Yanno, if I were a poll greeter and this guy had a history of looming, I'd have to get me one of the squirty daisy flowers for my lapel and let him have it with some girly perfume. Just a suggestion. Mace being illegal in most places.
Unfortunately I don't live there anymore or I would consider that because it's very funny. Of course he doesn't loom around me because I'm a guy and he mostly likes to harass women.
I am a poll worker and my poll is pretty large and majority D. I am very worried. Not about the people who actually vote at my poll, but someone who wants to disrupt voting or intimidate voters.
(As others have mentioned, I too voted in person early, so as to keep my tiny local polling place here from being overwhelmed. Fits maybe 10 tables in a tight space.)
I was the elected judge of elections for my PA precinct for years before I went to law school (and through law school) and I'm really quite glad I don't do that anymore, because I expect this election to be terrible.
In our polling place in a Blue County in NC we had one voter turn up in a confederate cap. He was visibly quite pleased with himself but no one even looked.
We were canvassing in PA on Saturday and our list took us to homes of Dems and Independents, but some Indies were MAGA and some Dems lived with MAGA people. It was jarring how mean they were to us. And how they prevented us from speaking to the Dems in the homes. One guy wished for civil war.
Sorry to hear, and it immediately recalls Jake Tapper on 1/11/2021: “One of the defining features of this era has been the most fragile of snowflakes, the brittlest of spirits, masquerading as confrontational tough guys.”
My parents are working the polls for the first time this year, in Upstate SC (as they said, it's the only way they can know that good people are doing the job). I'm a little worried for them.
I'm not discounting the danger of these guys. But I think it's telling that their form of activism is to show up and stand around with guns for a few hours. If they really cared about election integrity, they would work the polls but the vast majority of them could never endure the drudgery.
Did some poll observing last weekend, and fortunately(?) I only clocked one such person. I felt bad for the poll workers having to deal with this guy belligerently asking if they “let illegals vote” and accusing them of breaking the law.
We had a belligerent man having a very loud fight with the poll worker while I was trying to vote. It was extremely unnerving but I do not know how intended to vote. It made me sad, though. Technical issue made him think they were preventing him from voting but it was the early voting rules.
I know a poll worker who was given conflict resolution training in orientation for the first time ever. She had to call the cops in 2020 for a guy who wouldn’t remove his maga shirt in the polling place.
Ugh I have never had a problem as a poll worker but this year they had a “de-escalation training” which has never been the case in the 6 others I’ve done. 😫 I hope I don’t need to use those skills.
I used to be a poll worker until our town moved to voting centers. I've missed it, especially the people (Rs and Ds) I worked with and our regular voters. I'm very concerned for everyone in the current climate.
We had a few voters with MAGA type gear at my polling place in NC, but that is their right and they didn't try to intimidate or approach anyone. Some Dem voters with gear also.
It sounds like the rules vary a lot from state to state. There don't seem to be restrictions in NC. In California, you can't wear a "Trump" shirt but you can wear clothing that says "Make America Great Again". Wearing a red or blue shirt is probably okay in any state!
The NC rule is you can have candidate names on shirts or hats etc but it can't say "Vote for XYZ" which is considered "electioneering". And you can't talk to other voters or linger. We had one voter strut around with a confederate cap on. He was quite pleased with himself. No one bat an eyelash.
And of course, a lot is going to depend on how the poll workers feel. If you don't want confrontation, don't wear political clothing. If you *do* want confrontation... 🤷
(In my polling place I can wear a "Donald Trump can suck my farts" t-shirt if I want to. ...my polling place is my kitchen table. I live in Washington, it's 100% vote-by-mail.)
Yeah, for the first time in my years of working the polls we have had de-escalation training in NOVA and the q&a at the end had far more questions about people carrying guns and when to call 911 than I would’ve preferred 😬
Your median poll worker is a retired lady that knits if it's slow while handing out reading glasses to those that need them. It's ridiculous that anyone would treat these people poorly.
