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Time for change

(13,714 posts)
Sun May 29, 2016, 02:38 PM May 2016

Some Tips to California Voters to Avoid Being Disenfranchised

I got much of this from a former California precinct worker who posted it at a Bernie Sanders site, Jackpine Radicals. He is especially concerned about a category of voters called DTS (Declined To State party preference), who legally can vote in the Democratic Party, but he is worried that they might be targeted for suppression in an attempt to steal the election. However, I see that according to the California Secretary of State Website, the DTS category has been renamed to NPP (No Party Preference – perhaps in an effort to confuse these voters), so I will cover them together. The poster also includes a disclaimer which says that this information is correct and current to the best of his knowledge, unless the Democratic Party made recent rule changes that he is unaware of with the goal of taking votes away from Bernie. I will summarize his most important points:

1) MOST IMPORTANT: If you are in the DTS or NPP category, they will probably try to give you a non-partisan ballot (in fact the SOS website specifically says they will), which does not include the Presidential primary on it. If they ask you which ballot you want to receive, or if they don’t ask and try to give you a non-partisan ballot, tell them you want a Democratic ballot. Do not just say that you are a Democrat, or don’t say that at all. Tell them you want a Democratic ballot, which they are legally required to give to you if you request it (assuming you are registered DTS or NPP or Democratic and at the right precinct). Make sure you have a Democratic ballot before you vote. If you mistakenly begin voting and then realize that the Presidential primary is not on the ballot or that one of the candidate’s names is not on the ballot, do not finish voting – take the ballot to a poll worker and demand a Democratic ballot. If they refuse to give you one, report to the highest election official at the polls and to the Sanders campaign.

2) Many California voters are reporting that their registrations have been switched to Republican or some other category which is not allowed to participate in the Democratic primaries, or if they are voting absentee have received an absentee ballot that does not include the Presidential primary on it. So check your voter registration, and if it has been switched, get it changed back if you can. They forge signatures in order to change voter registrations, and this can be easily proved, but you would have to go to the BOE office or County Elections Office and have them compare your signature to the signature that changed your voter registration.

3) Do not wear anything that will identify you as a Sanders voter. If you do, you may be accused of electioneering, or you risk being illegally purged or having your vote not count.

4) If you are newly registered or recently changed your registration, but you did so by May 24, you are legally allowed to vote in the Democratic primary if your most current registration change is to the Democratic Party or DTS or NPP (there may be one or more other categories that are also legally allowed to vote, but it doesn’t appear to me that that is the case). So, if you are told at the polls that your name is not on the roster, ask them to check “Late Changes”, where your name should appear.

5) If your name cannot be found, make sure that you are in the right precinct. If you are not, make an attempt to vote in the right precinct because otherwise you will be required to vote Provisional ballot, which may not count.

6) If you are in line by 8 pm, you must be allowed to vote (if otherwise legally allowed to vote). If they try to tell you otherwise, report it to the highest election official at the polls and to the Sanders campaign.

7) If you received an absentee ballot but didn’t use it, in order to cast a regular vote (i.e. not provisional ballot), you must bring a spoiled absentee ballot with you to the polls.

8) Voter ID is not required by law in California. But I would advise that if you have one, bring it anyhow, just in case.

9) If they say that your voter status is inactive, you are still legally allowed to vote by regular ballot in California. If they don’t give you a Democratic ballot, report to highest election official at the polls and to Sanders campaign.

