Posted on 09/24/2012 5:26:07 PM PDT by WayneM
Something we fear, and often see discussed and lamented, is election fraud. We here at Free Republic, as a community of concerned individuals, are in a position to counter at least some of the Democrat party sponsored and encouraged voter fraud.
We as conservatives complain about voter fraud, but how many of us actually do something other than complain about it?
I'm asking all of you to seriously consider contacting your local Republican party office and volunteering your services as a poll watcher or poll worker for the upcoming election.
We only get one vote (at least for those of us who are honorable), but poll watchers and workers can prevent the votes of the honest multitude from being negated by the dishonest few. They are also in a position to ensure all legitimate votes are counted and reported.
Here in my home state of Alabama, all it takes is for the Republican Party to put your name on a list of watchers. This list is then submitted to the voter registrar, and you are assigned a polling place to observe.
The Republican party provides training where you are trained in how to detect and properly report irregular voting practices, as well as how to behave yourself in the polling place.
The investment in time is relatively small - a few hours of training (usually one evening) and a full day spent working at the polling place.
You will probably be requested to show up and inspect the voting machines before the polls open in order to prevent ballot box stuffing prior to voting. You may be requested to stick around and watch as the votes are tallied. You may be requested to observe as the tallied votes are transferred from one individual to another.
The rewards, both personal and to our country, are great. I don't regret a minute of my time spent over the years doing this work.
Many of us cannot contribute as much money to our candidates as we would like, but this is a case where volunteer work may be even more important than financial contributions.
I will be glad to answer any questions, but keep in mind things may be different here in Alabama compared in your state. This is why you need to contact your local party officials.
Please note... If you live in a district where the local election officials are Democrats, they may be no opposition to all sorts of polling place tricks. As a poll watcher, you may be the only Republican or Independent working at the site. I cannot overstate the importance of this work. In some districts, particularly in swing states and districts, IT IS VITAL.
Please consider volunteering for this important job. And do it quickly because time is running out and your name must be submitted by local party officials weeks ahead of the election.
Please note. I have posted this in past years with minor changes, and will probably post it again in a week or so.
I am not in the habit of posting vanity stuff, but this is something I strongly believe in and take very seriously, so feel compelled.
Also - I ask that people bump and ping to keep in the spotlight. This is something we at Free Republic can do to really make a difference.
Thanks, Wayne
A poll watcher is a volunteer and a very important one. The Republican party officials in your county or city can have you placed in any district they choose. Hopefully one where all the workers are democrats. They are required to give you a seat from which you can observe. You will be there before the polls open and can verify the ballot boxes or machines have not been stuffed ahead of time. You will be there at the end of the day as the votes are counted and tallied, and will get the opportunity to sign off on and record the final precinct vote counts.
You will be in a position to protest any observed irregularities, and you will be given phone numbers or Republican party officials to call in the event the irregularities are not corrected.
There is no pay but you have more freedom than the workers, who cannot get up and observe with the same degree of freedom.
If you are selected to observe in a precinct with a Democrat captain and all Democrat workers, you will likely be treated with what I call "civil coolness" and you will feel like "the enemy", but they may warm up to you.
Are fair elections worth approximately 20 hours total of your time? They are mine.
That is an interesting idea, I might have to take you up on that. I’ll contact the local election board and check into this.
Don’t much matter around here, Texas Our Texas, will go for the R’s I’m sure, but it might be an eye opener.
That is an interesting idea, I might have to take you up on that. I’ll contact the local election board and check into this.
Don’t much matter around here, Texas Our Texas, will go for the R’s I’m sure, but it might be an eye opener.
Instead contact the local Republican party officials. By law they have the right to place observers/watches where they want.
The board probably can’t be bothered to help in this regard, especially if they are Dims.
HOw do i do this in NH
Yeah, I gave them my info. Probably be some elementary school in south Oak Cliff, but whatever. I’ll take a day off work, I have to burn all my PTO before New Year’s Day anywho.
That might be good for a few laughs.
I’m worried about Barney Frank doing this in Massachusetts.
“City of Brotherly Love, pick up the white courtesy phone!”
