"It's invisible ink," officials said. "The scanner will count it."
"Part of me was thinking it does sound stupid enough to be true,'' said Amy Carlton, who had serious doubts but went ahead and voted anyway. But their votes weren't recorded after all. Source.
Blgonotes: Well, Fagus, when's the next 49th ward committeeman's instructional meeting on how to use this Magic Pen? This is the only meeting you could possibly hold, I would want to attend.
5 comments:
Yesterday, I read a news media account of what happened to Amy CArlton in our ward’s 42nd Precinct.
Today, I’ve read local and national blog accounts that aim to make fun of both the magic pen mystery, and her as well. I’m sorry that some labeled her “stupid” and made other unwarranted and unkind comments.
I thought, “What a courageous and smart voter” after I read her report of everything she did to pursue this magic pen baloney.
She tried to challenge the election judges at her polling place. Many voters know that they are supposed to do what they are told when the election judges issue a ruling. In a hurry to get to work or wherever, they buckle under and move along in the face of authority. After all, the polling place officials are “election judges” right? They have the power to call the police and have you arrested if you cause a disturbance. I’m not surprised that she acquiesced to their bizarre explanations.
Instead of stupid, it’s clear that she acted with keen instinct. She quickly planned to continue to object to what she was told to do. She traded phone numbers with a fellow voter so she could compare notes and keep in touch. She went out of her way to pursue the matter directly with the ward committeeman. It’s appalling that, as she wrote, “the committeeman and another guy working in that office both said when I asked about the invisible ink thing, "Yeah, that's how they're doing it this year."
She went further. She called the news media and the board of elections officials to inquire and complain. HOW MANY VOTERS WOULD DO ALL THAT?
Instead of casting aspersions, courage and determination are words that are apropos to her. I think “apology” is another word that must be invoked as well. For all her trouble and effort someone owes her and the other voters who were misguided at least that.
Peace, Michael J. Harrington
"Ms. Carlton proceeded to build a Lego model of Barack Obama’s face, but the vote-scanning machine rejected that as well. And then it exploded." Source.
Voter lied to. Voter argues, loses argument with judge, follows up, raises pressure, fixes situation.
A-hole blogger rips voter.
Now, who's at fault here?
Craig, I've put up with the crap that you spew because I found you a valuable resource for what's going on in the ward once you push down through the crap. But I have to say, this is a new low for you.
Personally, you can stop counting me in your weekly and monthly hit-counters. I suggest you find someone new to blame for what's wrong in this neighborhood than a voter who made sure her vote actually counted despite being lied to.
Enjoy your bile-filled little corner.
- David Terrell
I have to second the comments (except Craig's), above. This woman went to exceptional effort to make sure her vote was counted, and deserves accolades, not ridicule, for both her perseverance and her attempt to expose some Cook County voting shenanigans.
Craig, your attacks are unfounded and exceptionally mean-spirited. I won't be reading this blog any longer.
Even though I moved to Custer Ave. in Evanston a few years ago, I still read you. I was an election judge for three years when I lived in Rogers Park. It's not a difficult job, but during a busy election day, it gets overwhelming to some people. Plus, some of my fellow election judges were living on the fringes of society. They were fantastic people, but one couldn't read, one had some mental problems going on, and one kept falling asleep. That was one year. I don't know what that says about me; that I enjoyed being an election judge. Sometimes I miss it!
In any case, Amy isn't stupid - not at all. She knew something was wrong, she questioned the judges, they did not give an adequate answer, and so she followed up using different avenues. What should she have done? Left with a "magic pen" and an empty ballot? Carried with her a microcassette recorder in order to tape a judge saying it was a magic pen?
It's easy to make fun of people. But I'm putting myself in Amy's shoes and in the election judges' collective shoes, and I just see a comedy of errors. Nothing more, nothing less.
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