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Some Tips to California Voters to Avoid Being Disenfranchised (Original Post) Time for change May 2016 OP
I already mailed my six absentee ballots and my registration is golden. cherokeeprogressive May 2016 #1
Take your state voters' guide with you Retrograde May 2016 #2
If you see Bill Clinton... bobbobbins01 May 2016 #3
Kick And Rec THIS And Copy And Paste Widely For Cali Voters! The CHEATING MUST Be OPPOSED! CorporatistNation May 2016 #11
Bill and his bullhorn beltanefauve May 2016 #20
...or you'll...what? brooklynite May 2016 #33
Kick THIS POST! And Dial 911 If He Does! CorporatistNation May 2016 #41
Kick for CA. Waiting For Everyman May 2016 #4
This is BS, its all made up speculation to create suspicion and fuel animosity. procon May 2016 #5
Really? Time for change May 2016 #6
Yes, really. There is no imaginary conspiracy to keep poor Bernie off the ballot. procon May 2016 #7
In case you didn't get the point of my post Time for change May 2016 #10
Why would they not know? It's not a secret Retrograde May 2016 #16
Why do YOU not know that not every voter that comes to the polls is familiar with the process? Time for change May 2016 #17
And what about the many reports of registration changes reported to Election Justice USA? Time for change May 2016 #8
You can wear your Bernie button or your Hillary t-shirt to the polls SheilaT May 2016 #27
K&R liberal_at_heart May 2016 #9
I went and looked at that site. barrow-wight May 2016 #12
Oh my gosh!! Time for change May 2016 #13
That's my whole point. barrow-wight May 2016 #18
He is the leader of a progressive movement in this country Time for change May 2016 #22
Whatever happened to issues-oriented issues? barrow-wight May 2016 #29
I don't believe that we put too much faith in Bernie Time for change May 2016 #31
I applaud anyone who works with others on a goal that's worthy. barrow-wight May 2016 #36
K&R TheFarS1de May 2016 #14
CA sends several pieces of literature to people's home, telling them they can request a D ballot Starry Messenger May 2016 #15
Sure you get them. You're a Hillary voter. Time for change May 2016 #19
So your theory is that the CA SOS read my mind before I even voted Starry Messenger May 2016 #21
His database of voters has been hacked Time for change May 2016 #23
That has nothing to do with CA. Starry Messenger May 2016 #25
Let me explain it again Time for change May 2016 #26
Who and How? Starry Messenger May 2016 #28
There are numerous reports of people whose registrations have been changed in CA, as well as several Time for change May 2016 #30
Why don't you read my posts? Starry Messenger May 2016 #37
Grow the hell up CreekDog May 2016 #32
A privilege? Time for change May 2016 #34
Voting in a presidential election is a right, undoubtedly CreekDog May 2016 #35
Your antipathy to voter education is astounding Time for change May 2016 #42
I'm in favor of education CreekDog May 2016 #43
New excuse being created I see. Demsrule86 May 2016 #24
Pretty sad when you have to warn voters not to wear anything identifying you as a Bernie B Calm May 2016 #38
That is a repeat of the advice I got from the former CA poll worker at the Bernie site, Time for change May 2016 #39
Very true! Hillary supporters seem to be going out of their way to suppress voters rights. B Calm May 2016 #40

Retrograde

(10,136 posts)
2. Take your state voters' guide with you
Sun May 29, 2016, 03:33 PM
May 2016

The rules are clearly summarized there: it even has a state-wide number to call if there are problems. You can download a copy here

BTW, the "NPP" designation is not new for this election. My ballot actually reads "Democratic - Non Partisan" because in some counties, Santa Clara for one, there are two different Democratic ballots - one for NPP voters who want to vote in the Democratic primary and one for registered Democrats that includes an election for party officials. No one is "disenfranchising" you if you're No Party Preference and aren't given the latter.

And most importantly, DON'T FORGET THE REST OF THE BALLOT! There is also a primary for US Senator open to all California voters - this will be the first time in 24 years that Boxer will not be on the ballot, so the race is wide open.

ETA: If the ballot you're given has Sanders buried in the middle of the candidates and your friend in a different part of the state says he was the last one listed, don't panic. California has a strange way of listing candidates to avoid biasing the vote towards the person at the head of the list. The Secretary of State draws letters at random, and uses those to order the candidates for each office in Assembly district 1. Then the names are rotated in each district so a different person is on top. Sanders got the first line on my ballot - it took a while to find my Senate choice in the field of 32.

