The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach Registrar Pat Harrington said she called Republican Party officials to ask them to have election observers sit down inside the precinct at Salem Middle School after her office received a complaint this morning.
Observers, she said, are allowed to sit inside the precincts and record the names and addresses of residents who check in to vote there. They are not allowed to stand behind election workers, check identifications or read information on computers, she said.
The complaint came after Al Quartararo said he noticed observers standing behind election officials who were checking voters in at the school. He said he noticed it happening to him and two other people who arrived to vote. After he left, he said, he called the registrar’s office to complain because he was concerned about what information the observers were texting about him.
Harrington said she notified the precinct chief that the observers must sit down inside precincts. She said Republican Party officials told her that the observers were authorized only to record names and that no other personal details about voters were gathered.
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Apology
Oops, looks like I jumped the gun. Sorry Pilot.
Thanks for nothing
Well, I posted a reasonable, calm defense of observers at polling stations for the purpose of fair elections. But no one will see it because the Pilot removed it. That's okay. The Pilot occasionally calls for new readers. There is no reason that this paper ever needs to receive another dime from me. Thanks for the censorship, and don't call me, I won't call you.
Flushing The Books
I previously served as Republican Captain of three precincts in Virginia Beach: Linkhorn (1999-2001), South Beach (2002), and Aragona (2004).
On the "privacy" issue, Virginia law allows for any candidate or party with candidates on the ballot to buy the latest voter lists (and both major parties do!). Therefore, the observers weren't looking at anything they didn't already have back at campaign HQ.
The tactic being practiced is called "flushing the books". Already having the voter list, you have inside observers note who is voting. In turn, you know which voters that lean towards your party (based on primary voting record, etc.) haven't voted. Later in the day, you start calling those voters to get them to the polls before 7.
In the 2000 7th Senate District special election (after Ed Schrock was elected to Congress), the Dems did the same thing for Louisa Strayhorn.
In flushing, I was trained to sit within earshot of the tables and listen for the election officials to call the names out. That they went behind the tables probably means there was a problem with the names being called.
I long for a calm honest citizenry
Did anyone notice what just happened in Afghanistan? Closer to home, think of the problems in the Minnesota race for US Senate last year.
Observers are necessary. Observers for any legitimate party should be able to lawfully observe at the polls. Poll workers are to be trusted, but verified. We have a saying in the Navy: "Don't expect what you don't inspect." In other words you have to watch to make sure the laws are followed. Seems the GOP observers might be a little overzealous in the age of ACORN, but the problem was dealt with peacefully by the authority. God, I love this country. And Hampton Roads.
For those of you who got way off topic and rancorous: take a chill pill! It is the paranoia and partisan hate that is ruining debate.
For those who say no observers at all: methinks you doth protest too much!
The law
"REP must be allowed, whether in regular polling place or CAP, to be close enough to the process to be able to hear and see what is occurring.
REP must be able to hear pollbook officer repeat voter's name and address (§ 24.2-643(B)).
REP may create or mark their own list of voters or notes (paper or electronic)."
Poll observing has been a regular practice for a long, long time, folks.
Can someone point me to where
the rules are regarding these voting "observers"? Observer means observing, not recording personal information for ulterior motives which this has written all over it.
This requires some investigation...any worthy reporters out there listening...why is a political party recording my information and by who's approval?
Here is your source
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Index.html
Search for "observers" and download the PDF of rules.
I was an observer in the general election, and we could only listen for the name, and we checked it against a list of eligible voters provided by the party. We could not sit at the table or look over the shoulders at the computer screens, but were dependent upon audible names.
Our job was to make sure that anyone who was turned away had redress with another election official who would check the voter registration lists to make sure an error was not being made. And that the voter could cast a provisional ballot if the issue could not be settled at the polls.
We also observed the closing of the machines, etc.
There were also attorneys for each party available, but they had to stay outside (in the rain) and if there was an issue, we could notify them.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Private
My information should be kept private, as a republican, democrat or acorn party. They should not be allowed inside; as a candidate has to keep 100 feet away or so. If the Republican wants to know, write me a letter. As a republican, I haven't voted for a republican since Bush Sr 1986., they are off base, off key and lost touch with Americans and the rest of the world. It's bad enough one person is looking at my information, must less having it text to a bunch of policy, agenda pushers with no regard for my privacy.
Got calendar?
Bad news - Your vote didn't count for Bush, Sr. in 1986, either. He was Reagan's VP in 1986. Maybe 1988? Check on that and get back with me....
Observers may keep scum from voting early and voting often!
Can you say ACORN? Can you say voter fraud? The poll workers aren't some magical above it all, unbiased people. We need to enforce ID's being shown in order to vote, but the Democrats keep fighting this. I don't trust anyone involved in politics, the more checks and balances we have, the better. Unless you really are trying to vote early and vote often observers shouldn't frighten you. When members of organizations like ACORN can be volunteer poll workers, only the idiots and crooks would want the checks and balances to go away.