READER COMMENTS ON

"Problems (and Confusion) at L.A. County Polls Today"

(24 Responses so far...)





COMMENT #1 [Permalink]

... bruce said on 2/5/2008 @ 8:06 pm PT...





If that was the case in San Diego, then my Democratic ballot cast from a 'decline to state' voter won't be read. NO instructions regarding such a bubble was given me by the poll worker.

COMMENT #2 [Permalink]

... Ancient said on 2/5/2008 @ 8:19 pm PT...





Hello Banana Republic. Oooops, I mean Amurka.

COMMENT #3 [Permalink]

... Emily Levy said on 2/5/2008 @ 8:47 pm PT...





Bruce,

As far as I've heard, this is a Los Angeles County problem. If anyone knows of other counties where DTS voters have to fill in the butterfly bubble, do tell!

COMMENT #4 [Permalink]

... Jody said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:23 pm PT...





When I voted today in Los Angeles, CA, the optical scanning machine was broken. So, the paper punchcards were put into a green plastic box under a table, which was secured by a paper clip. The poll worker sat next to the box which was on the floor, hidden from sight. I took pictures of it. I have heard from the Voter Fraud division, they have had so many complaints throughout the day that they will be working all night from throughout the state.

COMMENT #5 [Permalink]

... Linda said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:26 pm PT...





We spell better up here in No CA, Brad.

COMMENT #6 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean in FL-13 said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:28 pm PT...





Not to worry, Brad. Looks like California isn't going to be close enough to mount any long, drawn out, expensive, possibly eye-opening litigation--55-41 right now. Very upsetting day. Every state looks like New Hampshire to me, now. Feels like we're always 10 steps behind their antics, the HILLARY/ McCAIN fix is in, VOTER ID cards doing the dirty work in GA, independent voters shafted in CA, Karl Rove just announced as pundit for FOX... Last week in FL. our bastard S.O.S. hands down muddled missive that bars our amazing computer technicians/ election experts from observing the count (our wonderful hero SUSAN PYNCHON of "Hacking Democracy" BARRED from VOLUSIA COUNTY tabulation room/ the incredible ELLEN BRODSKY obstructed from observing wonky BROWARD CO. count...) http://www.heraldtribune.../20080202/NEWS/802020405 In N.H., we learned something NEW and nauseating that we didn't know according to a very reliable source--THE AP PAYS TOWN CLERKS TO REPORT ELECTION TOTALS?!! ...Brad, could this be true? How much? And to which clerks?...this smacked me upside the gut with a sickly, familiar 'a-ha'... That would explain a LOT, wouldn't it? A buddy of mine just returned from RUSSIA/ brought me some real, Russian Vodka...packs a punch. It arrived just in time for Super Tuesday.

COMMENT #7 [Permalink]

... Tom said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:35 pm PT...





I have been voting in my neighborhood precinct for several years now. I was given a a scan tron card, though I did not see a scanner around. There were two touch screen machines for people who wanted to use them, perhaps handicapped voters? I was told to put my card in a black plastic box, which had an slit to put the cards through. The box sat on the floor in full view of the 4 poll workers.

COMMENT #8 [Permalink]

... Tom said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:37 pm PT...





Forgot, I am in Lathrop, Calif

COMMENT #9 [Permalink]

... Linda said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:37 pm PT...





It just amazes me how I can come home after working as a precinct officer all day long in a northern California county, and just one hour after the polls close, and before any ballots have even arrived at the area drop-off points for counting, and California is already being called for Clinton. What gives?!

COMMENT #10 [Permalink]

... bruce said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:45 pm PT...





Also consider this:

".