CorporatistNation

(2,546 posts)
11. Kick And Rec THIS And Copy And Paste Widely For Cali Voters! The CHEATING MUST Be OPPOSED!
Sun May 29, 2016, 08:04 PM
May 2016

We must be wary of THIS:

MSNBC To the deniers... Watch THIS Video... It is not comforting to think that she may well be the Democratic Nominee...

Hillary really betrayed Andrea Mitchell... The entire context of this report was of a solemn nature... A Funeral so to speak...

Andrea Mitchell "I do not see this report as ...ANYTHING BUT... DEVASTATING!"

Chuck Todd "After this I don't think that she could get confirmed for Attorney General!"

Lots of FIBBING by Hillary here.. for more than a year!

CorporatistNation

(2,546 posts)
41. Kick THIS POST! And Dial 911 If He Does!
Mon May 30, 2016, 11:33 AM
May 2016
MSNBC To the deniers... Watch THIS Video... It is not comforting to think that she may well be the Democratic Nominee...

Hillary really betrayed Andrea Mitchell... The entire context of this report was of a solemn nature... A Funeral so to speak...

Andrea Mitchell "I do not see this report as ...ANYTHING BUT... DEVASTATING!"

Chuck Todd "After this I don't think that she could get confirmed for Attorney General!"

Lots of FIBBING by Hillary here.. for more than a year!

procon

(15,805 posts)
5. This is BS, its all made up speculation to create suspicion and fuel animosity.
Sun May 29, 2016, 04:07 PM
May 2016

I worked my local polling place for years, and the "Declined To State" party preference was changed years ago and has nothing to do with Sanders.

When you go to your polling place as a No Party Preference voter you can pick from 4 ballots, a non-partisan ballot, which will have no presidential candidates listed... like if you're really pissed off and don't want to vote for any candidate. There's also the American Independent Party (not the same as an Independent), the Democratic Party, or the Libertarian Party. The Republicans only allow Republicans to vote.

You can wear anything you want into the polling place, shirts, hats, bling, it not an issue. What you can't do is carry in signs, or hand out literature, or confront other voters. You can however do that outside and away from the actual polling place.

The workers will ask you which ballot you want, not just give you one arbitrarily. They have to account for all the ballots and if a voter discovers they were given the wrong ballot and returns it, or they change their minds (voters can actually screw up 3 ballots), the poll workers still have to log those in and account for them. No one is going to refuse to give any voter a ballot, that is purely a lie.

Even if you show up at the wrong polling place for some reason, cant get to your correct polling place, or your name is not on the list at that precinct, you still have the right to cast a provisional ballot there. California wants everyone to vote and the system is designed to make it very easy for everyone to vote.


Time for change

(13,714 posts)
6. Really?
Sun May 29, 2016, 04:12 PM
May 2016

Is the California SOS website that says NPP voters will be given a nonpartisan ballot made up bullshit?

Go to the site and see for yourself.

procon

(15,805 posts)
7. Yes, really. There is no imaginary conspiracy to keep poor Bernie off the ballot.
Sun May 29, 2016, 05:01 PM
May 2016
Voting in the June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election

An NPP voter will receive a non-partisan ballot, which will have no presidential candidates listed.
However, upon request, an NPP voter can instead vote the presidential ballot of the following parties:

American Independent Party
Democratic Party
Libertarian Party

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/political-parties/no-party-preference/





When you go to your polling place on June 7, simply ask for a Democratic ballot instead of the plain vanilla No Party Preference version. You can then vote for either Democratic candidate you prefer.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
10. In case you didn't get the point of my post
Sun May 29, 2016, 08:01 PM
May 2016

There are bound to be many NPP voters who will not know to ask for a Democratic ballot. They will receive a non-partisan ballot, as specified on the SOS website, and they will vote on it, and at some point they will realize that their ballot does not offer them an opportunity to vote for president. They may not know what to do, and that's the way it will end.

The major purpose of my OP is to let them know to ASK for a Democratic ballot.

If you want to believe that this isn't done purposely to prevent Sanders voters from voting, go ahead and believe that. It doesn't matter. Whether it was done purposely or not, I'm posting this in the hope that it will help some voters know how to handle this situation so that they don't get disenfranchised.

