Votes

I'm so wary about the possibility of ol' John McCainiac stealing the upcoming election à la George W. that I'd been toying with the idea of signing up to be a poll-watcher. But yesterday, while I was checking up on my change-of-address voter registration application (more on that in a moment), I went ahead and applied to be a poll worker instead of a poll watcher. And today, I was selected (along with hundreds of other people who are unemployed, homeless, stay-at-home deadbeats, or have some interest in the democratic process). I'm a poll worker now. So, yay me, I guess. The gig is pretty sweet: Three hours of training and a single, twelve to fourteen hour shift on election day. And I get paid about $160--before taxes, of course. After taxes, I think it'll be about $12.72.

So, here's the thing about the change-of-address voter registration application: When The Obama Voter Registration Angel came to Kelly Workout's door almost a month ago, I filled out the application to change my address and an application for an absentee ballot. I asked what would happen if I didn't use the absentee ballot and instead opted to go to the polls on election day. I was told that it was fine if I disregarded the absentee ballot.

That is not true. One cannot, in New Mexico anyway, simply disregard an absentee ballot without having to go through the rigmarole of signing some kind of form at the polling place. Urg. So, strike one, Obama Voter Registration Angel.

I was told that if I hadn't heard from an election official within forty-eight hours regarding my voter registration application that I should call.

Strike two, Obama Voter Registration Angel. Forty-eight hours later, when I called, the election official officially scoffed at me. Apparently, they only call if there's a problem with the application.

And strike three was today's fiasco:

It's been almost a month since I filled out the application and I haven't received a new voter registration card, so I sighed big and called again to check. I was told that my absentee ballot application had been received, but that my change-of-address form had not. That means that of course the absentee ballot is going to my old address. Sigh. (Though I suppose now I get to find out exactly how much rigmarole is involved in voting at the polling place.)

So when I went to sign up as a poll worker and get my precinct assignment, I filled out a new change-of address form. I asked the election official I talked to if I should report the whole thing to someone and she was like, Not really. Voter suppression. Stuff like that happens all the time. Boy could I tell you some stories. Yawn.

Ever wonder how Bush managed to steal an election?

Here's why I'm so involved in politics this year:



I do not want this gibberish-spouting moron representing our country.