Report from my precinct in New York City

[zentrum]

Members of my family have already voted and just phoned in this report from downtown NYC.

Easy to vote. No ID asked for!

However, two people were turned away.

One demanded an affidavit. They had registered as a Democrat and were not on the rolls.

One was turned away because they were in "the wrong polling station" and now had to run to another one, insisting that they had "always voted at the same station" and "had to get to work".

It's true, we did have to vote at a new location this year—after years of voting in the same place. Which did raise questions for us.

Noted was the absence of any information anywhere on the ballot about which delegates support which candidates. This is new. In the past there has been much more information about this. We knew who to vote for because we had gone to a candidate forum. But how many people are involved enough to do that?

At this forum, it was explained that the League of Women Voters usual supplies this kind of information amply and this year—they didn't. Make of that what you will.

FYI—Arthur Schwartz is the Assembly candidate who will become a super delegate for Bernie, should he win.

Look also for:
Allen Roskoff
Tom Duane
Jessica Frisco
Laine Armstrong
Jenine Lurie
All supporters of Bernie.

Would like to hear other people's experience as they vote today.

If you get turned away, here is the phone number for the New York City Board of Elections: 212-886-2100 (Note—that's just for the city and may even be just for downtown.)

Only 20% of New Yorkers vote. That's appalling. Get out there and do it!

[bigtree]

1. k&r

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Those in this thread, and on DU (and in the wild) crying voter suppression ...

dishonor the memory, past and present, of those who have really had, and are having, their votes suppressed.

Lazy and/or ignorance (of the rules) is not a protected class.

[SalviaBlue]

36. You have got to be kidding me.

We know that many people in the past who had their votes suppressed were wrongly called lazy and/or ignorant.

It was wrong then.

It is wrong now.

You should delete.

[1StrongBlackMan]

39. No ... I think I will let it stand, thank you.

[stonecutter357]

51. +1000

[rjsquirrel]

2. Just voted NYC

Good crowd, very substantially pro-Hillary. If my precinct is indicative of anything she's got this thing easily.

Saw two turned away for not being democrats and not knowing they had to change it months ago. Both young and I'm guessing Bernie supporters. They seemed sort of butthurt. One was quite stylishly dressed (she looked rather model-ish, so maybe a Trump voter?) and loudly declaring it was a "damn shame" to the nice old ladies at the table.


Most of us New Yorkers don't need our hands held to follow rules.

[sabrina 1]

7. So they ARE preventing young people from voting. I hope all this is being reported. Right here in

this thread four young people who should be able to vote have been prevented from doing so. I remember when this site's main focus was the people's right to vote and closed primaries were considered to be a Right Wing plot to prevent people from exercising that right. Now I'm seeing people supporting voter suppression. Did something change about democrats since we believed that voting was almost a sacred right?

Here where I am in upstate NY, Hillary will lose, she is most unpopular since her days in the Senate. Bernie is popular, however it is a conservative area so we'll see if people cross party lines. But then otoh, even if they wanted to vote Democratic the party has made it impossible. That will get a lot of people pretty upset I'm sure.

[rjsquirrel]

8. No one prevented anyone from doing anything

My goodness, the idea that voters might need to follow rules that have been in place for decades! How ever did NY survive as a progressive blue state?

Really amusing. The people I saw turned away were white and well dressed and very likely well educated. Meanwhile I voted alongside elderly women and working class Latinos and African Americans all of whom had followed the rules.

Sore losers blame the rules of the game.

[zentrum]

16. Grover Norquist—is that you?

[rjsquirrel]

40. Lol yeah that really makes some kind of point

I guess.

Leo Trotsky is that you?

[zentrum]

42. Guess you

….don't know Norquist's famous speech about how important it is to suppress the vote by any subtle and non-violent means necessary.

[rjsquirrel]

68. Guess I

don't agree in the slightest that that has anything to do with the NY Democratic primary or 40 year old NY election rules that never bothered anyone before Bernie Sanders showed up.

There was no voter suppression in New York. We are a reliably blue state with very high minority turnout and representation at the federal and municipal levels. State government is a total disaster but that has more to do with voter apathy.

Seriously, accusing me of being for voter suppression like Grover Norquist because I think NY rules are hardly onerous at all? That's paranoid talk and the defensiveness of a losing campaign.

