Working the polls on the 3rd, I encountered new citizens, senior citizens, diverse ethnicities, ages, and several first time voters.   A little over 10% of folks who walked through the door required some registration complication to be addressed.

Many older voters with a variety of native languages required direct assistance with operating the voting machine or navigating, comprehending the ballot.   At such times, as per Texas law, I made certain if poll workers provided assistance, at least 2 did so.   So it was that I came to understand directly the impact of Republican domination of the polling process.

First, you need to understand that Texas, over my general objection, has had a party-line voting button in elections past- press it, and votes are cast automatically for affiliated candidates.   This year was different- fearing that disdain for President Trump would result in huge down ballot losses for the Republican Party, the GOP removed that quick voting option.   The result?   Many, many vulnerable older voters spent over a half hour within the polling place, often in close contact with assisting poll workers.   During this pandemic, a crass trade of constituent welfare for political advantage.

Time and again, I saw struggling, embarrassed, or fearful  voters give up after one or two selections.

Second, Republican control of proceedings allowed Republican candidates to often be listed first on the ballot for each contest.  Typically, those listed first enjoy about a 2.5% advantage over trailing candidates.   In this election, that impact may have been even more profound, as many were overwhelmed by Harris County’s 9 page ballot- many I assisted gave up after one or two selections of what they saw first.

A final thought as to my motive and impact of my work at the polls.   Judging from those that needed poll worker help to vote, a plurality supported Trump.   Any lament that inspired I kept inside, thanking each for coming out to exercise the democratic franchise.   Though such votes represented a sort of collective human failure to me, I would fight to make sure each and every one of those choices was counted.

As always, each of our choices, for good or ill, determines where we all end up.   We are in this together.   In victory, we must stay mindful of successful party-sponsored efforts to rob folks of equal representation, and undo those wrongs without ever emulating the same corrupt practices as expedient.   The just are always disadvantaged when fighting for equality- so we must be relentless in our pursuit of a more egalitarian society, ever on guard against the predictable ploys of bad actors, and take strength in our numbers, standing together-

-and count every vote.

verslagen1 wrote on 11/10/20 at 15:26:33:


I don’t see how that could be true- California is politically diverse, and features random ordering of candidates.   From the California Secretary of State:

On the 82nd day before an election, the Secretary of State conducts a randomized drawing of letters of the alphabet pursuant to California Elections Code section 13112. The resulting order of letters constitutes the "randomized alphabet" to be used for determining the order of candidates' names on the ballot

Thanks for the appreciation.    My COVID-19 test came back negative, yesterday- most everybody at the polling place were diligent in their use of masks, and cleaning booths behind themselves; it seems those efforts were effective, in my case.

Poll workers were carefully non partisan- with the disturbing exception of the Presiding Judge, who came dressed in red, planted his Trump sign at the curb; mid-day, he pulled down his mask, called a fellow judge/friend on speaker phone, and loudly speculated on the election outcome based on the race of voters at their respective precincts.

MnSpring wrote on 11/12/20 at 10:11:24:


Says you.   Maybe you aren’t a citizen.   Maybe you didn’t vote.   Maybe hearing a recounting of diverse people at the polls inspired you to puke up a ball of the bigotry that has been displacing your soul...

Probably not, though.   What we can say with certainty is that concerted efforts to demonstrate non-citizens voting in US elections by highly motivated and well resources Republican members of our government were unable to demonstrate any basis to your fears.