poll workers and watchers, please-

[mopinko]

throughout all the discussions of election thievery i have found few really concrete suggestions for what to do, exactly, to keep them from stealing it again.
i have signed up to be an election judge, and after attending my training, i feel like there is a couple of small things that we can do.-
first and foremost, if you can, please, please, please sign on as a judge. this makes you an officer of the court. here in illinois, the majority vote of the judges in the polling place is pretty much law. i have every intention of running my polling place like george patton, if at all possible. there will be no intimidating of voters, no malfunctioning machines, no bs, if i have to drive the other 4 screaming into the streets to make it so.
but secondly, and this applies to watchers and citizens also, track those votes after they leave your hands. again, this is how it is in illinois, but judges are entitled and watchers are allowed to have a copy of the poll tape. take yours. then check to see that it shows up just like that in the official canvas.
if you are neither, go back to your polling place after the tally, and check the posted tape. write down your precincts results and do the same.
in my county they will not be tallying the early and absentee votes at the precinct, as they used to do. but those votes will be noted in the poll books as being ineligible to vote, so i plan to count those "pink sheets". so, i will know the max number that the final tally cannot exceed. it's something.

i doubt i will be able to get away with this, but if there is any evidence in my precinct that anything is amiss with the tallies, i intend to try to get the other judges to hand count the paper ballots.
what can they do? sue me for counting votes? we will all be tired. it will be hard. but i intend to be ready to stick my neck out.

but, to all, get those tapes. if you are entitled to one, take it. if they are posted in the window of your polling place, try to get that one the next morning. once the poll workers leave, it is no longer a polling place. that tape is then just a piece of paper. take it if you can. then make sure the official canvass is correct.
it is not everything, but it is something.

[grizmaster]

1. I'm working as a polling supervisor

hadn't thought to grab the posted tape at the end of the night. Good idea

[LA lady]

I am a commissioner in Chief

I checked our tape to the sign-in numbers and then to the Secretary of state's website. I really wouldn't feel comfortable to take it from the window because voters come by to look at it for several days.

[mopinko]

6. well. which is more important?

i understand what you are saying, but which is more important- that people can come by and see the tape, or that the tape is checked against the canvass and perhaps available as evidence in case of a discrepancy?

[goclark]

2. Thanks, I am a poll worker and will be watching like a hawk

It is not too late to sign up as far as I know.

Also, PLEASE everyone take the PRE - Election Class for Poll Workers and stay informed.

[mopinko]

4. most places are still looking

you might not get to work your own precinct, but there are still a lot of slots unfilled.

[goclark]

28. Come on DU ~work the polls if you can do it nt

[Breeze54]

3. Election Transparency Project

Election Transparency Project

Additional Information

October 7th, 2006

This election season, we will focus on components of the election process

that occur before Election Day, as well as on and after Election Day.

That means some observation will take place in October, so sign up now!

We provide six questionnaires to guide you in collecting crucial information:

1. Election Transparency Scorecard to help you grade your state and county’s
level of openness and transparency;

:bluebox: 2. Pre-election (Logic & Accuracy) Testing questionnaire to help you document
local testing of voting equipment prior to the election;

3. Early Voting questionnaire helps you document early voting ballot accounting
for locations that offer early voting.
This ballot accounting compares the number of people who sign in to vote at an
early voting site versus the number of votes cast.

4. Poll Closing questionnaire to document ballot accounting when the polls close on Election Day;

5. Auditing questionnaire helps document how manual audits are conducted in states
that require a voter-verified paper record (VVPR) and manual auditing;

and

6. Disability Access questionnaire to assess the level of access to the electoral process for persons with disabilities.

Actual observation typically takes only a few hours of your time, and depends on what
you are observing.
Some observation opportunities taking place during the business day,
others are in the evening;
some on Election Day and others before or after Election Day.
During your observations, you can take notes (on the questionnaire you printed out beforehand)
and then later go to Verified Voting's online web-based forms and submit your data.

When you sign up for the Election Transparency Project you'll receive project updates
and the web page addresses of the online forms you'll need in order to submit your
questionnaire results.

For more information on how to choose the type of observation
that fits your personal interests and schedule best,
as well as other useful instructions,
please refer to the Election Transparency Questionnaire page.

Other Organizations and Resources

Verified Voting supports and applauds other efforts for citizen participation in elections,
including the ongoing work of the Election Protection Coalition and the newly launched
Pollworkers For Democracy program.
The Verified Voting Election Transparency Project is designed to complement,
rather than duplicate, these projects.

To read more about the Election Transparency Project, you may also
be interested in this article from one of our recent newsletters.
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6386

Join Verified Voting to Insure Trustworthy Elections

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHO CAN OBSERVE ELECTIONS?

http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6399

by Pamela Smith, Nationwide Coordinator, Verified Voting Foundation

October 16th, 2006

WHO CAN OBSERVE – A partial list

How easy – or hard – is it to observe how elections work in your state or county?