We have real voter suppression in this country. It's a real problem. But it isn't in New York.

[zentrum]

69. Harrumpf!

Defending the system that produces the worst voter turn out in the country is just sad.

Bill De Blasio just announced an investigation into the BOE which has "lost" 123,000 Democratic voters since November and had more problems at the polls today then it has had in decades.

Federal Judge today granted an emergency injunction tonight to investigate voters claims that their names were purged.

But never mind.

[m-lekktor]

43. It's Leon, not Leo!

just sayin....

[zentrum]

62. Good catch!

[rjsquirrel]

67. Sorry I'm not up on my communist heroes

Because I am a corporatist, elitist, statist, neoliberal, banker-loving Clintonite.

[Marrah_G]

55. Ugh, my bf grew up with him

It has made for a couple uncomfortable conversations.

[zentrum]

61. Whoa. But not

…your BF's fault!

[livetohike]

12. Don't rules apply to young people? We vote in PA next Tuesday. I work the polls every election.

During the primaries we always have one or two people who come in and are surprised they can't vote. Ours is a closed primary. Usually these are first time voters and sometimes they are well past being young. I expect to see a few next Tuesday.

[zentrum]

15. New York State

…has the lowest voter rate in the country. Only 27% of New Yorkers vote.

And New York City is even lower! It's 20%. A world class city doesn't vote.

This is shameful.

As are the snobby and elite harumphs about rules in this thread. Clearly NY is doing something wrong. New York is suppressing the vote by making it difficult and arcane. It should incentivize voting and lead the country in doing so.

Why should a new voter have to register as a Democrat six months ago (in October) before they've even heard the arguments and seen a primary? That is a rule designed to weed people out.

It is not how the democratic Party should roll. But Grover Norquist would love it.

[Fawke Em]

19. It's a shame.

What's worse, is these same "you can't vote in my party, nana, nana, boo boo" people don't seem to realize they will need a substantial amount of the 43 percent of Independents for their corporate elite candidate to win in the fall.

Their entitlement has already driven off 33 percent of Bernie supporters who now say they will NEVER vote for her in the fall, so now they're working on the Independents who BOTH parties need in order to win in the general.

They're not too bright of a bunch, are they?

[bettyellen]

64. Independents can vote in November. Whether they can be bothered to participate is on them.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. In another thread that poster was claiming NY has the country's highest turnout rates!!!!

Fully misinformed and probably not a NYer because any political NYer knows the State has low turnout and the city even worse. It's part of what you have to know to get anything done there.
Today will be interesting because polling is really hard in places with low turnout and inconsistent voters. Big State, you are trying to find say 20% who are Democrats who are going to vote but they won't be the same who voted before. Needle in a hay stack polling. Guessing. Whatever.


I'm in Oregon, also a closed Primary but with easy voter access, short deadlines on Party change and registration, we have automatic registration and we vote entirely on paper and by mail so no finding your polling place, no lining up, no rush and you get to use the internet while voting for fully informed voting. We get more than double NY turnout.

I think vote by mail would appeal to NY. Busy NYC people pride themselves on not having enough time to breath, so voting on their own timetable should serve them. Rural and suburban NYers currently have really short polling hours and rural voters always like by mail voting over having to drive into town at a set day and time.
NY should vote by mail and then NY would vote.

[zentrum]

26. Right on for every point!

Also just google the stats and any can see for themselves how poorly NY is doing in elections.

27% state wide.
63,000 lower registered voters this year for primaries. (This is due to having to register last October. Sheesh.)
20% in NYC.

[2banon]

31. I wonder if the DNA of Tammany Hall remains in effect, influencing voter suppression

psychologically speaking, or even as a metaphor as to what may remain in place.

[zentrum]

38. I have to tell you---

….it so munch feels this way. It has for years. Glad you said it.

It's hard to change a system's culture.

[msanthrope]

70. Maybe we have Stockholm Syndrome. nt

[NuclearDem]

14. Since you live in New York, you would know the New York primary is closed.

Ergo, no party line crossing is possible on the day of the election.