Retrograde

(10,136 posts)
16. Why would they not know? It's not a secret
Sun May 29, 2016, 08:38 PM
May 2016

It's the way primaries in California have been run for many election cycles. AND the information is available in the voters guide that is sent to every household in California with registered voters. And is available on-line. And is available in several languages. And is available as an audio file.

Yes, NPP voters who vote by mail will receive the default ballot unless they ask for it. But registered NPP voters were asked which ballot they wanted before the mail ballots were sent: I was, as were friends in the neighboring county. Now if someone didn't bother registering until the May 23 deadline and decided then that they wanted to vote by mail, it takes time to get a physical ballot delivered. If only the SoS website told voters how to correct mistakes - wait, it does: point 5.

I'm curious: have you ever voted in a partisan California primary? If so, when?

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
17. Why do YOU not know that not every voter that comes to the polls is familiar with the process?
Sun May 29, 2016, 09:20 PM
May 2016

Why do YOU not know that many tens or hundreds of thousands of voters in the California primaries will be NEW voters, i.e. they have never voted before in California?

Why do YOU not know that millions of would-be voters in the Democratic primaries this year have been disenfranchised?

Do you really think that it makes sense to give people a ballot to vote with that contains no option for voting in the Presidential primary -- the main reason why most voters come out to vote -- UNLESS the purpose is to disenfranchise them?

What do YOU have against an effort on DU to educate voters to avoid potential disenfranchisement?

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
8. And what about the many reports of registration changes reported to Election Justice USA?
Sun May 29, 2016, 05:01 PM
May 2016

Is that made up bullshit too?

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
27. You can wear your Bernie button or your Hillary t-shirt to the polls
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:38 PM
May 2016

in California?

That's interesting. Here in New Mexico, there are signs outside the polling places politely reminding you that you may not wear any campaign paraphernalia, or you will not be allowed to vote.

I early voted on Friday. I love this state for their excellent early voting.

barrow-wight

(744 posts)
12. I went and looked at that site.
Sun May 29, 2016, 08:05 PM
May 2016

It's like a cult. It's not a movement centered on issues. It's a rally around a person. His photo is in the masthead. And the topics? "All things Bernie"??? Really? How about "all things progressive" and maybe people will think more highly of you than those screaming Beatles fans of the 60's.

Part (ok, a really small part) of me feels bad for the emotional crash that's coming. I sense this will be worse for them than it was for me when ET didn't win best picture.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
13. Oh my gosh!!
Sun May 29, 2016, 08:13 PM
May 2016

A Bernie Sanders web site that has a forum labeled "all things Bernie". How scandalous!

That's almost as bad as a U.S. Secretary of State who jeopardizes our national security with a private server that she uses to hide what she does from federal authorities and the American people.

barrow-wight

(744 posts)
18. That's my whole point.
Sun May 29, 2016, 09:49 PM
May 2016

It's a "Bernie Sanders website" named after a now-deceased DU'er who presumably stood for more than just Bernie Sanders. It's rather insulting to his memory I think to reduce his legacy to nothing more than a shill for a specific candidate rather than a broader spectrum of progressive ideas.

But it's ok. I support you. If you don't hurl every last emotion into the cult of personality that is that candidate, how am I going to revel in your disappointment when he loses?

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
22. He is the leader of a progressive movement in this country
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:02 PM
May 2016

There don't seem to be too many leaders left in the Democratic Party who give a damn about progressive ideas.

He will still be the leader of that movement even if he doesn't win the Democratic nomination. That's why there are web sites that are centered on him.

You can call it a cult if you want. But he is the most issues oriented candidate for president in either party we've had in a long time.

barrow-wight

(744 posts)
29. Whatever happened to issues-oriented issues?
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:58 PM
May 2016

In the greater scheme of time, it's great to be inspired by people, but if you put too much faith in one person, they will eventually fail you.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
31. I don't believe that we put too much faith in Bernie
Mon May 30, 2016, 01:02 AM
May 2016

Anyhow, he's the only leader we have right now with a chance to be President.

