Pittsburgh Voting Experience: A short adventure in disenfranchisement

[stratomagi]

So I got up this morning to go vote, I got up a few minutes before 7, I wasn't dedicated to being there exactly at 7. Anyway I go out my door and start walking; my polling place is 2 blocks from my house; so I start walking that way and this girl stops me to ask me where the McKean KIA is. She was registered at the same place I was so I told her to walk along with me. The thing is that building hasn't been McKean KIA for years now, its part of the Shadyside Honda dealership. She got that information because her polling site was moved to mine. Apparently the construction site by my house was her old polling site, but for obvious reasons they moved it. The interesting thing was not only did they tell her to vote at McKean KIA which no longer exists, but they gave her the wrong address for the actual building!

So anyway we get to my polling place and the table for Ward 8 District 7 is right there alongside mine, Ward 8 District 5. So we both go and vote, I voted at the site before so I didn't have to show ID, they had my card on file. The ladies were excited as well, I was #14 on the rolls that day which for that polling site is apparently a lot at 7:30 AM. As I'm voting a few other people come in complaining about not being able to find their polling location, and were unsure about if they were at the right place. I was like, if people go to the construction site and can't find their polling location it will be a disaster. People may give up and go home! So I finish up voting and tell the little old ladies at the tables that I'll make a few signs and post them so people know to come here.

I go back home and open up Paint in windows and make a quick sign. Here is a smaller version in fact:



So I print out 10 of these, grab some scotch tape and head out the door. I put one on my door and the light post by my house. I cross the street to the construction site and start posting more of them on the chain link fence, as i start to do this a bunch of people who were standing around say thank you because they were standing around because they had the same problem and couldn't find their site. A few more people walk by as i move down the fence and thank me for putting the signs up. One of the construction workers comes by from the other side of the fence to ask me what i'm doing, so I tell him about how this used to be the old polling site for Ward 8 District 7 and i'm putting signs up to redirect people. I tell him that after the polls close tonight I will come back and take all the signs down. He was okay with this and let me go about my business.

By 8 AM I had all the signs up. Hopefully they'll stay up so that no one gives up and goes home.

[endarkenment]

1. Thank you, good citizen.

It is when people start to take back control of their democratic system that the system will start to once again represent the people.

[hobbit709]

2. Thank you!

Sometimes it becomes a matter of doing it yourself because the official function breaks down for whatever reasons.

[Kukesa]

3. And my thanks, as well. n/t

[SoxFan]

4. You vote at a car dealership?

That's a new one!

In Manchester, most of the polling places are located at elementary schools or church halls, although in my ward, we vote in a meeting room at the health/welfare depratment.

I like the notion of picking a politician while surrounded by used car salesmen better, though!

[stratomagi]

8. Yeah most of the polling places I've had

around Pittsburgh have either been churches or fire stations. The thing with my neighborhood is that there are several car dealerships around that take up a lot of space in really central locations. I think its one of those things where they thought it would be easier for people in the neighborhood to get to the dealerships. Ironically they are really bad about updating their information.

[FatDave]

43. "I like the notion of picking a politician while surrounded by used car salesmen"

Seems strangely appropriate, doesn't it?

[alphafemale]

5. If you can't keep watch over the signs yourself maybe call your local dem office.

I wouldn't put it past repugs to pull them down.

[stratomagi]

10. Repugs gotta vote too.

In fact there was 1 on the rolls already when I got there.

I'm actually more worried about the local gov't which is pro Hillary, but then again they gotta vote there as well.

[alphafemale]

16. Is there something on the ballot besides falling in line behind McCain?

If not, they really don't NEED to vote.

[stratomagi]

21. Ron Paul is on the ballot here

apparently his supporters think he can pull something off here. I haven't seen any McCain signs in Pittsburgh, just 1 bumper sticker, but there are Ron Paul signs sprinkled here and there.

[ScarletSniper]

6. You did a very good thing...

[WillyT]

7. Thank You !!! - K & R !!!

:yourock:

You might wanna let the Obama people know about this as well.

:shrug:

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Good for you!

:thumbsup:

(many moons ago, I used to live on North Negley Ave., just a couple of miles away).

[flpoljunkie]

11. Great work! Scary when they move precincts and don't tell folks! What's up with that?

[stratomagi]

13. Well they did send people these cards in the mail

which had the entirely wrong address on them. They said it was on the 5100 block which is why the girl this morning was standing in front of my house versus the 4900 block.

[flpoljunkie]

24. I see your point. Both are inexcusable!

[Doctor_J]

12. Get ready - in November it will be nearly impossible to vote (D)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5604345&mesg_id=5604345

[asjr]

14. This is certainly a metaphor for what is

wrong in this country. No one is in charge. Good for you being a good citizen.

