My experience voting in Utah.. maybe I can, maybe I won't be allowed

[defacto7]

This post is about my first experience voting in Utah some years ago just after I moved from Oregon. I wrote this little journal entry about it just after the experience, and also later in my blog. As I look it over again today, I can't help but think of what we may be up against in the coming election if the GOP/teabaggers get their hands on those voting machines... Oh I forgot, they DO have their hands on those machines already. And what if they try to get control of the local county clerks office ... Oh wait, the GOP ARE the county clerks office in this state. Anyway... here's my little blurb:

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I just went to vote! What a good citizen I am, right? I registered at the Department of Motor Vehicles several months ago which I would imagine should be considered reputable. I checked my polling place on the Internet and it gave proper descriptions of my rightful polling spot, then took a brisk walk over to the place where I am to exercise my constitutional rights in the United States, But guess what? I wasn't registered. They looked at the maps, checked my address and, Oh my goodness! my address was not listed for that particular precinct. OK, I'll just walk a few more blocks. My friendly voting representatives then kindly called the county clerks office... but, oh my goodness! it seems the Internet was right and the precinct maps were wrong, but since I was not on their registration list anyway, my only choice was a provisional ballot to be scrutinized at a later date... if needed of course.

Now, here's where it gets weird. While I was there, 3 other people arrived to vote and all had the same problem. We all ended up doing provisional ballots which means we all sat at one big table to fill them out. Well, Curious George me glances across the table to see what parties were represented, and I happened to notice one thing we all had in common... we were all registered as Democrats! Imagine that! I decided to ask the other voters where they registered and it seems we registered at completely different registration places. Hmmm, no big deal I guess. At least it doesn't look like a problem with a particular registration point.

Remember, I live in THE most Republican state in America. Now here are 3 voters coming in at the same time, none of us have ever met, we all registered at different registration places, none of us were on the registration list, we all were sent to the wrong/right polling place, had to fill out hand written provisional ballots, and we were all Democrats.

Is this a coincidence? Maybe..... maybe not. In our present political climate of lies, false information, crooked clerk offices and voting fraud, I have no doubt that there could be manipulation going on. And about those provisional ballots? It's a vote that can easily just be thrown in the garbage or turned down by any Joe who thinks it doesn't look right. In the best case scenario such ineptness of the clerks office and inaccuracies in voting procedures certainly undermine my trust in our political system. I am now closer to believing the United States system is screwed to the hilt and it's claim of freedom almost null and void.

What constitution? What rights?

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That was then. Now... I KNOW the system is screwed, at least in this state. If we don't hold these constitution haters responsible, and keep our eye on our rights as citizens on the simplest, most precious, most basic of gifts from our countries founders... our right to vote, we are really doomed to the ravages of the middle ages, feudalism, fascism, theocracy... I can't imagine the possibilities as the landscape is to crazy to balance with reason based on past experience.

I am not even close to being a conspiracy theoretician of any kind. I come from sound, scientific, mathematical, reason based thinking... But the whole reality of our system is so close to being a fairytale, area 51, UFO kind of political environment, it's just too hard to believe. But I live here. I know what I know and it's the damnedest thing I would have ever imagined.

[xxqqqzme]

1. There are no

coincidences.

Harrowing!

[Hydra]

2. Area 51 was real

And welcome to Utah, the the land of the eternal Red. Tip for you: Register as an independent and you'll have a lot fewer hassles.

Also, watch out for the local religious wildlife- they look cute, but they bite when you get too close.

[defacto7]

3. Oh...don't I know!

The wildlife... you can pet them but don't feed them!

Independent huh? Well since the Dems don't restrict party affiliation to vote, it's a possibility.

[Hydra]

4. Indie is the way to go

They'll still look at you funny, though- the registration office I went to said, "Don't you want to register as a Republican? You can't vote in their primaries if you don't..."

Otherwise I'd say enjoy the good stuff here and learn not to step in the bear traps. There are a bunch of liberal people here with fun/funny/bizarre hobbies as well as various museums, natural areas and and good food. On the down side, this is a pretty open theocracy, and there are isolated areas you don't want to find yourself at unless you want to end up tied to a stake.

Oh, and be sure to vote, but as you said we have diebold machines...and it wouldn't matter anyway. This is one of 2 states where Bush's disapproval rating never went below 50%. Fight for the local politics and don't use labels- I've gotten very far arguing things in the form of economics and people's needs, while my friends in the Dem party turn brains off just by saying their affiliation here.

Oh, and welcome to DU as well- I hope you enjoy your stay.

[defacto7]

5. Thanks Hydra

I'm going to put you on my "there actually is humanity in Utah" list.

[truedelphi]

6. I have to echo what others are saying - when you live in a conservative area,

Registering as a Democrat will only cause grief.

If there is some advantage to being a registered Democrat, in a conservative area, then shouldn't the Democratic leaders, who have been told by election activists what people are actually dealing with, be more committed to how things work?

And one other thing - if you want to ensure that Dems and others are treated fairly, be an election judge on November 6th. It takes a sign up procedure, but you get paid well. (If you have a job, you can arrange right now to get the day off. It is every bit as important as being a juror.)

The poling places are supposed to have equal numbers of Dems to Republicans serving as election judges. However, I have often gotten the feeling that the "Dems" were actually Republicans, so be on your toes if you should work at the polling places. You will no doubt find it quite an experience.

[defacto7]

7. Sounds challenging

and an education to boot. I think I'll enquire about it. Thanks

[TheNaimSadik]

8. Spam deleted by NRaleighLiberal (MIR Team)