Last election I had two problems at the local poll.  

1.  I brought my camera to the poll and into the voting stall and photographed my ballot and the voting machine.  The head poll worker told me I couldn't do that.     I asked to see the written regulatikon/prohibition against photography.   The worker was on the "I'm calling the police" route when I asked her if she could call her supervisor.  She did.  The supervisor spoke with me and the result was that cameras were ok in the poll.

2.  I came with a valid out of state driver's license as ID.  The head poll worker said it had to be an Ohio license.  I asked to see the written regulation.  She showed it to me and the regulation reads:  "provide a state issued driver's license".  In other words, a driver's license issued by any state, not just Ohio.  The worker was substititing "Ohio" when she read "state".  She called into headquarters and this was also resolved

I was batting Two for Two!  Better than I usually do...Thanks to poll workers who were sincere and weren't egoistic.  But it took me an hour to go through the issues and vote.

I just returned from a training session with Election Protection, which is sponsored by People for the American Way.

The meeting was held at Antioch Baptist Church on Cedar at E89 in Cleveland, Ohio.  I did this in the past also, so this is a refresher for me.

We are being trained to monitor polling places to observe any irregularities and to be  able to provide immediate legal help - at any polling place - if required.  The training gets down to the nitty gritty - if a passing car is harassing voters, we have a warning paper to hand out to them. 

Every observer has a cell phone contact for consultation,  and if consultation doesn’t resolve the issue, a lawyer schooled in election law will be dispatched to the polling place.

Channel 5 sent a film crew to interview the 10 volunteers and the 2 Election Protection trainers, one who came from Washington, DC, and the other from Columbus, Ohio.   I appreciate Channel 5 being on the ball and helping emphasize the importance of poll monitoring.

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Our job is to make sure everyone who comes to the polling place is able to vote.

If you are interested in helping in the future, please contact Election Protection.  This work makes you feel like you are doing something important.

I froze my bejesus off this morning at the polling location at Gallagher on West 66th.  Luckily, a kindhearted man saw the three of us doing jumping jacks and he came out with hot coffee for all of us!  There are not a lot of people venturing out in this miserable weather.  Get out there people.  Oh, and try not to lose it when you see that the whole process is one big joke.  I have confidence that my paper ballot won't end up trampled on the floor somewhere...heaven help us.