16 Comments

Sick sad scary……but worse than all this: AZ voters who vote these whacks into office! Why?

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One correction, David: "Number of partisan political party observers appointed to be present on Election Day at your polling place: 1" Actually it's one from each party for a total of two. I don't know why there aren't Independent or Green party observers, but then, we have a very stupid, wasteful, and acrimonious Legislature that makes the rules. Like having a separate Presidential Preference Election (roll eyes) for ONE OFFICE that uses all the same resources and manpower as any standard election, then have to DO IT ALL AGAIN IN JULY for the primary for all other public offices. What a WASTE!

This past Tuesday, I signed up as a paid poll worker for the first time as an act of defiance against the BS spewed by election deniers. I was a poll observer in 2022, which is unpaid and still a minimum 13 hour day. I continue to be amazed at how regular folks are dedicated to helping their fellow Americans cast a ballot. The Elections Board has multiple training opportunities, online and in person, for workers. I'm impressed with the voting machines, which are VITAL for anyone with vision impairment who may not have - or want - a personal assistant. They are marked in Braille and have headphones for the computer voice to read the ballot to the voter, then they get to use what looks like a game console (again, marked in Braille) to make their choices. It's cool. The measures in place to ensure that those who vote do so securely, and that ballots are safeguarded at every step are notable. Pima County has some of the most secure election procedures in the nation.

I highly recommend if you have ANY questions about voting or how votes are processed, sign up for and attend the Voter Registration Workshop presented by the County Recorder's Office every couple of months. You can even ask them to come present it to your group or business privately:

Pima County Recorder’s Office

520-724-4330

Outreach@Recorder.Pima.gov

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Excellent advice for all the "stolen election" people out there. I think very few of them have any idea how safe and well-run elections are. I worked for Tillamook County, Oregon, for 17 years and saw for myself how almost totally impossible it would be to actually "steal" an election.

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author

Wonderful. Thank you, my friend. Also, when I wrote 1 partisan observer at each poll, I failed to make it clear I meant 1 partisan observer from each party. Onward , dear patriots!

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author

When I wrote that 1 partisan observer should be present at your polling station let me be clear: 1 should be present from each party; making a total of 2.

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Good lord man, you get better odds in Vegas... I reiterate, vote Blue, no matter who...

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Mar 24·edited Mar 24

This year, a few days before the presidential election I will turn 86. I have been a Pollworker most election cycles since about 1974, in both Florida and Arizona. This year marks the first presidential cycle where I will not participate.

I have never understood why the same crew has to serve for the entire election day. That means that we have to show up for an hour the evening before to set up the place physically, because it is nearly impossible to do this in the one hour we have in the morning, prior to the polls opening at 6 AM. Our day does not end when the polls close at 7 PM, but extends for at least another hour, sometimes longer, to ascertain that the number of ballots cast tallies with the ballots issued, secure the voted ballots and transport them to the central collection location. It is usually 9 PM or after when this is finally achieved. As noted elsewhere, it’s around a 15-hour day.

The answer is always that it is difficult enough to get enough people to serve, but if we knew the day would NOT be 15 hours, but would be split into shifts of 8 hours each with an overlapping hour to effect the shift change, perhaps more people would be would be able to participate.

I have always considered it an honor to serve in this capacity, and will feel the pangs of not being part of what I believe to be the most important task a citizen can do.

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1 correction to the statement "State Senators who believe Biden stole the 2020 election: 75%"

30 senators. 16 Republican senators. Even if all Republican senators believe Biden stole the election, and several are on record saying that they don't, the percentage of State senators would be only 53.33%

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A clear message. A large portion of Arizona voters are nincompoops yet smarter than those they elected.

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Mar 24Liked by David W Fitzsimmons

Just the facts, sir. Someone will get right on it.

Nicely done!

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Or, we could all just vote by mail and save all this trouble.

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sign me up!

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Awesome research, some appalling statistics. Thank you, Fitz, and many thanks to all poll workers!

My take from all this - stay safe, vote by mail. But VOTE! Vote for Joe Biden. Our country's future depends on this election.

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I voted in AZ, Pima County, from 1979 until 1986. We voted at the same place every year. Before I would get up to the table to get my ballot, the women who worked our precinct's polling place would be saying hi and something about my parents, depending on whoever had gotten there before me. IIRC, one or both of my parents would tell me what the ladies said to them about me and I would share with them. They always said the nicest things! I loved seeing them almost as much as I loved voting. No idea how they remembered us!

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author

Indeed I've met so many wonderful poll workers through the years. Lovely story, Rae!

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I’ve worked both a Primary election & a General election. I was there 13-14 hours depending on the drop off of ballots required. I was asked to be a lead poll worker when the one at my precinct retired. I declined.

I wish all voters understood how difficult it is to explain they can only cast a vote at their precinct.

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