Wondering who may enter the polling place during the general election?

Here are some interesting facts:

1. California makes no restrictions. Interested citizens may observe.

2. Arizona, Delaware and Washington allow watchers who are selected by a political party.

3. Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Vermont allow watchers selected by a political party,
and by candidates or groups of candidates.

4. Colorado allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates or groups
of candidates. The watcher must take an oath.
Colorado also allows party candidates and party officers to be in the polling place
(while not voting).

5. Hawaii allows watchers selected by a political party, only if the watcher
is a registered voter of Hawaii. Candidates’ relatives are prohibited from being watchers.
Source: http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/factsheets/fspo402.pdf

6. Illinois allows watchers selected by a political party, by candidates, and watchers
selected by other organizations (civic organizations, organized proponents and opponents
of a specific ballot measure).
Candidates and party officers may also watch (if they have credentials,
as required for other watchers).
Source: http://www.willclrk.com/images/pdffiles/Pollwatcher'sGuideforWebsite.pdf

7. Iowa allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates
or groups of candidates, and watchers selected by other organizations.
Iowa also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs.

8. Kentucky allows watchers selected by a political party, only if the watcher
is a registered voter not just of Kentucky, but also of the county where s/he observes.
Kentucky also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs.

9. Louisiana allows watchers selected by a candidate or group of candidates,
but only if that watcher is a registered voter in Louisiana.

10. Maine allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates
or groups of candidates, and watchers selected by other organizations.
Maine also allows party officers to be in the polling place (while not voting),
and all other persons not engaged in political activities.

11. Michigan allows watchers selected by a political party or by other organization(s),
but only if that watcher is a registered voter in Michigan.

12. Minnesota allows watchers selected by a political party,
but only if that watcher is a registered voter in Minnesota.
Minnesota also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs,
and representatives of the news media.

13. Missouri allows watchers selected by a political party,
only if the watcher is a registered voter not just of Missouri,
but also of the county where s/he observes.
Missouri also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs,
representatives of the news media, and international election observers.

14. Montana allows watchers selected by a political party or by a candidate
or group of candidates. Montana also allows watchers selected by “any group
having an interest in the election.”
Source: http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/13/13/13-13-121.htm

15. Nevada allows watchers who are not engaged in political activities,
but expressly prohibits representatives of the news media.

16. New Hampshire allows watchers selected by a political party,
and watchers selected by the state.

17. New Jersey allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates
or groups of candidates,
and also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs.

18. New Mexico allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates
or a group of candidates, only if the watcher is a registered voter not just
of New Mexico, but also of the county where s/he observes.

19. North Carolina allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates
or a group of candidates, only if the watcher is a registered voter not just of
North Carolina, but also of the county where s/he observes.
North Carolina prohibits requiring observers to take any oath.

20. Ohio allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates or a group
of candidates, only if the watcher is a registered voter in Ohio.
The watcher must take an oath.

21. Oregon allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates or a group
of candidates, and watchers selected by the state.
Oregon also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs.

22. Pennsylvania allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates or a group
of candidates, only if the watcher is a registered voter not just of Pennsylvania,
but also of the county where s/he observes.

23. Tennessee allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates or a group
of candidates, as well as representatives of the news media.

24. Texas allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates,
as well as by proponents or opponents of a particular measure on the ballot and party officers,
only if the watcher is a registered voter not just of Texas,
but also of the county where s/he observes.
Texas prohibits candidates who are not in the process of voting,
as well as elected public officials, and anyone related to the election officials.
Source: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/pollwatcher.shtml

25. Vermont (see #3 above). Note that challengers are permitted only outside guardrail six feet from voting booths and ballot boxes.

26. Virginia allows watchers selected by a political party and by candidates or a group of candidates,
only if the watcher is a registered voter not just of Virginia,
but also of the county where s/he observes.
Party candidates not in the process of voting are prohibited.
Virginia also allows children and adults engaged in educational programs
and representatives of the news media.
Virginia’s code also allows local electoral boards to authorize “neutral observers.”

27. Washington (see #2 above).

28. West Virginia expressly prohibits all other persons not engaged in political activities.

29. Wisconsin prohibits party candidates not in the process of voting;
and allows all other persons not engaged in political activities.

Is your state missing from this list?

That’s part of the reason we put together the state and local versions of the Election Transparency Scorecard.

We want to know more details about who can observe and by what rules, in all 50 states.

You can help us: sign up today for the Transparency Project,

and complete a scorecard for your state or county!
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/transparency

:kick: & Recommended! :patriot:

[mopinko]

5. i signed up here

http://pollworkersfordemocracy.org/index.html

they will be doing incident collection.

re-#2- it was all i could do to neither laugh nor scream when the trainer was explaining how running the zero tape "proved there were no votes loaded on the machine."

thanks for the great resource.

