific info I don't have.

She is passing the message on, but they need more info.

Thanks!

:hi:

[madfloridian]

75. I will give that phone # right now. She called the office though.

Thanks.

[madfloridian]

81. Got an email. They finally got through to that number.

The Obama staffer said they had had other complaints from that precinct and were working on it.

Thanks for the number.

[Kajsa]

94. That's good to hear!

You're welcome.
I got the number from other members upthread.

I'm glad they are on it!

:)

[DS1]

74. the people running voting stations in this country are FUCKING USELESS!

[John Q. Citizen]

95. Actually most are useful. Have you ever volunteered to help them?

[madfloridian]

76. There was a mention in the Star Telegram...from Blue_Roses thread.

"there was a link in the Star-Telegram stating they needed Obama
workers ASAP. They got a lot of replies "

That's good.

[demodonkey]

78. Try 1-866-OUR-VOTE , the Election Incident Reporting System number. I'll x-post to Election Reform

Hopefully it is up and running today in TX.

THIS NUMBER WILL BE RUNNING EVERYWHERE IN NOVEMBER SO REMEMBER IT NOW.

1-866-OUR-VOTE

[demodonkey]

82. And BTW, this is why everyone should support the ELECTION INTEGRITY group of your choice -- NOW!

These candidate campaigns are raising hundreds of millions of dollars, but most of the organizations that are doing our best to prepare to fight this kind of disenfranchising stuff in November are struggling to hang on and survive. This especially goes for the state and local groups that are fighting hard in the trenches to raise awareness and get more people on the ground to watch the machines and these other problems in the fall.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUP OF YOUR CHOICE NOW.

If crap like this is allowed to happen in November (or the machines start flipping votes, etc), or God forbid we need another recount, there will be no defense other than the election integrity groups.

Do this NOW. Not next December.

Please.

[Baconfoot]

80. Election Days NEED to be holidays

Election days should be holidays for the following reasons:
a) Would increase voter turnout.
b) Would increase staffing availability.
c) Would increase quality of staffing more than programs set up to borrow poll-workers from employers because of:
i. The limited number of employers who DO participate in such programs.
ii. The limited number of employers who CAN participate in such programs given the fact that election day is not a holiday and the store-fronts need to be kept running.
d) Would increase the availability of people who can volunteer for GOTV on the ground on election day. (Does this sound familiar? "I can go door to door on the weekend, but I have to work on Tuesday."

In order to ensure fair, efficient elections which adequately express the will of the people with respect to who they think would do the best job in public office, I believe that the above listed improvements are not just desirable, but essential.

Can I get a "word?"

[Kaleko]

92. Word! In Europe, elections are held on Sundays and it's one person, one vote

... America is so far behind, it's not funny at all anymore. And falling further down the hole each passing day...



:cry:

[madfloridian]

83. Update: Obama campaign is working on it.

According to the person in Dallas, they have had other complaints from that precinct. Thanks to the post above a number to the campaign. Friend got a real human voice.

[goclark]

85. Great work team!

Next time we should have a plan in place to get the cell of some people on the ground that we know will answer our call.

[demodonkey]

86. Still you should also report it to the 1-866-OUR-VOTE number.

On edit:
Verified Voting says that 1-866-OUR-VOTE definitely IS supposed to be up in any state that is running a primary.

Not likely that Obama or any campaign will have time to report this themselves, and your call will get info to a coalition of national and local groups that can use these incident reports to prepare election protection efforts for November.

And again -- everyone please support the election integrity group of your choice.

Do this NOW. Not next December.

[madfloridian]

91. It was reported.

to that number over 3000 already reported.

[demodonkey]

93. Thanks -- as I said will help 1-866-OUR-VOTE coalition election protection efforts for November

:patriot:

[Shine]

88. Hey, thanks for the update.

:thumbsup: Glad to know they're on it.

[UndertheOcean]

96. Thanks for the update!

[Kurovski]

90. K&R. (nt)

[madfloridian]

97. Blogger annatopia has a super thread going at Kos with updates.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/4/95525/48051/345/468502

She is always on top of stuff in Texas. She has detailed problems by precinct.

Burnt Orange is on top of things as well.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/

[AntiFascist]

98. K&R, sounds like a train wreck n/t

[AikidoSoul]

99. Dallas, oh Dallas!

What a spot you are on this country's conscience!


Kick and recommend

[Tarc]

100. Isn't it a bit early for the tinfoil?

[stillcool]

101. it all depends on who is doing ....

the voting. If it's you, and you go to vote and can't it's a big deal. Anyone else and they're off their fucking rocker.

[madfloridian]

102. Tinfoil? The precinct was not set up for voting. Nothing was done.

Now you may think that is fine. I don't.