I ignorantly went to a poll worker informational meeting in my town. I say ignorantly because I didn't realize that we pay our poll workers, so I couldn't volunteer and avoid any issues with my employer's policies. There were more than two dozen new poll workers, mostly women, but aged 45 to 65.
You're welcome. I wish all these crazy election-denying people would actually WORK an election. Each polling station has workers from both parties. There are no shenanigans.
I convinced my 20yo son in AZ to vote early. I’m worried about what may happen in some places. I’m a poll worker in a blue state; hope I’m right to feel safe.
Fielding calls from poll observers today, and just got one for aggressive electioneering at an early vote site, even after being admonished by election judge.
I said “thank you for being here” to every poll worker who thanked me for voting because there’s no doubt in my mind they’re going to have so many other negative interactions this election cycle
I early voted on Wednesday night, and I’ve never before seen law enforcement at a polling place. I don’t even live in an election battleground state or area of the state. NY will vote dem, and my county will be straight GOP governed
Our county had sheriff's deputies, but in fairness the board of elections, board of education, bureau of motor vehicles, and multi-county juvenile detention facility are all in the same office park so it's not like it's a logistical challenge. Don't know how they'll do all the precinct locations.
i live in central illinois (extremely republican area) and when i went to vote, the dude in front of me was all, "thank you for your service" to the poll workers, like they're war veterans. he was very effusive. (illinois is hardly a battleground state, but i found it notable.)
As a combat veteran, I would say some of these poll workers are doing a more dangerous job than some military personnel. Absolutely thank them for their service.
It’s so infuriating. I was a poll observer in Maricopa County in 2020 and the observers from both sides were all calm and cordial with each other. The poll workers were professional and the voting day was free of incidents. But I have a feeling this year is going to be very different there.
I voted early last Saturday, and one of the poll workers there told me that earlier in the day, a MAGAt (she referred to them as a supporter of the more contentious candidate -- very diplomatic) showed up ranting and screaming about how if you voted for Harris, the gov't would cut your dicks off.
There's nothing anyone could invent that would be too horrible, too hateful, or too vulgar for a Trump supporter to say/do. There is no bottom for these people. When you think, "Oh, that's the worst thing I've ever heard," they manage to top themselves every time.
Here one of the poll workers had to break up a fight when one voter in line said, "I can't believe anyone is voting for that racist," and the woman in front of her turned around and exclaimed, "I cast you out, demon!"
I live in North Carolina, and a fairly Trumpy part of it, but fortunately there weren't any idiots like that when I went to vote. One person showed up with a red hat and was told to take it off -- he bitched and whined for a couple of minutes, but ultimately put it in his car.
When I was in line to vote, a guy who had just turned in his ballot and was walking out started ranting about how if you don't vote for Trump you won't recognize your country and I just raised my voice and said "no electioneering beyond this point!"
Also in NC and learned that it's not considered electioneering in NC as long as the apparel doesn't say "Vote for" and you don't leave it behind at the booth - which I think is a lot of nuance, but... they waved me in wearing my "For a Brighter Tomorrow" shirt. (I did take a hoodie, JIC) 🤷
EXTREMELY. Most mortals don't have the actual divine/religious strength to pull it off. That takes a special kind of training and devotion most fuckers can't pull off.
There are literal priests who could try that and it wouldn't even tickle.
I've been thinking about this a lot these days. My great aunt, once she retired, volunteered as a poll worker every election. She took it very seriously and it meant a lot to her to do this work. She would be beyond sad to see what's happening at the moment.
I had more than one large dude tell me "I'm waiting to vote on election day because I want them to know I'm not scared." The vibe was that folks are ready to scrap if they have to
I feel like intentionally going to the polls wearing political gear *so that* they will tell you you have to take it off *so that* you can be aggrieved is a pattern I’ve already seen more than I’d like to.
Yeah. Some people genuinely don’t realize it and I’ve always gotten calls from folks with this issue when I’ve done election protection shifts (and they’re usually understanding once I explain the law), but there’s a definite uptick of aggressive MAGA types showing up to the polls this year.
In Ohio it’s still illegal to wear campaign gear to the polls, but our AG decided that poll workers couldn’t do anything except inform people that it’s illegal. They can’t turn anyone away. The reasoning was that turning people away “called attention to bad behavior”.
