No fewer than 10 people including a candidate were stationed outside the enterance to my polling place this morning. Normally I just ignore these people, but I had to navigate my way around them just to get in the door. I will be filing a complaint with the state board of elections and I encourage you to do the same if you are receiving similar treatment at your polling place.

http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/VoterComment/Voter_Complaint_Form.aspx

Quit bitching, they do this every year, they allowed to do this.... I'd recommend instead taking a few extra I Voted stickers, and placing them over your mouth, maybe then your shit will come out of the correct end!

They are not allowed to impede traffic flow into the polling place. They are supposed to stay off to the side so that voters don't have to work their way around them.

Random Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No fewer than 10 people including a candidate were
> stationed outside the enterance to my polling
> place this morning. Normally I just ignore these
> people, but I had to navigate my way around them
> just to get in the door. I will be filing a
> complaint with the state board of elections and I
> encourage you to do the same if you are receiving
> similar treatment at your polling place.
>
> http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/VoterComment/
> Voter_Complaint_Form.aspx



Why don't you stop be an antisocial twerp and just say "no thank you." I highly doubt they were blocking your way that much. As long as they were at least 40' from the entrance to the polling place they weren't doing anything wrong.

 

friskydingo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Random Dude Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No fewer than 10 people including a candidate
> were
> > stationed outside the enterance to my polling
> > place this morning. Normally I just ignore
> these
> > people, but I had to navigate my way around
> them
> > just to get in the door. I will be filing a
> > complaint with the state board of elections and
> I
> > encourage you to do the same if you are
> receiving
> > similar treatment at your polling place.
> >
> >
> http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/VoterComment/
>
> > Voter_Complaint_Form.aspx
>
>
>
> Why don't you stop be an antisocial twerp and just
> say "no thank you." I highly doubt they were
> blocking your way that much. As long as they were
> at least 40' from the entrance to the polling
> place they weren't doing anything wrong.


I wouldn't be bitching if they weren't impeding the flow of pedestrian traffic into the polling place (note Shadow's comment).

As far as being anti-social, I'm more than happy to say no thanks to someone who just offers a sample ballot. Getting hemmed in by reps from both sides of the isle while getting "Ted Velkoff would love your support" yelled my way is a bit over the top.

They made a line and stop you from getting in, because polls were sooooooooooooo busy! So over the top, that candidates and there people would be out making an attempt to wrangle votes ohhhhhhhh noooooooooooooooo! Seriously, go vote absentee next time if its the end of the world to have people out at polling places.... BFD if it took you 5 extra seconds to get to the door, douche!

When we drove up I saw two campaign workers outside the door closest to the polling place (which is in a new location this year). Don't know which campaigns they represented, as we just used a different door.

We just looked the reps in the eye and cheerfully said "We're already decided; thanks!" and walked right by.

Never a problem - freedom at work.

They are doing no more than advocating for their candidate(s), whoever that may be. In fact, theses volunteers can often be very helpful and informative. Grow a pair, you gutless whiny biatch.

Just pretend you are on a cell phone and walk past them. They show up at all school functions also.

It is true. They will ignore you just as you ignore them

I completely ignore them. 99% of the people voting ignore them too.

And they completely ignore you. But 80% or more of the people happily enage the volunteers. They respect their efforts to fully participate in our democracy.

Random Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No fewer than 10 people including a candidate were
> stationed outside the enterance to my polling
> place this morning. Normally I just ignore these
> people, but I had to navigate my way around them
> just to get in the door. I will be filing a
> complaint with the state board of elections and I
> encourage you to do the same if you are receiving
> similar treatment at your polling place.
>
> http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/VoterComment/
> Voter_Complaint_Form.aspx

Lemme guess, Centreville High School? Yeah, I had to run that gauntlet around 7:30 this morning too. I even called my wife to warn her about it. Your complaint appears to have worked though, she said she wasn't hassled at all.

Thanks!

Yup. I am a citizen and voter and truly appreciate your efforts as a volunteer! Keep at it!!!

I was actually a volunteer at Centreville this morning. I arrived at about 7:00 and was there till about 9:30. And I was very, very, aggressive approaching the voters.