Why don't you tell me how this was okay?

[madfloridian]

103. Just a phone call about the caucus in that precinct.

I think the word "huge" should describe. Long line, most new to caucusing. Pro-Obama overall.

Sounds like they got their butt organized there.

[chusmeria]

104. this sucks :(

[FloriTexan]

105. Wow Mad! You get results! THANKS!

I have been inspired to register for the first time in my years of lurking. Preferring to read, learn and occasionally be amused; but after today I had to register just to say thanks to you Ms. Mad in a public way!

Allow me to explain. I e-mailed Mad today out of sheer frustration. I was the Dallas County voter who was not able to vote this morning and when I couldn't reach our election officials I suspected the posters here could help. Many thanks to you Mad for sharing the information and getting me the relevant and working phone calls to report the problem and ensure that it would be "handled." Many more thanks to the rest of you for sharing, caring and making all those phone calls on for us. I now feel inspired to share with you how things turned out. And I do mean "turned out."

Things were much more organized when we returned tonight to vote and caucus. We voted and waited in the car until about 6:30 before going back inside to caucus. There were still about 200 waiting to vote and caucusers starting filing back in and hanging around the bleachers. From the snippets of conversation it was pretty clear most of us had never done it before and it was apparent from the organizers that they hadn't had to deal with so many of us before. We were one of the first to sign in to caucus, probably because we had positioned ourselves next to the table all night. We left the building at about 8:00 pm and to our surprise the line to enter the caucus was probably 200 yards long, stretching out the door of the school through the parking lot and across the street! It was also 3-4 people wide. Lots of people appeared to turn out in small groups. If you are waiting up tonight to get the caucus delegate results you best break out the no-doze. I'm certain that they will be in the registration process for another couple of hours yet.

I have never, in all my voting years, witnessed a queue as I saw tonight and I'm talking about the line to caucus. These were people who had already voted and came back for a second bite at the apple. In Texas, you can't caucus unless you voted.

The Obama camp had a table set up outside with caucus information and several volunteers milling around answering questions and handing out bumper stickers (which are now gone--I got the last one!) and caucusing literature.

There was one lone Hillary campaigner holding a sign, no table and no other signs of volunteers. She spied my neighbor eyeballing the Hillary caucus sign and asked her if she could help register caucusers for Hillary. My neighbor did, probably guaranteeing the delegate trip to Austin for her efforts. It was clear the lone Hillary organizer was alone and while I felt bad for her, I also felt proud that she was doing everything she could to organize for her candidate. She and the Obama people worked side-by-side. This is what its all about.

Thank again to all of you and especially Mad for all the information and support. Perhaps this was just a small glitch, but the phone calls and reports will keep it honest. They have to know we are watching and paying attention.

[madfloridian]

106. Welcome to DU.... ...did the word "huge" describe it ok?

Sounds like a good turnout after a very bad start. There are never small glitches when it comes to voting.

Any word on the caucus results? Are they being delayed by the Hillary campaign?

[FloriTexan]

107. "Huge" is such a normal word here in Tejas...

as we do everything in such a large way or so we tell everyone. So many words apply: Unprecedented, unbelievable, awesome. I thought the line was a mile long, but hubby said I was exaggerating a bit and whittled it down to 200 yards, if you strung everyone end-to-end we'd get a mile. I'm sure of it. Walking out the door and seeing all those people was just WOW! I probably should have gone in and told my neighbor that she was in for a long night of volunteering. I don't think she realized what she was getting into, but then again, Hillary's line was shorter. :eyes:

[madfloridian]

109. I meant to tell you very nice first post above.

:hi:

[FloriTexan]

110. I doubt caucus results will be known before tomorrow...

We had 4 precincts each got a table with one side for Hillary signatures and one for Obama. Each caucus go-er had to fill out their name, voter number, address and candidate's name. So, no more than 8 people could register at a time. There were probably 1000 people in line to caucus and they all had questions. You'll have to do the math because I'm terrible at it; but everyone had to register before they could actually begin the caucus. The people who wanted to be voted in as delegates to the convention had to wait around for the caucus to convene. The rest of us could register for our candidate and leave. Unless they got some more tables, pens and volunteers to run the tables, they were easily a couple of hours away from registering everyone and then at least another hour for the caucus itself.

I didn't see any campaigners doing anything untoward. Everyone seemed in good spirits but exhausted. All of the people who were working the event at 7 am were there at 7 pm. There were so many people and so many questions from all of us virgin caucus go-ers I wouldn't be surprised if it took a couple of days to get those results.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

108. Sounds like Florida....

n/t

[bagrman]

113. Clintons only way to win will be dirty. Voter suppression one way.