And the other two alternatives right now are looking very bleak for us liberals. So we'll work with him to achieve a common goal.

barrow-wight

(744 posts)
36. I applaud anyone who works with others on a goal that's worthy.
Mon May 30, 2016, 03:02 AM
May 2016

But that's not what's going on over on that website. Not by a longshot. I've seen more sanity on the website for the Marshall Applewhite's Heaven's Gate site.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
15. CA sends several pieces of literature to people's home, telling them they can request a D ballot
Sun May 29, 2016, 08:33 PM
May 2016

I live here and I get them. There is no difficulty.

You can also skip all nine of those steps, and register as a Democrat, which is a lot easier to keep track of.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
19. Sure you get them. You're a Hillary voter.
Sun May 29, 2016, 10:03 PM
May 2016

Are you aware of how many Bernie voters have been disenfranchised this primary season? It's been ubiquitous. You have no idea how many people will come to the polls with proper instructions or how many will be disenfranchised.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
21. So your theory is that the CA SOS read my mind before I even voted
Sun May 29, 2016, 10:29 PM
May 2016

and sent me materials that were not marked in any way shape or form by any promotion for a candidate, and only sent me and other prospective Hillary voters, the instructions. That is your theory.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
23. His database of voters has been hacked
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:10 PM
May 2016

That's a good deal more than a theory.

In Arizona there were tons of Democratic voters who were not allowed to vote because election officials claimed that they were not registered as Democrats, even though the voters knew themselves to be registered as Democrats before coming to the polls. An investigation, reported in an article titled: “Anonymous Report: Was Arizona’s Voter Registration Hacked and Changed?”, searched the Internet to find all the claims that they could of voters who were disenfranchised in this way, and they attempted to ascertain their preferred candidate, by phone if they could, and otherwise from the Internet claim. The investigation identified 113 Sanders would-be voters who reported their registration being purged or changed, 2 Clinton would-be voters, and 12 Republican would be-voters.

Keep in mind that this is not the extent of those who were disenfranchised in this way. These are only the claims that Anonymous could find on the Internet. Anonymous gives an example of the extent of the disenfranchisement by pointing to Phoenix (a big part of Maricopa County), which has a Democratic mayor, where 80,000 Republicans voted on Election Day, compared to only 33,000 Democrats.

The purge was clearly targeted at Sanders.

https://anonymousinvestigationsblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/anonymous-report-was-arizonas-voter-registration-database-hacked/

This is just one of many examples this primary season.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
25. That has nothing to do with CA.
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:23 PM
May 2016

Your list was applied to mainly CA NPP registered voters. The instructions for CA NPP voters to vote in the Democratic primary are more than clear, and are sent out in the instructions that are sent out to everyone who is registered in any way. There are no mailings from the SOS that are sent to anyone based on party.

Voters can check their registration online, at any time. Voters could change their party status up until Monday.

Your comment that I got something in the mail because I might have been a future Hillary voter is salacious. There is no way the SOS would have known who I was voting for.

Your fishing expedition to try to lay a case for why Bernie is (probably) going to lose CA, is a fail.


Time for change

(13,714 posts)
26. Let me explain it again
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:31 PM
May 2016

They know how to target Sanders voters for purging.

Most people get the correct information. They don't need to read your mind. They identify voters who are known to be Sanders supporters or likely to be Sanders supporters by demographic information, new voter status, or whatever. Those are the ones who are most likely to be purged or given incorrect information.

It's been done all over the country.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
28. Who and How?
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:39 PM
May 2016


They identify voters who are known to be Sanders supporters or likely to be Sanders supporters by demographic information, new voter status, or whatever. Those are the ones who are most likely to be purged or given incorrect information.



Please tell me who was not sent the generic instructions that we all get in the mail, based on demographics. I will donate $100 to Bernie if you can prove that NPP registrations were not sent a copy of the booklet all registered voters get in teh mail, which is the image I posted in my post above.