Random Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No fewer than 10 people including a candidate were
> stationed outside the enterance to my polling
> place this morning. Normally I just ignore these
> people, but I had to navigate my way around them
> just to get in the door. I will be filing a
> complaint with the state board of elections and I
> encourage you to do the same if you are receiving
> similar treatment at your polling place.
>
> http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/VoterComment/
> Voter_Complaint_Form.aspx


Lemme guess, these obnoxious people were hawking candidates of a party other than yours?

If their were peddling your favorite flavor of Kool-Aid, it would have been OK, right?

say Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Lemme guess, these obnoxious people were hawking
> candidates of a party other than yours?
>
> If their were peddling your favorite flavor of
> Kool-Aid, it would have been OK, right?


As I mentioned in a subsequent post, it was both sides that were the problem.

Fellow Voter - mine was Fairview Elementary in Burke. I would estimate about 5 from each side. My 4th time voting there and by far the rudest crew of campaigners thus far. Obnoxious enough that I posted about it knowing full well I would be getting the typical FFXU response.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/08/2011 05:08PM by Random Dude.

Those people are obnoxious. They have been accosting people since back to school night in September. They hang out at metro stations. They call every night. They hang printed bullcrap on your house door handle. They put trashy flyers on your windshield at the metro station. They approached me at 6 AM this morning when I was trying to vote before going to work. I AM SICK OF IT and go out of my way to not vote for the most obnoxious politicians. I expect VELKOFF, BERRY, COOPER and all the rest to REMOVE their TRASHY signs from the public spaces tomorrow!

Correction: Fairview Elementary is in Fairfax Station.

moi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Correction: Fairview Elementary is in Fairfax
> Station.


Whatever. If the mailing address were on the Burke Centre Pkwy side it would be in Burke Centre, but since it's on Ox Road its in FFX station.

Of all the issues and problems that we have, this is your bitch? Grow the fuck up already and find a pair of balls so you can live in this world.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

I say "fuck" a lot...

FBO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Of all the issues and problems that we have, this
> is your bitch? Grow the fuck up already and find
> a pair of balls so you can live in this world.


You need to go F yourself. Politicians need to get the F out of everyone's space. An intelligent person can read and can decide who to vote on their own.

Random Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No fewer than 10 people including a candidate were
> stationed outside the enterance to my polling
> place this morning. Normally I just ignore these
> people, but I had to navigate my way around them
> just to get in the door. I will be filing a
> complaint with the state board of elections and I
> encourage you to do the same if you are receiving
> similar treatment at your polling place.
>
> http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/VoterComment/
> Voter_Complaint_Form.aspx

Actually, there is a quicker way to deal with this issue. At the time you went to vote, you should have complained to the inside election personnel. They would have assisted you immediately. Periodically, they will appear outside and ensure signs, passing out of literature, etc. is not occurring within 50 feet of the entrance. However, if they see people (voters) being blocked, they will not do anything until a voter complains to them.

Please bear in mind this information for the next time you vote.

However, most of all, thank you for using your right to vote yesterday. With turnouts of only 20 or 21% in some places, that tells me that 79% of the registered voters for a precinct better shut the hell up when their country goes down the crapper. If you want to complain about what's going on in your community or the world, but don't get out and vote to try and make a change, then it's nobody's fault buy your own.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm the real H.I.D. If you question my identity, just hit the quote button on one of my posts and look for any of the "L" characters that have been replaced by the uppercase "I" character. That will tell you who the fake is.

He Is Delusional Wrote:

>
> Actually, there is a quicker way to deal with this
> issue. At the time you went to vote, you should
> have complained to the inside election personnel.
> They would have assisted you immediately.
> Periodically, they will appear outside and ensure
> signs, passing out of literature, etc. is not
> occurring within 50 feet of the entrance.
> However, if they see people (voters) being
> blocked, they will not do anything until a voter
> complains to them.
>

I did. My wife faced the same problem later in the day (I voted at 7 am, she voted at 6 pm). By what she was saying, it soudned even worse in the afternoon.

Here is the simplest thing to do - take the sample ballots they're offering, and go into the poll. Don't be a jerk, don't get whiny because someone wants to hand you something on your way into the poll with their candidate's name on it.

Those folks out there are volunteers - they're standing out there for hours at a time, taking time off work to help the campaigns they believe in. Give them a modicum of respect. You took the time to vote, which is great - that puts you in the top 30% of people around here in my book - but they went above and beyond.

