From: SG
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 16:14:05 -0500
To:
Subject: My voting experience
NYC Board of Elections
To whom it may concern (I hope):
I am writing to you to make you aware (if you are not already), that the people working at my polling place were not just inept, but they were providing misleading information and information that directly contradicts our democratic process.
My polling place is PS 221. My district is 059/43. I voted there in the most recent mayoral election.
When I got to the person who would give me my ballot and he instructed me in how to use it, he told me that I needed to vote straight down party lines. “Wherever you start for Mayor, you need to go all the way down or the ballot will be rejected by the computer.”
When I told him that I did not think this was correct, his response was “well you vote how you want to, and if the computer rejects your ballot, you will need to vote again.” When I further raised an objection to the validity of his position, the woman working alongside him asked what was wrong. I explained to her. I said that I knew better, but that there were many uninformed people who would blindly follow his instructions. Her response to me was the same, “you vote how you want to and if you are rejected…”
Now I don’t know how many people running for office were not given the opportunity to win an election due to these kinds of instructions. I also don’t know how rampant this kind of ignorance, or even worse, intentional rigging of results took place around the city, but this was such a disgrace that I felt that I must report this.
In general, the people working at the polling places in my part of Brooklyn are some of the most uninformed, uneducated, uncaring bunch of people I ever encountered.
Whoever is responsible for these polling people ought to be drummed out of town. I won’t even begin talking about the disaster that last presidential election was. Standing in lines for hours. Mostly because the people working there were inept, slow and ignorant. No one was really in charge. And if they were, they were equally inept.
SG
Brooklyn, NY
P.S. My wife is registered to vote three times. Twice with the surname —- and once with her maiden name, —. How much of that is going on in the registered voter database?
P.P.S. She only voted once.
I sure hope that someone capable actually reads this email. But given my recent experiences, I’m guessing that someone capable is hard to come by.
THE RESPONSE
From: _ivr—–@boe.nyc.ny.us
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 4:59 PM
To:
Subject: RE: My voting experience
I am very sorry you had that experience. You are correct. You may vote for whomever you want. The scanners will not reject the ballot. The computer doesn’t care how you vote. It only scans the ballots and records the votes.
Since the Poll Workers are hired, and scheduled and assigned by the Poll Worker Department of the Borough Office of each borough, please call the Poll Worker Department of the Brooklyn Borough Office of the Board Of Elections. Here are four telephone numbers for that department. If you can’t get through on one try another number. Please give them all the information you have given me in this e-mail. If you remember the name of the Poll Worker who told you that be sure to include that too. The phone numbers are: (718) 797-8831, (718)797-8841, (718)797-8834 or (718)797-8827.
As too you wife, since you did not tell me your wife’s first name, I can’t look that up to correct it.
does the headline say the response was poor. sounds fair enough
When I got my paper ballot to mark, I specifically went over it with the worker, counting the number of different votes I can make. She never bothered to point out that the ballot had another side where one could vote on the propositions which were up for a vote! Furthermore, on the wall behind the poll workers were two enlarged posters showing the ballot. Presumably two were provided so that each is hung up showing a different side. However both these enlarged ballot posters were showing the same side. There was no indication anywhere that the ballot needs to… Read more »
same thing happened to me and when i said this is not so in a very unclear english she said yo maam this is how ya gotta vote ?????????
The woman told me i can only vote straight down the party lines and when i said that doesnt sound constitutional, she said well then file a complaint.
There was also another lady there that made a big fuss about it.
I think they really didn’t even understand what they were telling people but someone was instructing them to say that..
I was sent a ballot three times which wasn’t the party I was signed up to be on and then at the polling place my ballot was taken from me looked at and then it was supposedly put into the box.
You were wrong to write void on the card.The card can hold up to three ballots. Your experience has nothing to do with the above complaints, as in your case they were right.
had the same experience at the same table cept it was 2 men at the time i was there and the worker TEARING the ballot off ripped mine – it did not go thru the scanner and i had to vote again – i made sure they wrote void on the ballot mor then 1x and the card they give to i wrote void on it myself and another worker from another table came over screaming – WHAT are you doing – you can write on that – i explained the ballot attached to this was voided and the card… Read more »
Your complaints are certainly valid and need to get to someone who can do something about the problem. Please follow up and contact the Poll Worker Department of the Brooklyn Borough Office of the Board Of Elections as the letter from the NYC Board of Elections instructed. It would be great if you could post the results of that also.
And when I went to vote on Empire Blvd. I was told the machines are not working and it will have to be a paper vote. when I filled out my paper ballett, the woman checked my ballett before allowing me to put it in the slot. THIS IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL.
Had similar experience,a poll worker looked at my ballot and questioned my decision!!!!!!!!!!
I was also told to vote straight down party line, I did not! I also vote under my maiden name and I’m married over 20 years.Something is very wrong with the system!
A similar thing happens with the American medical system. Years ago, (Now?) people died because they couldn’t afford certain medication. There was no ‘overseer’ or ‘transparency’ In Canada one can see much of what is going on because the medical system was government controlled and one can view the situation pretty clearly. There is much fraud and lies. Joe Hines has a poster in Crown Heights (And other places) showing how crime has dropped. However even though it seems impressive, and let’s give him credit, the poster reads: ‘Keep Brooklyn Safe’ which is false, it should read ‘Keep Brooklyn SAFER’… Read more »
During the mayoral primary the poll worker also took my ballot to scan for me and looked at it — that’s not called “secret ballot.” During the mayoral election the poll worker told me my name was not in the book, that I was at the wrong polling place, and gave me an address on East New York, all the way across the neighborhood from where I was, and told me I had to go there. I knew she was wrong and, fortunately, saw a neighbor just then and he told me which table to go to, so I voted… Read more »
A lot of shady things where going on,including the above mentioned. An investigation most certainly needs to be opened.Maybe the republican poll watchers will do something if contacted.
Don’t worry about knowing his name, they know who was working out that district.
P.S.
That’s the district they refuse to let the Jewish lady work out, and then harassed her all day.
I have heard dozens of stories specifically from the 2012 presidential election. I personally am named twice in the voter rolls…
they have a cross on president and brooklyn which is against the rules. it needs to be taken down. this should be reported to the media
Poll workers, I mean, as is whomever sent the response – just look at “As too you wife… ” Don’t tell me typos! You should send the email to the most senior people @ Board of Elections.
I complained in the primaries – ZERO response. I didn’t vote in November’s election (for the first time ever) because of CLEAR CORRUPTION in St. Marks’ polling station. What was the point? My vote wouldn’t be counted. I’m the wrong color & religion. Bet you won’t print THAT, it’s not PC.
I saw a polling worker tell someone who asked for help “well here’s (pointing) de blasio if you want you can vote democratic down the line or you can vote for other candidates” and then she did the same thing to another voter.
The same thing happened to me! Then she asked to look at my ballot.
During obamas second term my sister calls me up and says nice! I saw you voted… I told her I did not… She said she saw a signature by my name …. Forgot abt it until now could it be fraud???
In my poling booth they emptied out Kings County Hospital. There were at least 50 very mentally challenged people on line. They were barely able to stand on lone and i am POSITIVE that they had no clue what to do. Someone voted for them.
Speaking of Fraud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She was told that her vote needed to be scanned by a specific scanner from amongst the various scanning machines and was done by someone who was able to see her ballot. Is this democracy?