Harassed over my "penmanship" when I voted

[Cecropia]

I am so mad.

Half an hour ago, I went to vote.  I signed my name.  The lady handling the names looked at my signature and said condescendingly, "Where did you learn to write?!  You didn't go to Catholic school, did you?"  Note that there was no dispute over whether my signature matched or not.

Then she proceeds to have this long conversation with the lady next to her about how penmanship is really going downhill these days in the public schools. 

The inference is that I'm the poster child for that issue.  Like she thinks that the way I sign my name is the way I write everything.  Idiotic, but I was still embarrassed.

Our voting place was completely cramped.  I was standing right on top of the 8 people in their booths.  They heard the whole thing, as did all the election judges.  I don't think we had a pollwatcher.

I'm trying to find a number to call and complain, but I can't find one that works.  The County Clerk's Office number on the voters' guide beeps three times and goes dead.  Luckily I have a family member who works at a law office and she's going to ask the attorneys who I should call.

Why isn't there a big bold number pasted everywhere for calling about polling place irregularities and complaints?  Don't you think that they would want to get complaints as things happen, so that they can fix them quickly?

[MsAkers]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 9:19 AM

What a tool.  As if bad penmanship is the worst thing we have to worry about.

[MoonPenny]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 9:23 AM

How rude!!  That is so lame.  Man if my husband had been there she would have had a stroke.  I can't even read what he writes.  :-)

[livewell]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 9:35 AM

oh that person should have been slapped!!

and just so you know there is a video watch dog group (i heard about it on the CBC radio...so you can probably go to the www.CBC.ca and do a search in the Dispatches or Cross Country Check Up)

anyway, if there is ANY suspicious activity or unfair behaviour on the part of the polling staff, you can call up these people and volunteers come and video tape it...they will be stationed all over the place apparently...

and MY signature is NO WHERE NEAR an example of my handwriting....what a twit to even compare the two!!

[Jeangenie]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 10:27 AM

I would do the same thing you're trying to do and find a number to complain.  Here's some info:

If you encounter difficulties, or see others experiencing difficulties (excessive lines, voter harassment, malfunctioning machines, etc.), make a detailed record. Get all the facts you can—location, names, specific problem.

The best way to report problems is to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683), which has volunteer lawyers in 15 locations standing by to provide rapid-response assistance. You can also contact your party of choice. We have more suggestions here.

[Cecropia]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 11:25 AM

I've been trying our County Clerk's office and I tried your number twice, Jeangenie.  I can't get through to anybody.  It's so frustrating.  What if I had major vote fraud to report?!?

(Original Poster)

[Jeangenie]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 11:42 AM

Hmm. Try the website, there's button to click to report problems. http://www.866ourvote.org/

Here's something else I found. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96349881

You're in Illinois, right?  How about this info? http://www.elections.state.il.us/Contact.aspx

[Cecropia]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 1:31 PM

So I called the state election board, they transferred me somewhere else, and in the middle of my complaint I was disconnected!  And now when I call back the first number I can't get through!  AARGH!

I was able to leave an audio complaint on the twitter report, and I left a message at the 866ourvote.  I hope they get back to me.  Thanks, Jeangenie!!!!

(Original Poster)

[Cecropia]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM

I finally got through to the County Clerk.  They said that there have been multiple complaints about my polling place and they sent people out to rectify it.  So I guess that's that.

(Original Poster)

[fulqvr]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 2:02 PM I sent a complaint to the 866ourvote.org also. It's so frustrating how badly these things can go!

[stefanierios]

Nov. 5, 2008 at 1:13 AM

what a bitch!  Seriously, if she was going to act like that, she should not have been there at all.  Sorry you had an embarrassing experience.  My voting location way out here in the boonies was very spacious and not crowded at all.  It was a very nice first time voting experience.