And if there's a candidate out there, even somebody you hate, let them say hi and shake your hand. It won't kill you to be polite.

It really makes me shake my head when I see people get so incensed by having to socialize during the day.

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here is the simplest thing to do - take the sample
> ballots they're offering, and go into the poll.
> Don't be a jerk, don't get whiny because someone
> wants to hand you something on your way into the
> poll with their candidate's name on it.

Hand me something? Fine, then stand off to the side and offer it to me. Don't walk in front of me and waive the sample ballot around.

> Those folks out there are volunteers - they're
> standing out there for hours at a time, taking
> time off work to help the campaigns they believe
> in. Give them a modicum of respect.

Why? "Hey buddy, I respect the fact that you weren't trained properly by your candidate and now you're hemming me in, yelling out candidate names, and waving sample ballots in my grill". Yeah, I'll respect that.

> It really makes me shake my head when I see people
> get so incensed by having to socialize during the
> day.

If I put my hand up and say "no thanks" that should be the end of it. I shouldn't "have" to socialize with these harpies if I don't want to.

Like I've said before, I knew full well I'd take a beating on FFXU for starting this thread, but I wouldn't have posted it if Tuesday was not BY FAR the worst voting experience I've had since I started voting 14 years ago.

go f yourself Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FBO Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Of all the issues and problems that we have,
> this
> > is your bitch? Grow the fuck up already and
> find
> > a pair of balls so you can live in this world.
>
>
> You need to go F yourself. Politicians need to
> get the F out of everyone's space. An intelligent
> person can read and can decide who to vote on
> their own.


lol

An intelligent person knows how to remove someone from being in 'their way'.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

I say "fuck" a lot...

Hey Brian,

If people are voting in the morning before work, they don't have time to socialize. They need to get in, vote, and get out so they can get to work on time. How can you be so arrogant as to think those of us doing that owe those "volunteers" a moment of our time?

If they're doing it right after work, then they need to get home and make dinner for their families.

Your "volunteers" are little better than in-person telemarketers, demanding our time when we don't have it.





BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here is the simplest thing to do - take the sample
> ballots they're offering, and go into the poll.
> Don't be a jerk, don't get whiny because someone
> wants to hand you something on your way into the
> poll with their candidate's name on it.
>
> Those folks out there are volunteers - they're
> standing out there for hours at a time, taking
> time off work to help the campaigns they believe
> in. Give them a modicum of respect. You took the
> time to vote, which is great - that puts you in
> the top 30% of people around here in my book - but
> they went above and beyond.
>
> And if there's a candidate out there, even
> somebody you hate, let them say hi and shake your
> hand. It won't kill you to be polite.
>
> It really makes me shake my head when I see people
> get so incensed by having to socialize during the
> day.

Random Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Hand me something? Fine, then stand off to the
> side and offer it to me. Don't walk in front of me
> and waive the sample ballot around.
>

You've made a great point. It's one thing to stand off to the side and offer the literature. It's another to stand on the sidewalk impeding the voter from easily making it to the inside of the building to vote.

The obnoxious people at my polling station were standing on the sidewalk and stopping voters. They had a small sheet of paper with a few bulleted items on it to try and convince voters at the last minute to opt for their candidate. Well, their candidate lost anyway. I guess I can't say that they didn't try. But, one would think that when someone is in their late 60s or early 70s and out there being a volunteer, they would be courteous enough to stay off of the sidewalk. I guess some people will never learn - no matter how old they are.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm the real H.I.D. If you question my identity, just hit the quote button on one of my posts and look for any of the "L" characters that have been replaced by the uppercase "I" character. That will tell you who the fake is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2011 10:35AM by He Is Delusional.

J.D., the folks at the polls took time off work to stand there, trying to help their candidates and educate voters. No one is going to stop you from going into the polls and if you honestly think that having to pause 30 seconds to take a sample ballot and shake someone's hand is going to make you late for work, I call BS.

This isn't about time. It's about being polite. Your time is no more important than anyone else's, and, frankly, I get tired of the "me first" attitude I see so many folks displaying out there.

I was making 100 phone calls a day, knocking on thousands of doors. Is the two minutes I asked for to greet someone and tell them a little about me face to face that much of an inconvenience? When I (and my volunteers) are taking hours, weeks and months out of our lives to take on the burden of asking for your vote?

