So, I didn’t get around to requesting an absentee ballot and I went to early vote today instead. I was also curious as to how the Barrow County BOE was going to live up to the promises the GA SoS made with regards to new machines. TLDR; right to secret ballot = denied. /1 
I walked in, encouraged by social distancing stickers and hand sanitizer. Then I approached the election official. No mask. We’ll come back to this issue in a minute.
Then a second poll worker (also no mask) instructed me to pick a machine. Here is where the fun begins.. /2
Then a second poll worker (also no mask) instructed me to pick a machine. Here is where the fun begins.. /2
As I look into the room ahead, there are perhaps 8 machines in a room that looked to be 15’x20’. Machines had cute blue dividers of the sort intended to keep kids from cheating on tests. Cute, I say, in the sense that they were laughable, and as effective as cling wrap pants. /3
In fact, in November, if the situation isn’t rectified, I may just dress in Saran Wrap for the occasion. “When in Rome,” and such...
(Keep reading) /4
(Keep reading) /4
As I walk past the woman who chose the machine next to mine, I can see clearly that she voted “yes,” on ballot question 1. In fact, I can see that anyone who’d walk past me could also ascertain my votes.
While I voted, 1 voter and poll worker walked within view of my machine. /5
While I voted, 1 voter and poll worker walked within view of my machine. /5
When the poll worker walked past, I shook my head but didn’t say anything. NB: poll worker is close enough to see I look irritated, thus poll worker can definitely see my whole ass ballot.
PW: Did you have a question?
Me: There is no privacy! /6
PW: Did you have a question?
Me: There is no privacy! /6
PW at end of process takes my paper ballot “receipt”...
(and I have NO idea whether the QR code matches the printed votes on the page because I’m not a machine and can’t read QR codes but anyway...)
...he is less than 3 feet from me, and feeds it into the machine face UP. /6
(and I have NO idea whether the QR code matches the printed votes on the page because I’m not a machine and can’t read QR codes but anyway...)
...he is less than 3 feet from me, and feeds it into the machine face UP. /6
As PW is feeding my hard-won* votes into the system face up where again, they are easily readable, he asks if I want to see a supervisor.
*(Your reminder here that suffrage forgot Black women were also women. That choice reverberates today.) /7
*(Your reminder here that suffrage forgot Black women were also women. That choice reverberates today.) /7
Did I want to see a supervisor?
Are they gonna rearrange alllll the machines, spoil my vote and the votes of every other early voter and let us vote again?
No. I told him I’d be getting in touch with @MarilynRMarks1 and @dufort_jeanne and Stacey Hopkins. /8
Are they gonna rearrange alllll the machines, spoil my vote and the votes of every other early voter and let us vote again?
No. I told him I’d be getting in touch with @MarilynRMarks1 and @dufort_jeanne and Stacey Hopkins. /8
Apologies if you are working on this issue and I didn’t tag you.
The point is: there was ZERO ballot secrecy. ZERO.
Second point: BOE’s really shouldn’t spend $$ on distancing stickers and sanitizer if they don’t have masks FOR AN AIRBORNE PATHOGEN.
Third point: .../9
The point is: there was ZERO ballot secrecy. ZERO.
Second point: BOE’s really shouldn’t spend $$ on distancing stickers and sanitizer if they don’t have masks FOR AN AIRBORNE PATHOGEN.
Third point: .../9
The SoS has been derelict in his duty to provide safeguards which will:
A.) protect ballot secrecy
B.) protect voters’ health
THEREFORE, Georgia voters *must* be allowed the same privilege as other states that have automatic mail-in ballots, Colorado chief among them. /10
A.) protect ballot secrecy
B.) protect voters’ health
THEREFORE, Georgia voters *must* be allowed the same privilege as other states that have automatic mail-in ballots, Colorado chief among them. /10
