Just voted in OH: "You need ID cos you're 'flagged' "

[darkmaestro019]

Anyone have that number lying around to report weirdness to?

Last pres election was our first one voting (anywhere) so we knew and expected to have to present ID then, but this time my lover went before me and had to hand his over and sign a clipboard, and the poll employee said to him "It's because you're flagged." I had to give mine over too, sure enough. What the fk is that? Because it sounds to me, like they're hoping we (two gothy-fags in a stream of normal senior citizens, none of whom had to show picture ID!) couldn't produce ID--or that we're "flagged" to go into File 13.

First time with the electronic cheating machines. And the lady beside me had to have help because she insisted she didn't remember voting for "that" (that being something in her summary before casting the ballot) and the poll worker was saying the whole screen went one color and he'd never seen it do that before.

And I hear that thing printing in there--I've worked in enough retail to know we apparently HAVE the technology for a machine to print one register tape to stay with the company and one receipt for the customer!

[texpatriot2004]

1. There is a number here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2232723

[babylonsister]

2. 1-866-OUR-VOTE, here:

Edited on Tue Nov-08-05 02:22 PM by Carolab

Voters in many states will be deciding important issues by voting Tuesday, November 8, 2005. No matter where you stand on any of the issues or candidates, all eligible voters should have the chance to cast their ballots effectively.

If you experience any problem casting your ballot -- finding the polling place, voter intimidation, accessibility issues, voting machine problems, provisional ballot issues, etc. -- or you witness anyone having voting problems, please immediately call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem. Please let others know too... the same number works nationwide.

Verified Voting Foundation volunteers and staff have developed a new version of the "Election Incident Reporting System" (EIRS) to record all problems reported to 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Since 2004, hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals in the United States have used EIRS to help protect our right to vote and assure that every vote is counted as cast. If you'd like to know more about EIRS, please visit VerifiedVotingFoundation.org and Voteprotect.org


Remember: 1-866-OUR-VOTE. To tell your friends: http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/vevo/tellafr...

[EFerrari]

3. Welcome to DU, darkmaestro

:hi:

We're in for a long bumpy night.

[darkmaestro019]

6. Thanks : )

Glad to be here. And I don't get motion-sick easily.

[madmom]

4. Just curious..what part of Ohio? I hail from there to no problems here..

that I know of anyway.

[Botany]

5. If you voted in 04 you should be in the book

1) They are not allowed to ask for ID if you are in the book
2) I worked as an observer last year ....

I am sure DU will come up with the # for you. Write down everything
that happened now ...... with the incident fresh in your mind.

check www.ohiohonestelections.org too

[darkmaestro019]

8. We did vote in the 04--and we were in the book

with the little dark-gray square by each of our names that they make you sign in.

That's why I called--to my knowledge they have no right to ask you for ID--we're not new and we haven't moved, changed names, or anything else the Our Vote guy asked me.

I'd have thrown more of a fit I suppose, but I wanted to vote--they let both me and my lover do so--but I mostly fear that "flagged" means "throw this vote out" (and probably meant that last time, too...)

[Botany]

9. Makes no sense to me.

If you went in and and gave your name ...... then the poll worker
might ask you for your address ..... then you can sign in.

No ID should be needed or asked for. Contact your local head
of the county dem party ...... and file a complaint ..... ask why
they asked for ID from you .... might be a reason

[darkmaestro019]

10. Thanks, Botany

I didn't think of that.....off to find out who that is (blush) and do that now : )

[WCGreen]

11. Did someone challenge you and you not know....

Cause of there is a challenge, they can require you to prove who you are...

[darkmaestro019]

12. I don't think so.

We walked up. My boy was asked for ID and to sign this thing because he was flagged. I was asked for ID immediately after. No one was around to do any challenging and we weren't standing in line for ANY length of time--walked right up to the table.

[WCGreen]

15. Definatly report to the party ....

[darkmaestro019]

7. hailing from Canton

birthplace of Mr. Manson, and home to the world's biggest orange juicer--uh, Pro-Football Hall of Fame : )

I called the 1 866 OUR VOTE number--they wanted to know polling place or precinct number, which I didn't know, so if anyone else needs to call you might make some notes first--they went through the usual reasons that might happen and none of them were the case. They said they'd follow up, and call back if they needed anything else.

EDIT: typo

[darkmaestro019]

13. Thanks for all the input, guys

Reported this to the Stark County Dems and to Our Vote....left much contact info with both and offered any further help they needed.

Next time--and I bet this'll be the SAME next time--we are going to refuse to present ID and demand an explanation. I'll bring it and take it out if it's that or not voting, but I'm through with there being special secret rules for us and other rules for everyone else. I want to know what I'm being accused of, basically. Either EVERYONE presents ID, (I am NOT in favor of that) or I get a reason why only-we-two have to, or nobody does.

[cmd]

14. If for some reason your voter assignment card was returned to the BOE

you will be flagged. Did you go on vacation and have your mail held? Did you move? Is there any reason that card my have been returned to the BOE?

There are reasons for flags being placed by your name. The most common reason has to do with the US Postal Service.

[darkmaestro019]

16. No, no, and no

I'm fully registered and was registered well in advance of the LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. It was summer of 2004 when I made sure we were both registered and ready.

We've never had our mail held. And on the long-ago day when we got our cards they arrived just fine.

And in response to some things I've been reading on other sites: we're both Caucasian. So it isn't just minorities being asked, apparently.

[darkmaestro019]

17. Thanks to Botany--I think the Stark County Dems is what fixed this

I got a call today--very prompt! from the Stark County Board of Elections, leaving me two contact numbers. After a bit of phone tag--it's hard to get me due to the computer setup--I reached a very nice lady who said that the data simply wasn't updated and removed the "flag" from both my entry and my partner's. Apparently a little polite ruckus is a good thing?

Anyway, I was hoping it was something as minor as that; but I didn't want to keep getting the evil-eye from everyone in the room every dang time we wanted to vote. So we'll see if we're still "flagged" in the 06 : )

Thanks to all who replied; and thanks for making me feel like less of a whiny fk for worrying about what looks like such a small thing.