[nagdu] voting nightmare

[dmgina]

We voted yesterday as well, over at the court house.
Worked out well.
the dog was received with no problems at all.

--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 5:17 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] voting nightmare


> Hi, guys.
> I'm certainly sorry about your experience and I can empathize as similar
> things have happened to me.
> But, I'm curious how you found the voting machines.
> Anything I should be careful with when I use one?
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Dan W. and the happy hounds
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Stepper
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:25 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] voting nightmare
>
> 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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