We were not permitted to use cellphones in polling locations
We were not permitted to take pictures if we thought something was “wrong” etc. So if I saw a poll worker telling someone where to mark a ballot...no recording it. No evidence.
Basically if we needed to do anything and call for assistance we actually had to do that off the polling location grounds!
But they didn't need to worry about the GOP ....we were failed by absolute disorganization. Volunteers never got notification of which poll, no ID to get in to observe, it was an epic failure. I scheduled a day off to do this, lost a days pay etc. and was stationed nowhere.
WE got letters of apology a week later ....
I don't understand why this stuff is so freakin’ hard to do in OHio? It is not like our first election.
The fact ours was so screwed up should not discourage anyone from doing this. In fact, I found the whole experience tremendously enlightening and I learned a lot about how things are controlled in my county.
In the primary I just made sure I took my time casting my ballot, I took a booth close to the check-in tables etc. and made sure I paid attention at all the actions happening in that location. From being accosted going into the location by a liberal who was upset she had to go to a Catholic School to cast a ballot to people shaking their heads in disbelief at her antics...to the ‘attitude’ when I asked for a republican ballot....
Cuyahoga County, Ohio gave 0bama Ohio last time and unless the GOP gets serious and gets it together...it will again.
My mom and I are both poll workers for our district. There is some training needed, but it’s only a few hours. Most polling places will be desperate for help this election, we’re expecting to get swamped!
Wayne, great post and a great mission. From your years of service do you have any good stories of catching any illegal voters?
Great post! I am one step ahead of you. I know where “get out the vote” struck last year and this year I will be there with a camera ready to go. I am not alone. THE VOTING LOCATIONS IN COLUMBUS OHIO WILL BE WATCHED!
I’m also in AL. In Huntsville area . . . I volunteered in ‘08 and ‘10 and never heard from a soul.
I’d still love to volunteer. I’ll try again this year. I don’t think there are a lot of shenanigans going on out here in Madison County, but nonetheless I’d love to poll watch. A family tradition in my family.
Thanks for posting. If 10% of Freepers in swing states volunteered as poll watchers and deterred five illegal votes apiece, it would make a difference. And believe me, your simple presence will deter illegal votes. There are many stories to be told, but the long and short is that a visible hall monitor reduces bad behavior.
For those who are interested in poll watching, please make sure to specify if are willing to do just election day or if you are also available for early voting. It is also helpful if you go to your state's website and print out all laws that are relevant to voting particularly those that deal with when a voter must cast a provisional ballot.
You need to contact your local (probably county, or perhaps State) Republican party officials. They know the contacts, the rules and the procedures, and can fast-track your offer of help.
If we could get every conservative to think this way then all the polls nationwide will be watched. In 2008 get out the vote were bringing bus loads of “homeless” people to the polls. One voting location in particular, on Morse Road in Columbus Ohio, was a bus drop off. They may try it again but at least I will have it on camera. I do not plan on confronting anybody... Just my congressman immediately.
Great idea Wayne. So glad you put it out for the FReeper challange! I am a precinct captain and will be at my precinct keeping an eye open!!
Never caught anyone doing anything wrong. Here in Alabama there aren’t many Democrats (only one elected official at a state-wide level), and people here are somewhat old-fashioned in that the majority believe in the sanctity of our election process.
This makes me lucky for civic reasons and unlucky for the excitement reasons.
Still, I tell myself that if it were not for me and other volunteers, who knows what might go on.
My wife is the local election judge.
There will be no hanky-panky at the polls locally.
She has many years of experience and knows the election rules.
I probably will be helping.
And we know most everyone in town.
It’s great to get it on camera, but once the votes are cast and the day is over, not much (if anything) will be done. The only way to stop it is to call the local Republican officials, let them drive over and observe, and then they call the law if deemed necessary.
I believe the real importance lies in:
1) verifying “empty” ballot boxes before the polls open
2) Being able to alert the proper officials quickly in case of irregularities.
3) verifying and recording the vote count, and
4) maintaining an official presence throughout the day - and yes, as a watcher appointed by the Republican party, you ARE official.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.