That’s absolutely maddening. Here in NH, we tell people to turn their shirt inside out or they don’t get a ballot. If they get belligerent we have the police escort them out.
I watched a boomer woman in a maga hat make fun of the elderly BOE employee for asking her to remove her hat at early voting this year. The nearby cop just sat there. That maga hat was still on her ratty bleach blonde head when she filled out her ballot.
As far back as 2017, my guidance in training to the an Ohio “precinct election official” was “ask to remove, cover, turn inside out” but go ahead and let them vote rather than making a scene. Just inform them of the law multiple times.
I didn’t know that it was practice earlier, I looked it up after watching this go down.
I can see how it would be a safety issue for poll workers, since y’all get all kinds of crazy coming through. I was more angry at how the BOE employee was treated than anything else.
We are also explicitly trained on how to deal with a voter who insists on voting in our location after we tell them that they are in the wrong place and their provisional vote won’t count unless they go to the right place.
I haven’t actually had to use that one, but it does happen.
Not election-related, but I had a co-worker who would walk around NYC in his MAGA gear and come back from lunch disappointed that no one started anything with him about it. Bruh, there's a guy on 53rd & Third who puts his gray hair in pigtails and rides a tricycle with streamers (true story).
I was a poll worker during the 2016 election. During both the primary and the general the most belligerent we got was a boomer Bernie voter coming in and going ‘feel the Bern!!’ And pointing out his shirt by turning around and giving a thrust thumb towards the logo on the back.
Those were good times
In Nov 2020 I had a voter with a Trump 2020 mask. We were asking people to mask inside the building. I offered him paper mask over or instead. He chose to use the clean fabric mask from his pocket. Inside the building he took off his jacket to reveal a subtle Trump shirt over a long sleeve tee.
Mr. Cosmic is currently using a walker after ankle surgery. I had to go back out and shoo away a RedHat who was following him screaming at him about schools grooming children. I have zero doubt, had Mr. C been using a cane or a crutch, he'd have swung it at the asshat. And during *early* voting! 😬
at least in my & my out of state family’s areas, there are specific plans for bomb threats & swatting/fake shooter calls, with discussion & tabletop time w law enforcement
I'm a poll worker and they're talking about PPE for handling absentee ballots - probably because some dumbass threatened to do something stupid to target election volunteers who just want to help people vote.
I hope there are plenty of police stationed at polling places. I’m a poll worker. Polm workers are mostly elderly. They must be protected from these bullies.
I usually drop my ballot off early, but this year I am still working on mine. Glad I am slow, since one of the drop boxes that was bombed was the one I usually use.
I think if you’re in a pokey little polling place it’s nice to do it day of-or if you are in PA in a mellow spot &you want to vote on the same day-that’s super b/c it will get counted first
But if you are in a hotspot in PA or anywhere that you think it’s likely that these guys will show-vote early
I’m voting on Election Day because:
1. I’m in a battleground state,
2. It’s my first time voting in this state,
3. This state doesn’t have “true” early voting (just in-person absentee, which is not the same thing),
4. The mail is as unreliable as you’d expect right now, and
Seems right to me. Extremely unlikely there will be enough problems with ballots to make a difference, but in-person election-day ballots are more likely to be counted. Also, I like voting as a community acitivity. One reason I love working the polls is because I see my neighbors.
Also, when I voted by mail, I was very anxious about following all of the steps correctly. I know how to vote in person and there are people there to help for anyone that needs it.
I dropped mine off at the County Registrar to avoid the mail. That night I got an email telling me my ballot was validated and counted. If there was a problem, I would have gotten a different message. Love it!
This was exactly why I did a mail-in ballot, particularly after I got a solicitation in the mail from a "biblical organization" looking for "poll watchers to ensure the freedom of our elections." 🙄
Take it from an Olympic gold medalist in mistyping. Your eye sees only what your brain is thinking, while your fingers have a big laugh at your expense.