[CorkySt.Clair]

28. OMG! That is so not what is happening!1

[CrowCityDem]

30. Hillary's plenty popular Upstate where I am.

[sabrina 1]

32. She's very unpopular here.

[all american girl]

37. Voters do have responsibility, also

If their primary is closed, they have to register with the party they want to vote for...these rules have been in place forever. Now, I will agree that an Oct date is stupid, but join the party so you can work on get it changed. And as far as someone going to the wrong voting place, well that's on them for not taking responsibility.

Look, my husband is in the Army. We use to move around about every 10 mins (things are better now....3 years before we have to move). One move, I didn't register to vote...kept putting it off. So much so that I missed the date and couldn't vote. I didn't blame my state, the Army, or even my husband...I blamed myself for not having my act together. And that election was the Gore/Bush...yeah, I'm still pissed at myself, but no one else.

[sabrina 1]

49. Someone else who isn't aware of what is going on here. THEY DID REGISTER. Registrations are

being CHANGED! Registered Dems who were registered for years, some who registered before the RIDICULOUS cut off date of Oct 9th have found, same as in Az that their REGISTRATIONS HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

I am amazed at a dem forum that is so okay with election fraud. Which at one time viewed it as one of the most important issues in our country. What happened here? Anyone know?

This is now becoming a pattern in delegate rich states. Why Az is now under investigation by the DOJ.

We here in NY will not accept election fraud so they can get ready for the same reaction that is going on in Az here if this isn't fixed so that REGISTERED VOTERS CAN VOTE.

There is NO EXCUSE for ANY CITIZEN to be prevented from voting. And ANY 'RULE' that prevents that is ILLEGAL. Unless of course you accept that we no longer live in a democracy. Which I do NOT, never have and never will.

[all american girl]

63. I'm talking about independents who didn't change to Dem.

Of course, those who had their registration changed, without their knowledge, should be able to vote. Why would you think I meant that....I was talking about those who did not re-register to a democrat. Like I said, Oct is ridiculous, and that should be changed, but it is still on the voter to make sure to understand what steps need to be taken so they can vote. I've even check to make sure I was registered before the 2012 elections...my first one in that state. You can never be too careful.

[sabrina 1]

65. That was not the issue at all. But since you brought it up as a resident in NY it was EGREGIOUS to

make the registration date so early before the first debate, depriving voters of an opportunity to get to know the candidates. WRONG is too good a word for this kind of voter suppression which is exactly what it was.

All primaries should be open, we know Republicans have used this tactic and strongly objected to it for YEARS.

Explain to me how it is 'on the voter' to know half a year in advance all a voter has a right to know about the candidates who are running, enough to know which party to register with?

ANY Party that respects Democracy will make it as EASY AS POSSIBLE for voters to exercise their right to vote. Any party that goes out of its way to make it impossible for a voter to have the time to get the know the candidates is engaging in election fraud.

This was the stand of MY party back in 2000. When did we Democrats start saying 'it's the voters fault' when a party pulls stuff like this? I would like to know exactly where I lost track of what we are supposed to stand for as Democrats?

[all american girl]

66. New york is a closed primary state. They decided that many, many moons ago.

The people of New York, within the Democratic party (I think that's who decides, but I could be wrong) need to change it. I realize there are those that don't want to be part of the party, so I'm thinking, they may have to find a different avenue to see if they can change to an open or semi-open primary. I did say that I thought Oct was ridiculous, meaning that I think it should be way closer to the primary date. Here's the deal, these "rules" have been in place for ever. I'm not sure why this primary everyone is up in arms. I don't remember this 8 years ago.

I, also believe, that voting should be easy as possible...I never said I didn't, but I stand by what I said. Voters have a responsibility to make sure they are squared away to vote. And yes, if things are not to your liking (closed primary), make sure you are reading to vote, and then do something about for the next time.

Here's the thing that must be remembered, the individual states decide how they are going to run there primaries. So if a state wants it closed (and I'm thinking with New York, they may have had very good reasons in the past) they can do that. This is for Democrats to decide who will be their Democratic presidential candidate. There have been others, many, closed primary states before this one...Iowa, Colorado, Alaska...just to name a few.

[stonecutter357]

52. bull shit

[sabrina 1]

57. Tell it to the judge. Judge has ruled that anyone whose registration was changed should ask for an

affidavit and put this docket number on their affidavit: "Docket CV-16-1892"

He has moved the case forward, did not rule on the claim today.