Tue Feb 5, 2008 10:49pm EST

http://www.reuters.com/a...mp;feedName=politicsNews

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama surged to a big lead over Hillary Clinton in California hours before "Super Tuesday" voting began in 24 states, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Tuesday. In the Republican race, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney held a 7-point advantage on Arizona Sen. John McCain in California, while McCain added to commanding double-digit leads in New York and New Jersey. On a sprawling day of coast-to-coast voting, the biggest ever in a U.S. primary race, the U.S. presidential contenders in both parties were fighting to win a huge cache of delegates to this summer's nominating conventions. In California, which alone provides more than one-fifth of the Democratic delegates needed for the nomination, Obama led Clinton by 49 percent to 36 percent, the poll found. The margin of error was 3.3 percentage points." The time of the article posting is 10 minutes before the polls closed and even when the margin of error is added to Clinton and subtracted from Obama(yes,I know) that's a 7 % difference. Again a 'polling problem'? OR?

COMMENT #11 [Permalink]

... Linda said on 2/5/2008 @ 9:53 pm PT...





Oh, and just for the record, once again, at both of the precincts that are at the polling place I work at, not a single voter, not even one, voted on either of the two (one for each precinct, per federal elections law requirements) disabled access electronic voting machines available, despite roughly 600 voters casting their votes at this polling place today. And not a single voter even inquired into using them, despite their high visibility. And despite the fact that about half a dozen visibly disabled voters came in and voted today. Furthermore ... both machines were problematic, requiring approximately an additional 15 minutes per machine spent by the precinct officers getting them set up according to specifications, over and beyond the extra time spent just setting them up sans problems, as well as about one hour per machine spent by the regional elections officer troubleshooting for them. What a complete waste of taxpayer money and local elections energy.

COMMENT #12 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean in FL-13 said on 2/5/2008 @ 10:09 pm PT...





LINDA!~YES!!! I was just sitting here tearing my hair out wondering the SAME THING! HOW CAN THEY CALL IT in CA with only 14% of precinct reporting?! So glad you posted that/ thought I was going bonky. Jjjjjeeeeeezus.

COMMENT #13 [Permalink]

... gr8fuldaniel said on 2/5/2008 @ 11:09 pm PT...





I live in North Sacramento. When I voted The scantron had "malfunctioned" so all ballots were collected by the voters slipping their ballots into a slot in the back of the box. A teenage kid was monitoring the box showing where to place it in the slot. One bin was stacked on top of the other and he could see who I voted for (the homeowner was also lurking nearby... could see who I voted for)The kid had his hand on the box and could have had a button to move a flap or wire that would divert a sheet of paper from sliding straight down the back of the box into an opening down to the bottom bin. They could turn in only cases that carried a certain candidates name. A very simple cheat. I stood there for a while watching them watch the ballots go into the slot. I wanted to go back and inspect those boxes. I am disappointed also at what seems like a Diebold type switch in the results for Proposition 91 that the Election Guide said:

"Arguments;

Pro: Prop 91 is NO LONGER NEEDED. Please VOTE NO. Voters passed prop 1A in 2006 accomplishing what prop 91 set out to do"

Prop 91 PASSED today. So, I wonder if ALL votes werent switched... I have little faith in the election system.

I love Debra Bowen and I wish I could just hand her my ballot!

Our corrupted system still has operatives from the dark side. Our SoS inherited one lousey ordeal... it wont be undone overnight. I too am disappointed in the early call for Clinton!! And what about those 13.4% in Sacramento,

http://vote.sos.ca.gov/Returns/pres/dem/34.htm

....who voted for Edwards (who dropped out 2 weeks ago)?

COMMENT #14 [Permalink]

... Chris Hooten said on 2/5/2008 @ 11:26 pm PT...





