We voted early on Wednesday and I witnessed a confidence restoring event in our election system.
We had just arrived and I saw an older guy walk from the county clerk's office a half a block and into the early voting door. He was the only other voter in the place. Three poll workers greeted him. He presented his ID and they read it. And handed him his ID back. Then the following exchange took place.
Pollsters - Sir, you have a mail in ballot. You cannot vote here unless you present your mail in ballot. (My attention is suddenly very peaked.)
Man - Huh? Um... welllll....
Pollsters - You do have that right?
Man - Um... welll... it's at home.
Pollsters - Well sir, you cannot vote unless you present that to us or you can drop it off at the clerk's office.
Man - I don't know where that is. (Me in my mind: You just came from there!)
Pollsters explain where it is. then - you can drop it off there or mail it.
Man - There's no way I can vote today?
Pollsters - Not unless you bring your mail in ballot before we close.
Man - Hum... welllllll...... what if I tell you I lost it. (Me - once a liar always a liar.)
Pollsters - you will have to take that up with the Clerk's office. Then one says, can he vote with a provisional ballot? The one in charge says, "NO! He has a ballot according to our records. He cannot vote at all today unless he brings the mail in ballot."
The pollster in charge asked me quite loudly, "Ma'am, please step up. We are ready for you."
Man - Oh, ok well then... and turns to leave.
Me, silently and grinning ear to ear under my mask, "Well.... Bye."
I'm so glad we have early voting in Texas because it really allows the pollsters to learn about special circumstances and hopefully lets them figure out efficiency.
We had just arrived and I saw an older guy walk from the county clerk's office a half a block and into the early voting door. He was the only other voter in the place. Three poll workers greeted him. He presented his ID and they read it. And handed him his ID back. Then the following exchange took place.
Pollsters - Sir, you have a mail in ballot. You cannot vote here unless you present your mail in ballot. (My attention is suddenly very peaked.)
Man - Huh? Um... welllll....
Pollsters - You do have that right?
Man - Um... welll... it's at home.
Pollsters - Well sir, you cannot vote unless you present that to us or you can drop it off at the clerk's office.
Man - I don't know where that is. (Me in my mind: You just came from there!)
Pollsters explain where it is. then - you can drop it off there or mail it.
Man - There's no way I can vote today?
Pollsters - Not unless you bring your mail in ballot before we close.
Man - Hum... welllllll...... what if I tell you I lost it. (Me - once a liar always a liar.)
Pollsters - you will have to take that up with the Clerk's office. Then one says, can he vote with a provisional ballot? The one in charge says, "NO! He has a ballot according to our records. He cannot vote at all today unless he brings the mail in ballot."
The pollster in charge asked me quite loudly, "Ma'am, please step up. We are ready for you."
Man - Oh, ok well then... and turns to leave.
Me, silently and grinning ear to ear under my mask, "Well.... Bye."
I'm so glad we have early voting in Texas because it really allows the pollsters to learn about special circumstances and hopefully lets them figure out efficiency.
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