I changed my registration from Green in Oct. to Dem so I could get a Democratic Primary ballot for President. By that measure, I should have been "purged" a la your theory, by demographic. But I got the ballot I needed and voted for a Dem Presidential primary candidate. So please, proceed.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
37. Why don't you read my posts?
Mon May 30, 2016, 07:04 AM
May 2016

Considering that the du person who thought that her registration had been changed turned out to actually have registered herself as a Republican a few years ago, I take these "miracle changes" with a grain of salt.

And again, anyone could reregister as a another party up to May 23rd.

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)
32. Grow the hell up
Mon May 30, 2016, 01:03 AM
May 2016

If you want to vote in the primary of a party that you aren"t registered in, dammit learn the damn rules that allow you to do so.

The privilege is NOT AN ACTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

It's the Democratic Party allowing it and people could at least take the time to learn about it.

It is a privilege from the party, the Republicans don't allow it.

Grow the hell up.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
34. A privilege?
Mon May 30, 2016, 01:46 AM
May 2016

Is the right to vote for President a privilege granted by the Democratic Party, or is it a privilege granted by our Constitution?

If the Dem Party gets too heavy handed in how they grant their "privilege" to vote in their primaries, they deserve to die and have their place taken by another party, that believes that everyone has the right to vote

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)
35. Voting in a presidential election is a right, undoubtedly
Mon May 30, 2016, 01:56 AM
May 2016

Voting in a party's nomination process when you aren't a member of that party is a privilege, or have you not noticed that the Republicans legally exclude unaffiliated voters from their primary in California?

If you want to vote in the Democratic Party primary, become a Democrat (you don't even have to remain one!).

If you want to be unaffiliated and still vote in the Demcratic Party primary, hey, they'll let you, that's how badly they want you to.

But you have to learn that it's open to you.

And it's not the job of California election officials to tell you this information though many of them do in order to help you.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
42. Your antipathy to voter education is astounding
Mon May 30, 2016, 11:56 AM
May 2016

on a Democratic website.

Exactly why do you object to me providing advice to potential voters who may not know the rules?

You remind me of Republicans who, in response to massive voter suppression in the 2004 Presidential election blamed the voters.

You make a big distinction between a party primary and a GE. In today's world, the difference isn't that great. Because of lack of media coverage, we haven't had a president outside of the two major parties since the 19th century.

If you are so much in favor of blocking independents out of Democratic primary voting, don't be surprised if before too long they (who outnumber Dems 42% to 29%) replace the Democratic Party.

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)
43. I'm in favor of education
Mon May 30, 2016, 12:50 PM
May 2016

But the he campaigns and the unaffiliated voters need to take this seriously and learn their options.

Demsrule86

(68,565 posts)
24. New excuse being created I see.
Sun May 29, 2016, 11:17 PM
May 2016

Bernie said today he didn't need California so maybe the polls have turned against him...would not be surprised given his behavior.

 

B Calm

(28,762 posts)
38. Pretty sad when you have to warn voters not to wear anything identifying you as a Bernie
Mon May 30, 2016, 08:24 AM
May 2016

supporter for risk of being disenfranchised from your basic right to vote.

Time for change

(13,714 posts)
39. That is a repeat of the advice I got from the former CA poll worker at the Bernie site,
Mon May 30, 2016, 09:38 AM
May 2016

which I referred to in the OP.

It gave me pause. I considered it and decided it made sense to me. Yes, it is very sad -- the evidence I've seen points to massive voter suppression in these primaries IMO.

It's also sad that some people on this thread strenuously object to my providing advice which may help some people to vote, with the excuse that it is the voters' responsibility to get it right, and with an apparent total denial of the voter suppression that has occurred in these primaries. They sound like Republicans.

 

B Calm

(28,762 posts)
40. Very true! Hillary supporters seem to be going out of their way to suppress voters rights.
Mon May 30, 2016, 09:43 AM
May 2016

Thanks for posting.

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