When I examined my mail-in ballot carefully, I noticed that it had been scored by some sort of blade in a letter folding machine, to make the thick ballot fold better. Of course this is a terrible idea for a ballot. Part of the score actually went through the big thick ballot. If it was to be fed into an optical scanner, who knows if it would rip or not. I applied just a little pressure to the fold, and it started splitting. The thin paper flyer that was in the envelope with the ballot was actually much stronger, because it had not been compromised by a cut across its' face. Of course this defeats the whole purpose of a big thick ballot. I'm not suggesting anything nefarious, but I think it would be bad to have the same folding machine used in the actual election. BTW it was a democratic ballot, although I am registered non-affiliated. I ended up not voting, because I wanted to keep the ballot. I live in San Diego, so I suppose I can thank Debra Seiler for making her job much easier in folding the ballots, and thusly making my ballot, and who knows how many other ballots easily ripped and spoiled. I do not think previous ballots were scored in the same fashion to make them fold better (flatter) Would you be interested in me mailing you the ballot, Brad?

COMMENT #15 [Permalink]

... Chris Hooten said on 2/5/2008 @ 11:39 pm PT...





BTW just checked for the bubble on my democratic ballot (I'm DTS independant) no bubble here in San Diego

COMMENT #16 [Permalink]

... Dredd said on 2/6/2008 @ 4:55 am PT...





Gr8fuldaniel #13 McCain victoryI predicted/expected the even after Goober had won in Iowa. Why? Because I think the election system is controlled by the military industrial oil complex and he is their man and she is their woman.

COMMENT #17 [Permalink]

... Dredd said on 2/6/2008 @ 4:58 am PT...





Corrected version of post #16 Gr8fuldaniel #13 I predicted/expected the McCain victory even after Goober had won in Iowa. Why? Because I think the election system is controlled by the military industrial oil complex and he is their man and she is their woman.

COMMENT #18 [Permalink]

... Linda said on 2/6/2008 @ 7:15 am PT...





gr8tfuldaniel #13, because California has record numbers of mail-in ballots all across the state, and many of them were mailed in before Edwards dropped out.

COMMENT #19 [Permalink]

... gr8fuldaniel said on 2/6/2008 @ 7:48 am PT...





Dredd,

I agree. Our next president was "tapped" in a smokey room or at Bilderberg or in a Northern California forest... months or years ago. The election is only a charade to placate the masses. Hillary was dubbed queen by the Mil./Ind./Oil Complex and they put their money where their mouth is.

She accepted more money from Big Oil than anyone (including republicons!) Its a done deal. Big Oil will retain control of "our" White House.... (Until the world gets fed up with our raping and pillaging of innocents abroad.) She is bought and paid for. Hilarrys' NWO/Neo-con connections? NAFTA/CAFTA... her Iraq War promotion was never retracted and she continued funding.... Legalized Loan Sharking.... Bankruptcy Bill.... Big Pharma donations will write Health care policy.... (Kucinich is RIGHT about taking profit out of the healthcare industry) (but the biggest "tell" is the Big Oil endorsement) The media made Hillary our presidential frontrunner before we had a say in it. Why are private corporations trusted with my vote? I like this guy:

(see Comment #3 on this page:

http://www.whytuesday.org/answer ) Fred Smart Says:

November 3rd, 2007 at 1:14 pm

We The People need to return to voting and counting using paper ballots in the sunshine - ie. where the ballots never EVER leave the sight We The People. 96-98% of our votes are counted in darkness today using computers and electronic machines that - experts have proven - can be programmed and hacked to achieve a desired result. I believe We The People should vote on Saturday! In the sunshine! Bring ALL the family and kids and make it into a National celebration of civic activism, transparancy, accountabilty and responsibility!! Music, dance, bands, songs, picnics, parades, convocations, crusades, fireworks, the works!! We The People need to EXIT these Wizard of Oz-like Castles and DEMAND that we all meet in the sunshine where there’s lots of music, song, laughter, food, families, children, etc. Peace and God Bless, Fred Smart

The Freedom Fellowship source How many people, NATIONALLY, voted absentee for Edwards 2 weeks ago? Before he dropped out? Several million?

They are all disenfranchised!!

Exactly ZERO delegates will now vote for edwards...

...But Hey; Who's counting?