Come on. I'm sorry, but my patience has run out for that kind of thinking. Part of being an American is engaging in the political process and that means more than simply spending five minutes in a voting booth every year.

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I was making 100 phone calls a day, knocking on
> thousands of doors. Is the two minutes I asked for
> to greet someone and tell them a little about me
> face to face that much of an inconvenience? When I
> (and my volunteers) are taking hours, weeks and
> months out of our lives to take on the burden of
> asking for your vote?
>

Brian, Good points on your part. However, that's how Northern Virginia is. Most of the people who live here hurry home, drive their car in their garage and close the garage door. What did they rush home for? Dinner? To watch Jeopardy? To be with the families? To read to their children? I don't know those answers.

However, while working the polls, it was quite apparent the people who were making their way into the facility did have a determined look on their face and appeared as though they, for the most part, didn't want the literature as if it might change their mind at the last minute. But, there was a difference this year with the presentation by the voting machines. Only the state senate and delegates, had the "R" or the "D" or the "I" next to their names. All of the other candidates did not specify these designations - making it harder for the voter who did not read up on the candidates to vote a straight ticket for the "R" or the "D" party.

Finally, though, I will admit that when people were leaving the polls, they would often give a "thumbs up" or say "good luck" while passing by. That was reassuring.

I still question why such low turn-outs, though? 21%? 23%? - of voters that were registered in that precinct? A lot of people love to complain, but a whole lot of them are staying away from the polls when they should be showing up to express their preferences. At least then they could at least say they tried to make a change.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm the real H.I.D. If you question my identity, just hit the quote button on one of my posts and look for any of the "L" characters that have been replaced by the uppercase "I" character. That will tell you who the fake is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2011 10:48AM by He Is Delusional.

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was making 100 phone calls a day, knocking on
> thousands of doors. Is the two minutes I asked for
> to greet someone and tell them a little about me
> face to face that much of an inconvenience? When I
> (and my volunteers) are taking hours, weeks and
> months out of our lives to take on the burden of
> asking for your vote?

Nice to see all that hard work paid off in the form of an over 12-percentage-point-loss. I'll be taking my campaign advice from a different candidate, thank you.

Falling from a high horse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I was making 100 phone calls a day, knocking on
> > thousands of doors. Is the two minutes I asked
> for
> > to greet someone and tell them a little about
> me
> > face to face that much of an inconvenience? When
> I
> > (and my volunteers) are taking hours, weeks and
> > months out of our lives to take on the burden
> of
> > asking for your vote?
>
> Nice to see all that hard work paid off in the
> form of an over 12-percentage-point-loss. I'll be
> taking my campaign advice from a different
> candidate, thank you.

Whoa. Not cool.

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> J.D., the folks at the polls took time off work to
> stand there, trying to help their candidates and
> educate voters. No one is going to stop you from
> going into the polls and if you honestly think
> that having to pause 30 seconds to take a sample
> ballot and shake someone's hand is going to make
> you late for work, I call BS.
>
> This isn't about time. It's about being polite.
> Your time is no more important than anyone else's,
> and, frankly, I get tired of the "me first"
> attitude I see so many folks displaying out there.
>
>
> I was making 100 phone calls a day, knocking on
> thousands of doors. Is the two minutes I asked for
> to greet someone and tell them a little about me
> face to face that much of an inconvenience? When I
> (and my volunteers) are taking hours, weeks and
> months out of our lives to take on the burden of
> asking for your vote?
>
> Come on. I'm sorry, but my patience has run out
> for that kind of thinking. Part of being an
> American is engaging in the political process and
> that means more than simply spending five minutes
> in a voting booth every year.

Brian,

You're right that it's not difficult to be polite, but you're being very rude by saying that you and your volunteers are entitled to give us a flyer and talk to us for thirty seconds on our way into the polls. You didn't magically become better than us because you're a candidate or chose to work for one. You (as the candidate) may owe the volunteers something, but I certainly don't.

The time to convince folks of who to vote for is not at the polls, it's before that. By the time I'm going into the polls, all I want is to get in, vote, then get out. You and your people certainly seemed hell-bent on disrupting it though. I was polite though, I took the flyer and carried it right to a trash can. It made absolutely no difference to me, I didn't even look at it. My mind was made up ahead of time.