Good news for Democracy.

I'm sure as a Democrat this news will be welcome to you. Every US citizen has a right to vote, period. That has always been the position of democrats, and thankfully, except for a few, still is.

[stonecutter357]

58. Sanders is going to lose = Massive Voter Suppression.

[sabrina 1]

59. Same exact pattern a Az which now may be forced to redo the election. NYers are going to be even

active in forcing a new election IF this isn't resolved and people get to vote as it is their right to do.

Bernie isn't losing, VOTERS are losing their right to vote here in NY. Fortunately whoever is responsible for this egregious election fraud didn't count on people learning from Az to check their registrations, to know what to do if it happened here and no results that include the denial of legitimately registered voters will be accepted.

The judge has ordered a new hearing with all Dem party officials involved to attend.

Meantime he has provided a means by which those who are being deprived of voting, to have their votes counted.

[Peace Patriot]

10. I get it. Clinton supporters just fine with vote suppression and proud of it!

Do you know how much your attitude stinks?

I saw that in white southern bigots in Alabama in 1965. ('Them n-----s cain't recite the Constitution bay heart. Whay should they git to vote?')

"Both young" (and therefore stupid?). "Bernie supporters" (so cain't "follow the rules"?). "Quite stylishly dressed...model-ish" ("maybe a Trump voter"?) Bigoted much?

"...us New Yorkers don't need our hands held...". But you do need your heads examined, if you are a typical example of one.

And are you saying that the rejected Sanders (or is it Trump) voters are NOT "New Yorkers"? Why didn't you call the cops on them for trying to vote in New York?

Jeez.

[zentrum]

17. Yup.

It's the establishment way.

And not the kind of feminism that rings true at all.

[lagomorph777]

3. How the hell can they expect you to vote for delegates without showing their affiliation?

That's obvious manipulation.

[WhiteTara]

9. you become informed before you go to the polls.

In my state, there is NO information about any candidate or ballot issue before the election. There are no sample ballots, it is on the voter to become informed. In New York, there are sample ballots mailed out to voters.

[zentrum]

20. There were no sample

…ballots mailed to me here in NYC.

Also, leaving it to the voter to seek all this information out is not incentivizing the vote. People in minimum wage jobs and are too busy, or who don't have PC's, or who don't know there are delegates and candidates, or new student voters—should be helped. Not informing is why America has such a low voting rate.

It's actually dangerous and allows the Right Wing and K Street etc. to do whatever the hell they want because they get our their small group of troops and there's never a consequence.

You want universal health care?—then inform the voters about policies and candidacies!!

[WhiteTara]

34. here, this poster helped you out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1776868

Good luck and happy voting.

[WhiteTara]

35. If you didn't receive your sample ballot

be sure and take your voter registration card with you.

[zentrum]

41. Brought the card.

That was the charm. No ID asked for.

Happiest vote of my life.

[WhiteTara]

44. Now you are on your way to being

an effective voter. Did you bring your list of delegates with you? You are allowed to take "cheat sheets" into the voting booth with you. I should have reminded you of that before.

[zentrum]

45. Absolutely took them.

But also, the ballot did indicate who was who.

Not sure what was the problem earlier voters had about this.

But in the room itself, there was definitely a sense of semi-chaos. The poll workers were harried by not having enough personnel. Several voters were asking for affidavits. Poll workers had to keep running away to get them, leaving us all waiting. Plus they also had to get new ballots for folks who'd messed up the first one. Plus seal up the voided ballot and put it in an (away) special box. Then give all the materials to folks waiting. They seemed quite stressed. Why wasn't there more help for them?

Older people kept over marking. That is, making X's where you're supposed to just fill in a little circle. A big graphic of how to do it might have helped them more than the dense writing on the instruction page. These folks would then need to go get a new ballot. I saw really old people, staggering on walkers, still showing up to vote.

More cops present than poll workers, which I've never seen before.

But at least we have both a paper trail and the computer scan.

When I left I put my Bernie sticker on and I've been meeting Bernie voters all day. Have met only one Hillary voter for this entire primary season.

Happy Day. Thanx for your help, WT.

