Voter suppresion in Cuyahoga County?

Vanity | 11/03/09 | Vanity

[Pessimist]

I live in Brecksville, OH. - a tiny red dot within the otherwise uniformly blue Cuyahoga county.

I woke up this morning eager to vote, but when I got to my usual polling place, there was no sign out by the street as there usually was. For a second I thought "did I get the day wrong?", but then I turned in anyway and was relieved to see that I hadn't.

But when I got inside I found the table I always vote at was empty. ?? I asked a worker and was told they moved my boting location. I looked at the card the county sent me, and sure enough she was right.

Ok, so off to the other location. Guess what? No sign out there either. It's a fairly county large vo-ed campus, so I drove in and started riding around. Again, no signs.

Finally I happened down another campus road and found the polling place, but it took a while. Even once you found the enterance, there we no signs inside - and it's a big building. Two older ladies and I hoofed around the builing for a while till we found a receptionist who directed us to the polling room. The place seemed deserted otherwise. (Shouldn't it be a school day?)

I asked a poll worker "Why nio signs out at the street?". Her answer: "Really? No signs out there? We'll look into it."

I also asked why the change in polling place. She said it was to consolidate locations. I told her I couldn't understand that since the old location was still open, and our precint's table was just empty there now. Her response was a shrug and a blank stare.

When I was leaving, I ran into several others there looking lost and driving around. They were all kind of puzzled too...

I wasn't the only one who smelled the faint whiff of voter supression though.

To those of you not from here, realize our county is little more than democratic machine currently mired in a corruption probe. Our county commisioner (google Jimmy Dimora) is under indictment. Let's just say we practice Chicago style politics, if you know what I'm sayin'...

Anybody else here from Brecksville? Anybody else from Cuyahoga county?

Did they have signs out where you voted?

PS: I have a call in to the Mayor to see if he has any clout w/ the County.

[mmichaels1970]

Gives the powers that be a better chance to push things through. Less general interest, less voter turnout

Lots of special elections here in Ohio. Many are not even in November. A good example for the point above are school levies (property tax hikes). Sometimes they can fail three or four times in a two year period. Schools can just keep sticking them on the ballot until they pass. Schools will then pick and choose elections with the best low-turnout potential. They'll rally the kiddies and robocall their parents.

In the meantime, with each failure, they'll remove services as a form of blackmail. First failure, you may lose sports. Second failure, you lose bussing. Third failure, you start getting charged "consumables fees" for your students. After the levy finally passes, you get bussing and sports back. But you continue to pay the "consumables fees".

[Salvation]

Sounds like little ACORNS trying to make big oaks in Ohio!

[Past Your Eyes]

That’s what I’m thinking. And I don’t even call myself Pessimist.

[lionheart 247365]

Just remember ,,,,,, A Pessimist is an Optimist with experience ,,,,,,, your new tag line .

[Pessimist]

Whereabouts?

You must have quite a drive everyday...

[Nateman]

If you should ever find yourself caught in the same game then

1. Put up a sign at the old place with directions on where to go.

2.Put up a sign in the new place.

3. If this was done on purpose to suppress voting then having a way to catch somebody removing the signs you put up will lead to catching the RATS responsible.

[mom4melody]

I work at the VA. I take I-80 to work - about 27 miles.

[Robert A Cook PE]

But the ONLY question is:

Are YOU a “minority” trying to vote for democrats?

Or are YOU the evil, rich, racist, hate-filled, republican bigot trying to oppress minorities, and kill women and children by polluting the environment?

[Pessimist]

Small world!

My brother-in-law works right across the street from you at Lubrizol.

Aren’t they supposed to close that VA? Seems like I’ve been hearing that for years.

[mom4melody]

yes - it supposed to close once all the construction is completed at Wade Park.

[traditional1]

I'm in Strongsville. My polling place had no signs, either, but being such an off-year election, with only local and State ballot issues, there wasn't the usual glut of promoters outside, etc.

Likewise, voting participation seemed very light, as could be expected in an off-year.

I suspect that in 2010, when the Congressional elections occur, there'll be much more activity and signage.

[Caryson]

I understand your frustration about the polling place being moved. But the responsibility of getting the Polls is on the Voter.

I have worked as a Poll Worker for every election in my CA district over the past year because I felt something was wrong.

On off year elections, like most counties, Election Board, the Los Angeles County Board of Elections, consolidates Polling locations simply because LESS people tend to vote in these elections and it is harder to get VOLUNTEERS to work the elections.

This could be the case in your Ohio district but it is up to us, the people to work the polls and read the materials that are sent out PRIOR to the election.

Most importantly, you are Voting! That is the most important fact in your post and I salute you for exercising your right as a citizen!

[sportutegrl]

Reading your post suggests to me that we need poll workers. It is easy to become a poll worker. Start now applying to become one for 2010. This is the best, strongest way to protect your district.