Also, there's a big difference between standing to the side and jumping in front of me. In the first case, you're politely asking me if I want to review the sample ballot before I go in. This gives me the opportunity to accept or decline, it gives me a choice in the matter. In the second case, you're confronting me and forcing your trash on me. Yes, it's trash, see my above statement about putting it in the garbage. In that case, your volunteer has already thrown politeness and respect right out the window, why should I treat him with any respect?

As far as I'm concerned, the people deserving most of our respect on election day are the ones inside the building. They're volunteering their time to help run the election process itself. Sure, they may get a small stipend, but it wouldn't cover many people's salaries for the day. They're the real ones that deserve applause here. You might want to look into sending them a thank-you note; they're the grease that kept the gears of the election process running smoothly.

As was noted by He Is Delusional, there were a lot of candidates on the ballot who didn't have an R or a D behind their name - the parties were trying their best to make sure that folks knew who had the support of each party at the poll. Can you honestly say you knew who the Democratic or Republican endorsed Soil and Water Conservation Board candidates were?

That's where I sample ballot comes in handy. If you don't want it, refuse and keep going. No one is going to stop you. Sure, some volunteers may be more aggressive than others, but at the end of the day they're simply trying to help.

I agree that the folks inside the polls are important and I have already said thank you to many of them that were working that day - I visited nearly every polling place in my district and spoke with many of the election officers and thanked them. I thanked everyone who came out that day, even the ones who blew past me.

If someone jumped in front of you, that's the exception, not the rule. I didn't see that kind of thing at the 14 precincts I visited on Tuesday.

As for advice, I was standing outside Stone South precinct shaking hands with voters and Chap Peterson and his daughter Eva were right next to me, doing the same thing. Chap won by 20 points, so maybe the fact that we were both doing the same thing should tell you something.

And if you think my expressing my opinion is rude, the word has lost all meaning. You were inconvenienced. I understand that. I'm simply suggesting you look at it from the other guy's perspective.

I worked outside as a volunteer and approached quite a few people. In the evening, one pretentious jackass was rude and dismissive, so I walked to my car, got some literature, then dumped a chocolate milks shake on his windshield. I laughed hysterically as he whirled around looking for the culprit when he reached his car and saw the mess. The asshole deserved it tho.

I hope you were volunteering for a Democrat.

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And if you think my expressing my opinion is rude,
> the word has lost all meaning. You were
> inconvenienced. I understand that. I'm simply
> suggesting you look at it from the other guy's
> perspective.

Brian,

I don't think it's rude for you to come here and share your opinion. I actually appreciate the chance to have this dialog. I just feel the content of your opinion is rude, at least the way it was phrased. It appears you feel like I deserved to have volunteers block my way because...

1: Those volunteers are entitled to my time since they're helping a candidate.
2: Even if they're not entitled to it, it's still not rude since they're just trying to help.

I disagree with that completely. At my previous polling place, the volunteers were off to the side and would ask if I wanted their papers. That's fine. Although I may not want their papers, I recognize what they're doing and why they're doing it. I didn't have a problem with that in any way. They politely asked, I politely declined.

Unfortunately the experience at Centreville HS around 7:30 AM was completely different. The volunteers formed something like a slalom on a ski course forcing you to dodge and weave through on your way in. Then, as you try to go around, they move to make sure you have no choice but to "pay the toll," that is to take their paper before they'll let you through. I don't care who you're volunteering for or why you're doing it, that's just plain rude. I shouldn't be forced to take your fliers just because I'm going to vote. Please give me the choice...

Having it explained that way, I agree that it's excessive. I certainly hope that the folks at Oak View Elementary in Sideburn didn't think it was the same way, as they had to get through me, three of our volunteers, Sharon Bulova, my opponent's wife Gretchen and three other democratic volunteers to get to the polls. We were polite and didn't jump out at anybody, and folks who just wanted to go in just went in.

What you're describing sounds like an aberration. It's unfortunate you had that experience.

My point is simply that I have heard too often from too many people how inconvenient every aspect of this election has been and I've gotten tired of that attitude. I really don't understand it, to be honest.

But hey - you voted, which means you've earned your right to complain!