I am a poll observer somewhere in Northeast Ohio on Tuesday. In 2020, it was a boring (volunteer!) job. This time, we had to sit through a 90-minute course to prepare. We're ready but, fuck.
I was a poll worker in 2020 and telling MAGA types they can't wear their Trump clothes to vote, definitely provoked some shouting. Also they were very upset that they didn't need an ID to vote (Illinois)
Almost the only thing I miss about having any contact with American conservative weirdos is that they lose their damn minds when I tell them I'm voting in US elections from overseas and don't intend to ever even visit the US again.
Here in Indiana, it's the opposite, you need your ID to vote or get saddled with the provisional ballot and needing to provide that proof to the county in a set number of days. That's what sets those kinds off here.
in my state, any campaign swag is illegal within a certain distance of the polls. I have a feeling that people showing up in MAGA gear are gonna start *that* fight.
no hats, no pins, no nothing. Hell, I went early voting wearing a plain collared shirt and a hat with no markings on it
We've had a couple reports here of the belligerent, hostile types wearing Trump paraphernalia being told they have to leave because it's electioneering and illegal (Kansas) and blowing up because they think it's just because it's Trump stuff. They're just terrible people all the way around.
I'm fully expecting these goons to be as belligerent as possible in an effort to say they were prohibited from voting. We've already seen at least one story about exactly that during early voting
I'm in Texas and I'm relieved that I voted early so I was able to avoid those types of interactions. It's distressing to see that this is that's going on in this country though. I hope your dad stays safe and alert until this all blows over.
It probably won't be as bad in my part of Brooklyn, but I still made sure to thank all the poll workers for volunteering when I went to vote a few days ago, just to make sure *someone* was giving them the appreciation they deserve
Even in the heart of NYC, someone took it into their heads to mildly annoy me outside of the polling place. I'm considering making it my business to stroll over there during after-work hours and checking on things.
This reminds me of the highly ineffective missionary style of Brother Jed, who would visit our university to verbally harass women and denounce sin. He did more to alienate people from the faith than any non-Christian could ever hope to do.
He would occupy a public space and rant and denounce sin by the hour. People would gather to mock him. He lived in Gainesville FL, he would stop by FSU twice every tour. He was a fixture at UF when not on the road. He thought he was doing the Lord’s work.
When I was in 2nd-6th grade my elementary school (more specifically the foyer of the auditorium) was a polling place; the teachers had us tour the setup the day before, and when we had computer lab time on election day we got to peek in. Now, if I was a teacher, I'd probably hide the kids. 😢
Mine is too but they always close the school on voting days. (I think it’s also so people who would otherwise be barred from being around schools can access the polls.)
Yes, I'm working again on Tuesday as a state elections judge, and we're expecting some malarkey from a handful of chucklehead voters and maybe some campaign electioneers. 🙄
In the 10 years or so I worked at the polls there were only one or two folks each year that violated the ban on electioneering. Almost all of them just didn’t know and apologized. Things have gotten worse in the past few cycles.
Dad and I are going tomorrow because we live in a conservative, rural area where nearly everyone owns some kind of gun. I don't want to be near a polling place Tuesday.
Only saw 2 MAGA goobers who looked like trouble in ‘20. They came in really late, looked around, seemed sorta surprised at how sedate it all was. Voted quietly & left
Worst I experienced in 2022 was a couple that had (small) MAGA pins, she on her purse and he on his jacket. You had to squint to read them so just let it go.
Out Secretary of State, who has fed election conspiracy lies, decided this year for the first time that poll workers need “de-escalation” training. I hope I don’t have to use it.
That’s the whispering devil I’m constantly kicking off my shoulder these days. They’ve had four years to tune the chaos engine. Polling place belligerence is probably the least of it.
A friend is a poll worker here in a safely blue area near San Francisco, and she told me the same thing. Belligerent men wanting to know why they weren’t checking IDs and insisting that she check theirs.
Saw one asshole in a Trump 2024 T-shirt when I early voted. MAGAs seem to be daring us to say anything so they will claim they're justified when they get violent. Just itching for a fight.