[WhiteTara]

46. All poll workers are volunteers

I think you do get paid in some states. Call the election commission or democratic central committee in your county (should be listed as county name central committee) and volunteer to be an election worker. There are as many as 2 elections per year. Now that you have made a great vote, get involved. Join the democratic club in your county and do some work to elect people in your local elections. This is where the real work is. Don't leave it all for someone else and then you'll never have to complain! It is interesting and rewarding work to see your local candidate win. Also, it takes away from the repulicons who are always working for their candidates. Good Luck

[DLnyc]

4. Pretty brisk in our district just now (middle of the morning)

This ED, and all around here, will be pretty strong for Bernie, IMHO.

Was cloudy this morning, but now it looks like it will be a warm sunny day.

It's really hard for me to guess how this thing will go, but in my heart I believe it's going to be a big day for progressives!

[MattP]

5. You have to vote for Delegates? not just the candidate

[amborin]

11. yes, posted yesterday:

[zentrum]

24. Thank you for this.

Doesn't look like what I'm hearing at all.

Will let you know.

[suffragette]

33. So, the ballot says vote for any five?

Seems like a confusing process.

[zentrum]

21. Yes. Both.

Look carefully so you vote for the delegates for your candidate. Don't just go for the familiar name.

[DookDook]

6. Just got back from my local elementary school where I vote

No lines and everything went quick.

[SheilaT]

13. Are you telling me you only saw a list of delegates

with no hint whatsoever of which candidate any of them supported?

[zentrum]

22. Just telling you

…what I heard. Haven't seen it myself yet.

However, I am now hearing on NPR that some people are in fact confused about the delegates and don't understand that part of the ballot. They don't realize that in voting for a particular delegate they are supporting a particular candidate—and it may not be the candidate they want to support.

So whatever hint may be there for some of us, it apparently is not obvious to others. I think this is telling us that it is technically there but obscure or arcane in some way.

[jwirr]

54. With this kind of mess I can see why only 20% of people

in NY vote. You can vote for your candidate and end up voting for a delegate who supports the other candidate.

What a democracy we have.

[brush]

18. Don't get what you mean about no info on which delegate to vote for?

Don't you vote for a candidate like everyone else, not some delegate?

[zentrum]

23. You must vote for both.

If you support Bernie, (or HRC) make sure you vote for his (her) down-ballot delegates. Just study the ballot carefully and go get help if you need it.

I think your confusion is understandable and part of a strategy of soft voter-suppression.

If I wasn't keyed into local politics, I wouldn't have understood that at all. I would have just voted for familiar Dem names. And the familiars are HRC establishment. So make sure you're voting the way you really want.

[AzDar]

27. K & R

[apnu]

47. For all our faults in IL, registered voters are told their polling place in advance of elections.

We all get little cards in the mail telling us our current precinct and where our polling location is. Does NY not do this?

This is in response to the voter who was turned away for being at the wrong polling place.

[zentrum]

50. Some did get cards, but

….switching a polling station from an established one that voters have been going to for a decade or longer can be a problem. Not a big problem, but it kind of creates an opening for confusion.

And secondly, people can lose their mail, the mailperson can inadvertently put it in the wrong mailbox in a 50+ tenant building (which happens all the time) or a person can live at a new apartment but in the same district. Or maybe the mistake is at the Election Board. They do have to process millions of mailings, after all. There just seems more chance for slippage when all people have a is a one-time card and a station you've gone to for ten years is suddenly different. Maybe something like that happened to this guy who lost his station.

I just keep having the feeling that American elections can do better. Like weekend voting, voting by mail (not absentee), and two and three day elections. Plus having better roll out at the polls. It should be easier to vote and utterly reliable.

[Jitter65]

48. Millennials are on social media 24/7. All the info is out there on-line. Maybe they should have

been looking for voting information instead of attending two or three Bernie rallies. That takes time and energy. Lord knows they seen enough time on Twitter and FaceBook to have linked to some voter information over the past three weeks.

[merrily]

53. Some polling places were changed YESTERDAY.

[Smarmie Doofus]

56. Tom Duane supports Bernie! Man.... good to hear.

One of my first political campaigns. LGBT pioneer. First successful openly gay candidate in NYS history..

Late 80's. Bernie probably backed him. Clinton probably partied w. people who called him a freak, a faggot and a sodomite.

[zentrum]

60. LOL!

Yup. Bernie has always been there for us.