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Having it explained that way, I agree that it's
> excessive. I certainly hope that the folks at Oak
> View Elementary in Sideburn didn't think it was
> the same way, as they had to get through me, three
> of our volunteers, Sharon Bulova, my opponent's
> wife Gretchen and three other democratic
> volunteers to get to the polls. We were polite and
> didn't jump out at anybody, and folks who just
> wanted to go in just went in.
>
> What you're describing sounds like an aberration.
> It's unfortunate you had that experience.
>
> My point is simply that I have heard too often
> from too many people how inconvenient every aspect
> of this election has been and I've gotten tired of
> that attitude. I really don't understand it, to be
> honest.
>
> But hey - you voted, which means you've earned
> your right to complain!

I'll admit that although it was excessive, the obstacle course I was presented with won't keep me from voting in the future. I'm not even very upset about it; my feeling is more like "Seriously? C'mon, show some respect." Apparently someone straightened it out because my wife didn't have the same experience when she voted several hours later. Had it just been the candidate out there shaking hands and thanking people, we probably wouldn't have even had this conversation.

There were other inconveniences, but nothing beyond standard campaigning stuff. The "Election Season Poppies" (aka the median signs) were annoying, but wholly expected. Sure it was "inconvenient" to pull fliers out of my front door once a week, but I have to do that anyways with sales stuff (lawn care, maid service, driveway work, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc). I even missed out on tix to the first Caps/Rangers playoff game because Miller Baker came by just before they went on sale, but even then I appreciated the chance to talk with a candidate directly about stuff.

I suppose it's just perspective. I grew up in the area so I've seen this stuff for 30 years. Maybe local elections aren't like this most other areas, so people get upset when confronted with it here. Maybe people are just getting less patient with politics in general. Maybe stress from other areas of life makes people less willing to deal with election time.

Well, now that this is out of my system, I have to find something else to complain about. As you said, I've earned the right to! :)

As a volunteer on election day, my goal was to offer a sample ballot to approaching voters. Nothing more sinister that that. You are not entitled to this information. We are providing assistance to make your voting experience go smoother. Most voters said a polite thank you, some said I have my mind made up, some said I did my homework, some were rude and did not respond, and others were rude and verbally attacked me for having a differing opinion than them. I had one nut that I almost had to call the police on. I worked from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm, pulling signs from the ground that I had put up, and others that I did not put up. If you think that I was there to block your way into a polling location, then you have not a clue about being a good citizen. Thank you for voting, and exercising your right to do so, and please respect others as you are not entitled to be whiny and rude to volunteers who happen to inhabit the same space you do.

Volunteer an election day Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a volunteer on election day, my goal was to
> offer a sample ballot to approaching voters.
> Nothing more sinister that that. You are not
> entitled to this information. We are providing
> assistance to make your voting experience go
> smoother. Most voters said a polite thank you,
> some said I have my mind made up, some said I did
> my homework, some were rude and did not respond,
> and others were rude and verbally attacked me for
> having a differing opinion than them. I had one
> nut that I almost had to call the police on. I
> worked from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm, pulling signs from
> the ground that I had put up, and others that I
> did not put up. If you think that I was there to
> block your way into a polling location, then you
> have not a clue about being a good citizen. Thank
> you for voting, and exercising your right to do
> so, and please respect others as you are not
> entitled to be whiny and rude to volunteers who
> happen to inhabit the same space you do.

Volunteer,

Wow, I reckon I touched a nerve here. Let me clarify some things...

1: I'm not mad at you.
2: I'm not mad at the other volunteers.
3: I was never rude to you.
4: I was never rude to any of the other volunteers.

I know your job is to provide people with information about who your organization supports. I have no problem with that. My problem was with the way in which the volunteers basically got in my way. I can come up with a ton of reasons why they did it that way ("Early morning enthusiasm, herd mentality, ignorance of rules, sunspots, distress over the Penn State controversy, etc), but that doesn't change the fact that it was excessive. Feel free to offer me whatever you have, just please don't get in my way as you do it.

It's a shame you had to deal with assholes like you describe. I can tell you the same thing you are telling me though, "I'm not one of the people you're complaining about it." I wasn't whiny or rude to anyone, I took their stuff, said thanks, and moved on. Hell, I think I even joked with the last guy that came up to me about all the junk I was getting. Again, I wasn't mad at them; I actually was more perturbed by Brian's response. Now that we've talked I hope we both understand better where the other is coming from; I don't begrudge volunteers handing out documentation, he acknowledges that it's excessive to block your path in order to do so.

