[nagdu] voting nightmare

Fri Oct 24 12:20:15 UTC 2008

I did growl back.
There aren't any lawyers hanging about my polling place, not that I know
of.  It's a small place, with only 2 machines.  Which is why they
complain--it becomes 1 machine, when they take one offline to reset it for
me.  Not that I care.  I like to be able to vote independently, even if it
takes a little extra time.

> I'd also mention it to the election folks, and the lawyers milling
> around the polls.
> I mean, nobody would tollerate an election worker saying "Damn it, I'm
> tired of these (fit in ethnic or ratial group of your choosing) and
> expect to get away with it.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:43 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] voting nightmare
>
> I thought so too, so I reported it to the NFB accessible voting hotline
> we had set up when these things first rolled out.
> Ain't it a fine thing, to be aware of one's rights!
> Tracy
>
>> You know, them complaining is inappropriate, and one might say touches
>
>> very close to voter intimidation.
>> You may want to mention that next time they do, and maybe mention it
>> to one of the lawyers that hangs out near the polls. Each location has
>
>> several of either party to make sure all voters feel comfortable.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
>> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 8:03 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] voting nightmare
>>
>> Gracious Stepper!  How extremely rude of them!  Glad to hear you will
>> be helping train these people.  What were they thinking!
>>
>> I've never had such trouble voting, thank goodness.  They do complain
>> a lot about setting up the accessible machine for me.  They have to
>> take it offline from the normal way, and set it up the audio way, and
>> it takes them like half an hour, partly because they don't really know
>
>> how to do it and always have to call headquarters for directions.  But
>
>> then I can vote all by myself, instead of squeezing in with 2 big
>> officials and trying to explain the ballot to them.  I know where
>> stuff is, and they don't.  But I don't have to do that anymore!  I
>> just have to listen to them complain for a while.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> Hello listers.
>>> My understanding is that at times we can write about blindness issues
>
>>> having nothing to do with guide dogs. so with that understanding I
>>> hope this is correct, here goes.
>>>
>>> This is Stepper.
>>>
>>> Two days ago on the 20th I went to vote early.
>>> My wife Lynda who is sighted had a ballad sent to the house for her.
>>> However, I feel that as a blind person that helped with the fight to
>>> make it possible for the blind and visually impaired and other
>>> disabilities to vote using the Auto Mark Voting Machine at a cost for
>
>>> our state of Idaho$5000 each, and there's 960 machines through out
>>> the
>>
>>> state, at a total cost of $4800000.
>>> Well, that's a big deal! So I believe its very important to show the
>>> public and the law makers that we raised hell for the right to vote,
>>> and here we are in the flesh!
>>>
>>> That's my stump speech.
>>>
>>> We get to the voting place, and we are directed to the lady that
>>> checks to see if your on the voting rolls. So far so good.
>>> That is where the good left, and the bad and the ugly took over.
>>> After the woman found my name she refused to hand me the paper that
>>> had to be signed in two places.
>>> But she refused to talk to me at all. She kept trying to talk around
>>> me, to my wife Lynda. Even when Lynda backed up a few steps.
>>> I put my hand up palm outward  the world wide sign for "STOP!" not
>> her.
>>> She kept trying to talk to my wife.
>>> There were people backing up behind us. So finally, the lady slid the
>
>>> paper over, and I picked it up, and moved down the table. With
>>> Lynda's
>>
>>> assistance I signed the document in the two places needed.
>>> I than moved to my right a couple steps, where I was checked off as
>>> being there. I then moved a little more to my right where the lady
>>> was
>>
>>> to hand me my "Secret Ballad."
>>> I started to reach out so she could place it in my hand.
>>> All of a sudden,  someone  grasps me by my left wrist, turning me
>>> halfway around, and clamping my left arm under there right arm. Then
>>> this person, takes off dragging me as it were away from the table.
>>> At the same time I hear a rustling of a large envelope keeping pace
>>> with us.
>>> I plant both my feet, and said, "What the hell are you doing? Do you
>>> have my "Secret Ballad?" "Give me my ballad now!"
>>> What's the matter with you?" "And stop dragging me!"
>>> This person turned  out to be a man, a larger man then I am, and I am
>>> 6 feet tall, and weigh 190 pounds.
>>> He said, "I was going to carry your "Ballad" for you, and take you to
>
>>> the voting machine."
>>> I then got my ballad back in my hand.
>>> I told him if you want to help then let me take your arm. It is much
>>> better to be led, then it is to be dragged.
>>> My wife stayed out of it, because I never want her jumping in on this
>
>>> stuff. I handle it myself. However, she said she saw it all, and even
>
>>> after all these years being married to me she still has times like
>>> what I am trying to describe just planed shocks her.
>>>
>>> I then was led to the voting machine in a civil manner, where I was
>>> to
>>
>>> vote my wonderful "Secret Ballad."
>>> When this was over, the next morning I was on the phone to commission
>
>>> for the Blind, and posting this experience on the Idaho discussion
>>> list, and getting hold of  the head of elections for the disabled.
>>> The
>>
>>> upshot was excuses, about the pole workers had been running around
>>> 600
>>
>>> people a day through the voting sight. He said they had had,
>> "sensitivity training."
>>> He did admit, that it seemed everyone on mass forgot there
>>> "sensitivity training."
>>> Before the conversation was over the head of elections for the
>>> disabled put in a email to me asking if I would help in traing pole
>>> workers state wide.
>>> Will this come true? I am not sure, but if I can I will.
>>>
>>> But it also could be, "Lip stick on a pig."
>>>
>>> By the way almost the same thing happened to me four years ago accept
>
>>> for the ballad.
>>> In fact, this man asked me if I had written a letter to the news
>>> paper
>>
>>> about my experience four years ago? I said, "you got it."
>>> You can see how well my letter to the paper worked.
>>>
>>> In spite of experiences, nothing changes until something changes.
>>> Please, everyone that can, please vote publicly if you can, and if
>>> you
>>
>>> can't get out, just vote.
>>> We are at the time of the most important election in our life time.
>>>  Remember our right to vote was bought by our young men and women's
>>> blood and life time injuries.
>>>
>>> Stepper
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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