I am poll greeting at a black church in a black precinct Tuesday. I am fearful because black voters are big on dressing up and voting on Election Day. Very anxious to see if anything happens.
I'm disappointed I wasn't asked back to be a poll worker for the general this year (no idea why, I thought I did well during the primary) but I'm also kinda glad. My family's been through a lot this year already, me possibly getting hurt at a polling place is not a worry they need to have piled on.
I don’t love the idea of needing to rely on the cops. Plenty of places (including where I live), they’re at least as likely to make the situation worse.
Discussing voter line security w/IN friends whose wait in such a long line...had to go through a metal detector then leave the building to rejoin the line.
My county didn't metal detect us I think now because after the shit the 2A types put Target thru they didn't want any grief and just assume...
Glad Washington is primarily vote by mail. Somebody burnt some ballots in my county though :(, but the elections office is really on top of their game. They sent an email letting me know my signature was missing from the envelope two or three days after I mailed it and I was able to fix it next day.
I'm a poll worker, and I'm hoping this isn't a thing in my precinct on Tuesday, but honestly that's kind of *why* I'm a poll worker: because ultimately we only have a democracy if we're willing to defend it, and this is how I know how to do that.
Voter verified paper audit trails are increasingly common with electronic voting machines; only a small percentage of voters end up without an actual piece of paper they can look at.
I figure there's probably training, and plus given the current climate - last minute volunteers would be suspicious to my mind at least. The team for early voting was 5 wonderful people, and i think there's a few more usually on actual election day.
Yeah, the weirdo in Carroll Co, for instance. I will say I’ve worked with someone who was previously assigned to one of the Leisure World polling places and apparently they love to challenge there, so I still worry about it getting chirpy in some parts of MoCo.
I did provisional ballots/same day registration in 2020 in Talbot County, and it was mostly chill but the folks who threw out their mail-in ballots and then furiously demanded they be given "real ballots"... there's a reason they put the young, big dude on that desk.
I was a college voter at Ohio State in 2004 and we had both belligerent and covert GOP folks who gave actively incorrect advice to students to vote at wrong locations. My friend who is of Afro-Cuban descent was manipulated in line to cast her vote even. It's just getting worse on the GOP's end.
I was a poll worker the last four days in DC - luckily I saw none of that (but it is dc after all - lol). Thanks to same day registration I did help a bunch of new folks vote, tho!
I'm sure my precinct will go like 90/10 Harris, but I voted on a day and time that seemed to have a fair amount of Trumpish people in line. Another dude was complaining that it's unfair he doesn't get a chance to vote to cut teacher salaries because of the referendum on school funding increase.
There were some vocal Trumpkins in line ahead of and behind me when I first got on line Saturday, talking over me, so I took a strategic lunch break. When I got back on line the people were saner and there was a cute dog.
I love working as an election judge in Chicago on Election Day! And my father-in-law is a poll worker in Nebraska this election. It's our way of defending democracy in America.
Heck, we were getting belligerent MAGA types during the *primary,* who wanted to turn the polling place into Debate Club and demanded to “inspect” our voting machines. Tuesday is gonna be LIT.
Hearing from the other 49 States, I always think... why aren't you guys like Colorado yet? Everyone in Colorado loves our elections. Republicans. Democrats.
This is such a small thing... but I really appreciate not standing in line, not getting accosted or intimidated, and voting 2 weeks early
My dad is a Maga type (not belligerent though) and is volunteering to be a poll worker. I'm really hoping this opens his eyes a bit. Or at least heads off the "interference" bullshit
polling places will have TSA level security theater before the next general election. vote by mail or be prepared to be scanned, patted down and walking around in your socks
I have two friends who are poll workers and have reported the same thing in the early vote period in Texas - and it seems to be increasing (though most voters are still nice / polite)
I've never seen such an issue here in Indiana, only read about them happening elsewhere in the state and I actually worry it'll happen in my part of the state this year.