Finally, thank you for cleaning up the signs. I'm noticing a significant difference and appreciate your efforts. Keep up the good work!

... and you wonder why there is a low turnout. I don't want to be F'd with at 6AM after being harassed since September. They spam my email with more bullcrap and invite me to make donations in people's living rooms. Politicians and their wanna be volunteers should get the F out of our space.

Like I've said before, the easiest way to be rid of all the inconvenience is to simply end your voter registration. Then nobody will bother you and you can continue to enjoy your space with nobody in it.

all you whiny, socially inept idiots deserve to live under a dictator. try to get a life and get out of your basement every once in a while.

I can't believe you idiots still vote. GET WITH IT! EVERYTHING IS FUCKED AND IT DOESNT MATterrrrrrrrr.

purely symbolic participatory act for suckers and rubes.

How else am I suppose to get face time with potential constituents ?

While I understand you don't want to be "bothered", I simply try to introduce myself and tell you a little more about what I'm trying to accomplish.

And many people were rude, but that's ok. It's a free country. Just as you have the right to be angry at people for trying to hand you information, we have the right to try to hand it to you.

Can you explain to me how the school board races are non- partisan?

The parties endorse them candidates they choose, give them money, and take money from them.

I'm just curious--it seems to me that the school board races were ESPECIALLY partisan this year.

I'd just like to understand how it works. Thanks.

Volunteer an election day Wrote:
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> As a volunteer on election day, my goal was to
> offer a sample ballot to approaching voters.
> Nothing more sinister that that. You are not
> entitled to this information. We are providing
> assistance to make your voting experience go
> smoother. Most voters said a polite thank you,
> some said I have my mind made up, some said I did
> my homework, some were rude and did not respond,
> and others were rude and verbally attacked me for
> having a differing opinion than them. I had one
> nut that I almost had to call the police on. I
> worked from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm, pulling signs from
> the ground that I had put up, and others that I
> did not put up. If you think that I was there to
> block your way into a polling location, then you
> have not a clue about being a good citizen. Thank
> you for voting, and exercising your right to do
> so, and please respect others as you are not
> entitled to be whiny and rude to volunteers who
> happen to inhabit the same space you do.

Thank you for volunteering. You were determined that you could either sit home and complain like 80% of the other Americans, or just get out and try to get some changes made. Volunteering is good for one's soul. I meet more great people when I'm doing volunteer activities as opposed to any other activity in my life.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm the real H.I.D. If you question my identity, just hit the quote button on one of my posts and look for any of the "L" characters that have been replaced by the uppercase "I" character. That will tell you who the fake is.

The school board races are "non-partisan" legally speaking, meaning that the two parties do not have an overt role in nominating candidates and there are no party primaries for those positions.

The school board used to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. When counties were allowed to opt for an elected board, the races were made non-partisan to both allow a wider number of folks to run (the Hatch Act prohibits federal workers, for example, from running for partisan office, but they can run for non-partisan ones) and to ensure that the school board elections didn't become overly political.

Clearly, that didn't work. Shortly after the change, the party committees began to "endorse" candidates. Since then, it's been pretty hard for even the best non-endorsed candidates to win.

Personally, I think it's time to end the charade and just make them partisan positions, let the parties nominate and provide slates. It would make legitimate what is already happening in reality.

Mike Kane for Delegate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How else am I suppose to get face time with
> potential constituents ?
>
> While I understand you don't want to be
> "bothered", I simply try to introduce myself and
> tell you a little more about what I'm trying to
> accomplish.
>
> And many people were rude, but that's ok. It's a
> free country. Just as you have the right to be
> angry at people for trying to hand you
> information, we have the right to try to hand it
> to you.

If politicians want votes, they ought to try saying something intelligent once in awhile. Every newby says they are going to fix the traffic. You have to be a F'n moron to think you can waltz into office and fix the traffic. It clearly shows that you have NO understanding of the process that starts in Richmond. School politicans say they are going to reduce classroom sizes. This isn't a tax payer problem - this is poor management of the FCPS administration but they are the politicians are too stupid to figure this out. The average citizen has more common sense and knowledge of what is going on. The politicians are full of bullshit rhetoric. The politicians made me miserable this year and I will not vote in the future - like the majority of the others who stayed at home - they were the smart ones.