Edwards was a thorn in the side... he was HUMILIATING Hillary... of the chosen ones. Obama won San Francisco by 54.4%

...and Sacramento

Barack Obama....(Dem) 71,271 votes 48.0 %

Hillary Clinton (Dem) 68,675 votes 46.3 % Obama won the majority of the Coastline

(Translation: Most densly POPULATED areas)

See Map I wish I had taken a snapshot of the results early this morning... when Edwards had won 13.4% of sacramentos votes. His final tally is now only 6,487 4.4 % suspiciously close to the state final of 166,872 4.3 %

I think he had MORE than 6,487 votes earlier... who deleted VOTES?????? ~~~~~~~~~~~

Delegate Scorecard:

Democratic

(Needed to win: 2,025)

Delegates

Clinton 872

Obama 793 We are not yet half way through.

But is it too late to fix a broken system? I know this is politically in-correct....

I hope it doesnt seem biased though.

I like to shine a light on all corruption... whatever stripe. So be it.

It is what it is. Thanks For ALL you do BRAD!!!

Let me know if you need eyes and ears in Sacramento.... I am a full time student, but I can always find time for Democracy.

Peace,

Dan G.

COMMENT #20 [Permalink]

... gr8fuldaniel said on 2/6/2008 @ 8:50 am PT...





Hi Linda, (1st of all THANK You for you service to our country as a poll worker. Love you!!)

(about comment #18)

I am aware of that....

and its sad, because thats a National problem as well as local/state, but the total number of Edwards votes was rolled back.... he had more than 6487 votes late last nite or early this morning (when he recorded 14.4%). Do you think only 6487 Sacramentans(?)voted for Edwards as soon as they got their absentee ballots?

Out of the 256,726 who voted (95% returns as of right now)

At 10 PM 14% had reported (as the)

BTW;

Statewide Returns

15,712,264 Registered

6,983,935 Voted I think that many people voted for him because they didnt like Obama or Hillary but wanted to make some small statement. I realize this is speculative, but as Jeannie Dean said above COMMENT #12 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean in FL-13 said on 2/5/2008 @ 10:09 pm PT... LINDA!~YES!!! I was just sitting here tearing my hair out wondering the SAME THING! HOW CAN THEY CALL IT in CA with only 14% of precinct reporting?! So glad you posted that/ thought I was going bonky. Jjjjjeeeeeezus. One hour later I noted the 14% voted for Edwards...

so, maybe 20% of sac's appx 256,726 (=51,345) had reported and 14% (7701.75) of those were for Edwards. How many people think California voted for:

"1000 years in Iraq" McCain

and

Warmonger Hillary?? I smell rotten fish! (apologies if my math isnt perfect... I have move on from this discussion for a while... no time to double check math) Exactly WHEN they counted the absentee ballots could influence the votes for Edwards. maybe the SoS could make that pertinent FACT visable... as ALL elections should be TRANSPARENT!!! Peace,

Dan G

COMMENT #21 [Permalink]

... gr8fuldaniel said on 2/6/2008 @ 8:56 am PT...





Oooops,

I am sorry for hijacking this thread....

The topic seems to be for LAs problem alone... Maybe we need a seperate thread for the whole state?? Sorry Brad... I was anxious to post last night

COMMENT #22 [Permalink]

... gr8fuldaniel said on 2/6/2008 @ 9:02 am PT...





They should count absentee ballots seperately.... and votes for non-viable candidates cast before said candidate dropped out... should be allowed to vote anew.

Or, are they non-viable citizens? If they cant vote... maybe they should not have to pay taxes??.... No taxation w/o representation!!!

COMMENT #23 [Permalink]

... Linda said on 2/6/2008 @ 11:54 am PT...





Re: "They should count absentee ballots seperately.... and votes for non-viable candidates cast before said candidate dropped out... should be allowed to vote anew." Too many ways elections could be gamed through this process.

COMMENT #24 [Permalink]

... Tom said on 2/6/2008 @ 9:25 pm PT...