[Joe for Clark]

7. Thanks for your post!!

One of my kids is a poll worker volunteer. And I didn't say a word, she did it all on her own. She is young - still in high school (and she is very smart and she knows just how important this election really is) Our oldest has done a few tours in Iraq - she wants him home and she knows this could help. I am confident, at least for our precint that if something funny was going on - she will call me - and I would go down and see and scream if need be.

I do appreciate your efforts.

And if I might add in a 70s kind of way "RIGHT ON".

Joe

[mopinko]

15. just remember

poll watchers are great, and they do have some rights. but poll workers have actual power. tell her to take notes.
i am just realizing that all my hours on du have really educated me as to what kind of bs gets pulled out there.

what kind of voting equipment is used where you are?

[Joe for Clark]

16. It was punch card - it is optical now - darken the candidate space

Joe

[mopinko]

17. she should be able to-

is she a credential poll watcher?
she should at least be able to-
make sure that the total votes for the top of the ticket offices match the total number of voters. any difference would be from under or over votes. most of the opscans now reject ballots with over votes. she should make a note during the day how many times this happens.
write down the serial numbers of the machines, and the seals placed on them.

and maybe see how many voters have already voted early and absentee.
here, there is a pink application for ballots that shows this.

also, she should especially note if any machines malfunction, or if any technicians touch the machines at all.

[Joe for Clark]

18. Thank you.

Much better than my -"count the bodies voting" and we match to totals approach I had in mind.

Yeah, she went to the class - she is a "poll worker" I can't remember what they call her.

But she can do that.

Thanks again!!

Joe

[mopinko]

19. we have that here, too.

high school kids as poll workers.
give her a little assertiveness training between now and then, if she needs it.
poll workers for democracy, mentioned in another post, will be helpful. there are mp3's of training sessions, and a pdf manual.

[Joe for Clark]

20. I'll look.

Oh, I'd never worry about my kid being assertive. She has an intermediate ranking in Kenpo. She is good. I have sparred with her myself. She could take most adult males.

I never worry about her going out on a date, I'll tell you that.

Thanks - I appreciate the info.

Joe

[mopinko]

22. well

congratulations on having such a great kid. sounds like she will make a fine judge.

[Joe for Clark]

26. I am sure of one thing -

anybody picks on her and she will kick their a**.

Joe

[Breeze54]

25. "Right on, man" with the right on!!

:rofl:

I use that phrase all the time!! :rofl:

You can take the girl out of the seventies but you can't take the seventies out of the woman!

You're quite welcome!! Kudo's to that very smart daughter!!

My youngest son just registered to vote! He's 'stoked' and he can't wait!! lmao! ;)

:toast:

[robinlynne]

8. You can photograph the tapes with a cameraphone or video. That way you

have the information without having to take the tape down.

[mopinko]

12. i have tried this, and

found it to be ineffective. since they are usually behind glass, it is very difficult to get a good picture. if you have a clear shot, go for it. make sure you shoot the signatures. then make sure you check it against the official canvass.
if you wrote down the totals, and swore to it in court, it would be something. but not much. having a signed poll tape, even without an official chain of custody, would be pretty strong evidence.

[weeve]

9. Great advice !

Thanks. My only question would be about that very last one - taking the tape after the poll workers leave. Making a copy or two of it would be a great idea - I'm just worried that if word of this gets to the Republicans, they will do their best to get to it first ( this might already be in their playbook, actually ). I asked in another thread whether it's okay to bring a video camera ( or camera phone ) to the polls, especially after reading how already in Missouri people are pressing the e-machine for the Dem and the Repub is popping up. After it happens ONCE, we should be filming each succesive attempt. It's one thing to read that this is happening - quite another to actually SEE the film of it.

On edit ... ha Robinlynne ... great minds think alike !!

[electropop]

10. Video is a good weapon against repedophile election theft.

I'll bet they will try to block it, but we need to stand firm.

[mopinko]

13. in most places, you cannot film in a polling place

although the judges may elect to allow it, mostly, you cannot.

[robinlynne]

21. not only CAN you film. you SHOULD. then upload anything you have to:

videothevote.org.
They are also collecting election day evidence nationally.

[Breeze54]

23. Fantastic link!! Thank You!!!

:yourock: :toast:

:bounce: :kick:

[mopinko]

27. i will have to look this up

i know it came up in the training, but i admit i only vaguely recall that they said no.
not that i would be surprised that they would tell you something that is not true. in our primary, i was doing gotv in a repug area. several poll workers refused to let me check the poll list. they said it had been drummed into their heads at the training that this was not allowed. in fact, they said, they were no longer allowed to keep a poll list. or so they told me. ridiculous.

[emlev]

11. All pollworkers and potential pollworkers sign up here:

www.PollworkersForDemocracy.org

You'll get training and resources that will help you spot problems! It's a great group of people pulling together this program.

[mopinko]

14. especially if you are in one of their targeted states.

they are putting particular emphasis on a few states.
this is sort of a consortium of groups, pooling data and resources.
the training is very good.

[Kurovski]

24. K&R.(nt)