Political non-political voter stuff

I did something political but strictly non-political last night.

I went through Election Officer training. What they do, what is allowed, what is expressly forbidden, how to set up the machines, everything.

There are a lot of checks and double checks, signatures galore, and then it goes on to the board to be checked again.

I am not working the Nov 4th election but I will probably do the Virginia primaries in March.

If anyone is at all interested how elections work, there are worse ways you could spend your time than going through an election officer class.

Really Cool.

Thank you.

My wife and I always go out of our way to thank the election workers, as they are doing a very important part in our society. Not sure if there is any compensation, but if there is, I'm sure it's not significant in the choice of being an election worker.

What you do is very much a large part of what our military protects.

I have an Election Officer question: When my kid was little I went to vote and held him in one arm as I went behind the curtain. The EO stopped me, "Only one person in the booth at a time".

OK, makes sense.

Every election day I see some politician in the news stepping out from behind the curtain with a kid in his arm, waving at the cameras because he voted.

What's the ruling?

Thanks, Dan

Well, now we know for sure our guy will get elected! Thanks, man!

914Driver wrote: I have an Election Officer question: When my kid was little I went to vote and held him in one arm as I went behind the curtain. The EO stopped me, "Only one person in the booth at a time".

That used to be the case here, but I now see kids going in all the time with parents while they vote. I bet they may stop a husband and wife from going in together unless one has some kind of impairment.

Before the kids were in school, I would vote with both of them with me. Never heard any objections. My guess would be that the rule applies to persons of voting age.

1988RedT2 wrote: Well, now we know for sure our guy will get elected! Thanks, man!

Why do you think I am doing it!

914Driver wrote: I have an Election Officer question: When my kid was little I went to vote and held him in one arm as I went behind the curtain. The EO stopped me, "Only one person in the booth at a time". OK, makes sense. Every election day I see some politician in the news stepping out from behind the curtain with a kid in his arm, waving at the cameras because he voted. What's the ruling? Thanks, Dan

This is state, and more to your point Chief election officer, dependent. As far as what I learned last night in Virginia, 15 and under is allowed to go into the booth without signing an assistance disclosure and affidavit. We actually have stickers that say Future Voter. 16 and older, the voter has to sign a disclosure allowing them to see the ballot and possibility to assist the voter.

I hope that answers your question. Election laws vary by state greatly.

FWIW We encourage the kids to vote too. The sooner it becomes a habit the more they want to be part of our electoral process.

In reply to Flight Service:

When did you move to Virginia? I thought you were in Louisiana?

In reply to Nick (Not-Stig) Comstock:

January this year. After I lost my job, I got picked up by the Patent Office.

alfadriver wrote: Not sure if there is any compensation, but if there is, I'm sure it's not significant in the choice of being an election worker.

There is some pay but it is something silly like $20 or something. More about being part of the democratic process than anything.

spitfirebill wrote: I bet they may stop a husband and wife from going in together unless one has some kind of impairment.

What should we call that…we’ve already got “joining the mile high club” so would this be “inspecting dangling Chad’s” or “upholding the Constitution” or ???

In reply to Flight Service:

Hence your "government drone" status.

But seriously, good for you. More civic engagement is always a good thing.

--I wonder if I can go volunteer for jury duty....they haven't called me in a quarter of a century.

KyAllroad wrote: --I wonder if I can go volunteer for jury duty....they haven't called me in a quarter of a century.

I get called a lot. Served once. Never again if I can help it. Was an alternate on:

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/82616572.html

Short version. Mayor of local town rapes local girl and gets away with it. Gets off on both relevant charges. One charge was slightly iffy as there was some issues regarding her being passed out vs merely drunk which changes the relevant charge, one was not. I would have voted guilty on both, but would easily have given up on the one. Reason given by one juror I ran into later: "We didn't want to ruin his life over it."

I still have nightmares years later.

Arrested again for domestic violence, then promptly reelected in 2012. Still mayor as far as I know.

KyAllroad wrote: In reply to Flight Service: Hence your "government drone" status. But seriously, good for you. More civic engagement is always a good thing. --I wonder if I can go volunteer for jury duty....they haven't called me in a quarter of a century.

Exactly! and I have reported all of you to the NSA...FWIW

RX Reven' wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: I bet they may stop a husband and wife from going in together unless one has some kind of impairment.

What should we call that…we’ve already got “joining the mile high club” so would this be “inspecting dangling Chad’s” or “upholding the Constitution” or ???

We aren't allowed to ask as long as one says they request the others assistance and they both sign the form, there is nothing we can say. I can't do anything that would hinder them from voting or allow me to see the ballot either.

But our poll booths don't go all the way down either, so the business end would be exposed.

Encase you do decide to join have someone run it your flag pole, shoot the fireworks, etc

Flight Service wrote: But our poll booths don't go all the way down either, so the business end would be exposed.

Have you tried buying them drinks?

It's sorta funny that you have to go to a class to be an election worker but you don't even have to register or have an ID to vote.

RX Reven' wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: I bet they may stop a husband and wife from going in together unless one has some kind of impairment.

What should we call that…we’ve already got “joining the mile high club” so would this be “inspecting dangling Chad’s” or “upholding the Constitution” or ???

Punching the ballot? Pulling the lever? Voting for Proposition 69? Doing a citizen's duty? Checking out the poll pole?

T.J. wrote: It's sorta funny that you have to go to a class to be an election worker but you don't even have to register or have an ID to vote.

for this election registration cut off last Tuesday.

Photo IDs are required in Virginia. The nice thing about Virginia is they got around the problem with almost all voter ID laws. Which is cost. The Constitution forbids a poll tax. Virginia was sued and it was determined that an ID that is required by law to vote and costs the electorate money violates the Constitution under free and fair elections. So requiring you to have a Driver's License to vote is considered by the courts to be a poll tax. In Virginia, now the voter registration office can supply, at no cost by the request of the register, a voter registration card with a valid photo ID. This alleviates the problem on both sides.

Illinois, too. I think its because we vote early, and vote often on an election day.

On a side note, if you have a problem with voter registration laws and you are yelling at the Fed, you are doing it wrong.

Election laws are set by the states under Constitutional guidelines (poll tax, education requirements, race, religion, and sex discrimination all being forbidden).

So don't yell at the guy in DC, yell at the guy down the street.

I was a volunteer deputy registrar in the mid 80's. It was amazing to me how little people knew about elections, voting, and the like. Smart, responsible people, too. I spent a lot of time explaining the process and dutifully avoiding political discussions.

In Pennsylvania, the people who work the voting stations are usually older people and they get paid a flat rate ($150-$200 for whole day from what i've gathered) for the whole day.

T.J. wrote:

RX Reven' wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: I bet they may stop a husband and wife from going in together unless one has some kind of impairment.

What should we call that…we’ve already got “joining the mile high club” so would this be “inspecting dangling Chad’s” or “upholding the Constitution” or ???

Punching the ballot? Pulling the lever? Voting for Proposition 69? Doing a citizen's duty? Checking out the poll pole?

All good suggestions but I’ve been banned from being an Election Officer…apparently, playing “Vote or Die” though not specifically disallowed, is heavily frowned upon.

I should try that!