I voted today and this bugs me.
By avonrep1
@avonrep1 (1862)
United States
November 4, 2008 8:58am CST
So I went out and voted today. Once again like I have every year since I turned 18. Sometimes I really hate to get out and vote. Its not because I have anything against voting, I love the fact that I have that right. What I hate about voting, is the stupid people who work for different campaigns standing out in front harrassing people who have already dragged themselves to the polls.
So I have this to say to them, instead of wasting your time, trying to get the voters that have taken the time to go vote, to change their minds.(Which isn't going to happen) Why not spend your time, helping people who can't make it to the polls because they have no ride, get to the polls, so they can vote.
Today, I finally am tired of it, and contacted our election board, because these people were standing in the chute, which for those who don't know, means that they are standing too close to the doors of the polling place. I complained about it and they said they would be right on it.
My daughter's grandmother votes at the same place I do, and she went about an hour after I did. The election board here did its job, and the workers are no longer in the chute. Wish I didn't have to call for them to make sure that these workers are following the law.
So have you gotten out to vote yet? Did you have problems with people in the chute?
3 people like this
6 responses
@trickiwoo (2702)
• United States
5 Nov 08
I haven't had any problems with the campaigners standing outside the polling places. I've never been bothered or harassed by them. They usually just stand there with their signs. Often they are very friendly and polite and thank you for taking the time to come down and exercise your right to vote. Even if they know you're voting for the other candidate!
I agree with you though that their time would definitely be better spent giving rides to citizens who have no transportation and therefore can't vote. Maybe during the next election you can suggest that to them! If they're willing to stand outside the polling place and hold signs all day, then they'd probably be willing to organize something along those lines!
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
5 Nov 08
Thats the thing, I tell them this every election. One of my cousins ran for a local position and I went told her off and told her that instead of being out here she should be giving rides to people who don't have rides to the polls. I am happy to report, yesterday I saw her doing just that. I hope that the others I told yesterday that they need to being doing this, jumps on the band wagon to do this also.
Though when my husband got off work and went and voted, he got it worst than what I did. He told them he was reporting them also.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
6 Nov 08
This is why I decided to do absentee voting as soon as they made it so anyone could do it, not just those that are disabled or not in their voting area at the time. I don't deal with picketers; which is really what these people who are trying to push their issue at the polls. I never did like long lines and waiting anyway. I voted the regular way the first time, but after we got the okay to vote absentee, I have been doing this with my family since.
Don't these campaign people realize by the time the people are going to the polls, its too late to sway their vote? This effort could yield better results if they would only do some community canvassing before the election, rather than to scream it at someone in harassment when they are on their way to the booth
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
4 Nov 08
I haven't yet voted, but planning on doing it within the next hour.
You are right on, they should be out giving rides to people who don't have transportation to get to the voting destinations, instead of being where they are not supposed to be. Glad they listened to you and took care of the situation there.
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
4 Nov 08
I am glad they took care of it too, just wish that people would get out there instead of being at the polling places to help those who can't get out, out to vote. Maybe one day, things will change. But until, then I will enjoy telling those people off. LOL
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
7 Nov 08
I didn't have any problems with this issue this time voting. However, in the past, I have been annoyed at this type of thing you are describing. I did not know there were any laws governing how and where these people could stand in front of a polling location. Thanks for bringing it up... now I know. I am glad you took the initiative to go ahead and make the call to the election board about your concern. It seemed like they got right on it and took care of it. Thanks to you, other people throughout the day at that particular location did not have to deal with the harrassment.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
4 Nov 08
There is no problem with that at our polling station. It's a small town and there are many places for people to vote. There are no long lines expected either. If I would encounter it, it might change my vote to the opposition because if they illegally try to influence your vote by standing where by law they are not allowed to be... what standard are they really setting for the candidate and his/her behavior in the position he/she is running for.
I'm sure that some people may even get scared off. You did the right thing. If I would encounter it, I would call the election board, too. Good for you.
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
4 Nov 08
I have done this. Went to the polls to vote, then have a candidate's people bother me, and at the last minute changed my vote for the other person, because of being bugged by them. I figure if they are going to break the law, while people are voting, how many laws are they willing to break while in office.
But I always tell the people standing in front of the polls off, tell then they should be out bring people to the polls and not standing here begging for votes, the people that are there already know who they are voting for, and if there is a race they don't know about, they normally vote along party lines.
Last year I had a cousin running for city counsel and I told her off for being in front of my polling place, this year another cousin was out there and he got told off too, by me. I did leave telling him, that though its wrong, I still loved him.
(He is gonna be in trouble though, for standing in the chute.) I told them all I was reporting them.
