(Thread) If you are told you are on Alabama's list of "inactive" voters, DO NOT LET THEM GIVE YOU A PROVISIONAL BALLOT. Inactive voters must fill out an update card and can then VOTE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
2. Many poll workers still don't get this, and I witnessed it happening again when I voted at the Homewood library. Because someone was on the inactive list, they were sent by poll workers there to vote by provisional ballot.
3. Thankfully, another poll worker stepped in at the last second and saved this woman's vote from going in the provisional envelope. He corrected the other poll workers who seemed genuinely confused about what to do with voters on the inactive list.
4. Here's why this matters. If you vote by provisional ballot, you have to go to the courthouse later this week to straighten things out and be counted. Usually, this never happens and those votes don't get counted.
5. What's worse is this: If you're on the inactive list, you're subject to getting purged in the next cycle if you don't vote in this cycle. By putting you in the "provisional" black hole, you're at risk of actually getting for-real purged later.
6. I don't believe this is all happening on purpose or by some plan. Sometimes it's real confusion on the part of poll workers who don't know any better. Sometimes it's an official who got a little bit of power and they want to use it on somebody.
7. But here's the thing: This is how real voter fraud happens. It's not a legion of illegal immigrants pretending to be Americans so they can vote. Fraud by impersonation almost never happens. It's people who should be able to vote like everybody else being told they can't.
8. And that DOES happen. I saw it with my own eyes this morning in the 20 minutes or so I stood in line to vote in one precinct in one tiny part of a big state. How many others are getting screwed the same way all over Alabama?
9. If this happens, or you run into any other funny business at the polls today, please let us know by filling out the form here. al.com/news/2018/11/w…
10. Also, will whoever wins the election for Secretary of State please not use so much money to tell people the Election is on Tuesday and instead spend some of that money making sure poll workers know what the hell they're doing?
11. Finally, if you demand a regular ballot because your'e on the inactive list and they still won't give you a regular one after filling out a form, let me know and I'll share with you @JohnHMerrill's real cell number.