Being assholes and assaulting poll workers. I have seen anecdotal reports of MAGAs hovering around polling places looming intimidatingly and heckling voters
Similar incident happened in San Antonio last week, a Trump voter assaulted a poll worker after being repeatedly asked to take his MAGA hat off while at the polls (required per state law)
Comments
https://indyweek.com/news/wake/poll-volunteers-accuse-nc-rep-erin-pare-and-husband-wayne-of-intimidation-at-early-voting-sites/
🗽🇺🇸
I hope he has a safe time working the polls.
(As others have mentioned, I too voted in person early, so as to keep my tiny local polling place here from being overwhelmed. Fits maybe 10 tables in a tight space.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/4959663-why-cant-i-wear-my-political-apparel-to-the-polls/
I'm 6'5" and weigh twice as much as the median poll worker. 🙂
Also, this is how actual Republican candidates and their spouses are conducting themselves in the same county: https://indyweek.com/news/wake/poll-volunteers-accuse-nc-rep-erin-pare-and-husband-wayne-of-intimidation-at-early-voting-sites/
they are gonna demand you recuse from covering the coup
I think my brain has stack-overflowed how awful these people are and refuses to process any more of it
There are literal priests who could try that and it wouldn't even tickle.
https://bsky.app/profile/marleywrites.bsky.social/post/3l7rdxvkzl42i
I watched a boomer woman in a maga hat make fun of the elderly BOE employee for asking her to remove her hat at early voting this year. The nearby cop just sat there. That maga hat was still on her ratty bleach blonde head when she filled out her ballot.
I can see how it would be a safety issue for poll workers, since y’all get all kinds of crazy coming through. I was more angry at how the BOE employee was treated than anything else.
I haven’t actually had to use that one, but it does happen.
Those were good times
We note (obviously) and let them vote. But then they must leave immediately.
I fully expect this.
in harris county (houston) there are 700, and you can vote at any of them
cisa has provided a lot of guidance & support
But if you are in a hotspot in PA or anywhere that you think it’s likely that these guys will show-vote early
the maga fuckers took over my state's congress and we have an asshole for a governor and they stopped early voting as soon as Trump lost
1. I’m in a battleground state,
2. It’s my first time voting in this state,
3. This state doesn’t have “true” early voting (just in-person absentee, which is not the same thing),
4. The mail is as unreliable as you’d expect right now, and
6. Showing up in person with my documents just seems prudent, to avoid being accused of shenanigans.
Also this why I go vote at 6:00 am. There is nonsense at that hour.
NO! It was deliberate! 😉
Eleventh Hour!
They always freak right out with that info.
Cowardly and, why?
Harris/Walz, Democratic, Big Number
Trump Vance, Republican, Smaller Number
Stein/Whatsisname, Green, Very Small Number.
Fuck, Democrat 1
no hats, no pins, no nothing. Hell, I went early voting wearing a plain collared shirt and a hat with no markings on it
https://bsky.app/profile/balisane.bsky.social/post/3l7vnyd73gr2g
(I am simply a large bearded unknown Democratic activist)
Yes, I'm working again on Tuesday as a state elections judge, and we're expecting some malarkey from a handful of chucklehead voters and maybe some campaign electioneers. 🙄
https://www.wyff4.com/article/early-voting-fight-election-2024-viral-video-sc/62778974
No juice left.
I'll take a $4 carton of eggs if it means Ukraine remains free and my whole country doesn't turn into the worst HOA anyone has ever heard of.
Picking up my materials today and will be neck deep in review this weekend.
Also practicing the vibe.
'S cool.
Only saw 2 MAGA goobers who looked like trouble in ‘20. They came in really late, looked around, seemed sorta surprised at how sedate it all was. Voted quietly & left
My county didn't metal detect us I think now because after the shit the 2A types put Target thru they didn't want any grief and just assume...
The system is impressive in California, with computers printing out paper ballots so people can verify their choices.
This year I'm a same-day registration judge, so I imagine it will be more of the same.
This is such a small thing... but I really appreciate not standing in line, not getting accosted or intimidated, and voting 2 weeks early
That’s a redundant phrase.
(For hunger, not belligerents)
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/30/machete-florida-voting-site/75935748007/
https://www.newsweek.com/early-voting-fight-south-carolina-trump-supporter-poll-worker-1978095