[MagickMuffin]

15. That was very thoughtful of you, and the Voters will appreciate it

stratomagi:yourock:

As others have suggested inform the DP HQ's. Switching polling locations can ruin a good day. This happened to us several years ago, when our Rec. center was being renovated. We were swiched to a church and once to a police station.

But now we're back at our Rec. Center.

[TheDoorbellRang]

17. Now that's what I call an act of patriotism

I hope you were wearing a flag lapel pin at the time. j/k :D

Way to go, stratomagi. :yourock:

[stratomagi]

19. I've been telling people

that I swallowed a flag pin and its lodged in my gut somewhere so that at no time in the day can anyone question my patriotism.

[davidpdx]

18. Sounds confusing...good for you in terms of taking the initiative

You might want to make a point of emailing or calling the county clerk later in the week and make sure they update the information for November.

The last time I physically went to a polling place was 1996, since then we've had vote by mail.

[Abacus]

20. Thank you!

:toast: :applause: :patriot:

[karynnj]

22. Great job! Great that you took the initive to fix this.

[Jennicut]

23. Good for you! I too had a similar problem when voting in the primary in CT

I went to where I always vote at the town hall and when I got there the poll workers told me I had been moved to the local congregational church. I got no letter in the mail about it or anything. It was all very confusing. I hope other people out there don't have similar problems.

[mistertrickster]

25. Well done, Democracy lover! When the officials screw up "accidentally on purpose,"

people like you have to take action.

You might get in touch with the League for Women's Voters or your local Democracy for America people and see if they are working on problems like this . . .

[zulchzulu]

26. Well you know how these election dates just come up so suddenly

I mean, no one knew there would be a PA primary since...like seven months ago...

:crazy:

[panAmerican]

27. Thank you!!!!!!!! It's the "small cogs" like you that make democracy work.

:applause: :yourock:

[stratomagi]

28. Apparently a friend of someone on KOS got there b4 I put the signs up

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/22/105716/688/664/500727

[maximusveritas]

29. Good job

Give us an update when you can.

[stratomagi]

35. Tears. I'm at work.

So I know as much as much as you do at this point. When I left for work the signs were all still up. I went to the bank later in the day and dropped in to see if the problem was resolved. People were finding the place but one voter complained about my signs being too small. What did she want me to do, it was standard 8 1/2 by 11 paper and I made sure it filled the whole thing!

[maximusveritas]

39. Thanks

Maybe she thought you were an actual election official or something. I wonder if they'll be able to find it once it gets darker. Probably nothing you can do about that though.

[LisaM]

30. Excellent, good for you.

Who gave her the bad info?

[stratomagi]

33. The county election board.

I want to chalk it up to ham-handedness but a small part of me is skeptical about that.

[LisaM]

34. It sounds to me like they used MapQuest

and matched it up with an old address.

[Zachstar]

31. Thank you!!!! Tho it angers me that this voting system is STILL so fucked up.

Election reform needs to be an EXTREME priority (Preventing future types of "Operation Chaos" Getting rid of powered voting machines etc...) In the next administration.

Again I can't thank you enough for helping people vote!

[Tatiana]

32. Bless you. You are a real patriot! n/t

[Aloha Spirit]

36. Hight fives! These stories are the only reason I'm reading DU right now.

[TragedyandHope]

37. Thanks for doing your part!

:kick:

[psychopomp]

38. What a disaster

You deserve recognition for your consideration for other voters. Cheers! :toast:

[yellerpup]

40. Hooray for You!

Thanks for looking out for the rest of us! :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :loveya: :applause K&R! :kick:

[theboss]

41. Disenfranchisement in Shadyside?

Good God! Someone is out to subdue the art collector vote.

Who benefits? I ask you!

[crispini]

42. I find it very odd that your polling locations are in commercial buildings.

Ours are all in schools, recreation centers, and occasionally, churches.

I wonder what the history there is? :shrug:

Thanks for putting up the signs! :hi:

[stratomagi]

46. The dealerships here take up a lot of space in very central locations

it makes sense to have them as a polling location because they are central in my neighborhood and otherwise easy to find. In fact the construction site is an auto dealership being converted.

[crispini]

47. Ha. Thanks for the history. Very interesting.

I couldn't TELL you offhand where the nearest car dealership is in my area! :D

[snot]

44. Sorry, I'm tired; lotta detail, but which side benefitted?

I assume one or the other, or why is this post in GD-P?

[stratomagi]

45. Well this area is trending Obama 2 to 1 so clearly its to

Obama's benefit.