The Voting Circus has begun!
03
November
11/3/2009:
Here’s a brief update from earlier this morning…
Popularity Contest in Full Swing
Corzine speaks; Media all over it
Jon Corzine now votes at the Elks Club, and spoke with the media shortly after the polls opened this morning; News vans peppered all over Washington Street (including parking illegally and blocking crosswalks – HPD does nothing about it); “Cheerleaders” for many candidates (Mason, Raia, Zimmer) were basically standing around with signs; more political garbage already littering the sidewalk.
Voters say challengers are harassing them
Some voters came out of the Elks and said they were being essentially harassed by challengers inside, snatching their ballots, invading their personal space, and even blocking the voting machine. One man told me they were challengers for Glatt. I’ll be voting after the morning rush is complete… (and a brief nap)
Share your stories (good or bad) in the comments section. More later…
November 3rd 2009 - 13:05:47 |
My biggest problem of voting at the Elks club was their lack of handicapt/stroller access during elections.
My uncle could never go vote in his chair.
And I couldn’t pull my double stroller up the stairs. I was told to go inside and get someone to come help me. And leave my kids alone outside?!?!
No one ever did anything about it.
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November 3rd 2009 - 13:16:11 |
no harassment here. I parked right next to a News12 van outside, walked in without anyone saying a word to me, gave my address, signed the book and walked right into the booth.
RE: those complaining about where news vans park- they are are limited in their options. Microwave trucks need to be somewhere where they can raise their masts without hitting anything (and maintaining clearance from objects so that if it moves in the wind it doesn’t strike anything) or in the case of satellite trucks, have to have a clear shot to the south/southwest be able to see the satellites they use to transmit. Then there are the cables that run from the van to cameras, microphones, lights, etc. All around, it’s just better for them to park illegally but close to their shot then to have wires running all over the place long distances, and leaving. NYC realizes this and that’s why members of the media are issues NYP license plates that give parking privileges to them while on assignment.
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November 3rd 2009 - 13:30:40 |
The handicap entrance to the Elks Lodge is on 10th Street, which allows you to enter through the back of the building. It has been that way for over a hundred years.
As far as strollers, I agree with the idea of leaving your double-wide outside. Can you imagine 35 strollers running into people, elderly folks, handicapped people. Or maybe you can wait until someone can watch you children while you run in for a minute to vote?
In response to koolkat who said:
My uncle could never go vote in his chair.
And I couldn’t pull my double stroller up the stairs. I was told to go inside and get someone to come help me. And leave my kids alone outside?!?!
No one ever did anything about it.
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November 3rd 2009 - 14:38:29 |
Once again the same grumpy old lady with Ward 4 A-L book was mind-wandering and slow. Who is hiring and testing these people?
The younger lady with M-Z was 2x faster, so she handed me the ballot # pad to sign. Then the grumpy old lady basically shouted at me, “NO! You have to tell me your name first!” Geez louise. So the M-Z lady took the pad back, had her voter sign it while simultaneously she looked up her name, and was that voter already was in/out of the booth by time my name was even found. I sure wish I had an M-Z last name!
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November 3rd 2009 - 14:59:04 |
njelections.org/co-polling-posters/...-rights-posters%28hud%29-072309.pdf
In response to hoboken411 who said:
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November 3rd 2009 - 15:11:46 |
the $115k or whatever it is salary. that’s your answer. an insane amount of money for a position that isn’t even remotely close to being mayor of any “real” city, whether it be newark, baltimore, philadelphia, new york, whatever.
salary should be $90k. that would be sufficient. it’s arguable whether it should even be a full-time job. probably yes, but certainly debateable.
anyone who then is shocked that these people are more desperate than crack whores to get that office is really, really naive, with all due respect.
In response to HansBrix who said:
Is the local political spoils system that much of a winning lottery ticket that people will clamor for that office the way a starving man will grab at crumbs?
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November 3rd 2009 - 15:13:30 |
they’re not supposed to. you aren’t required to show id when voting. some people blindly do like a reflex but noone could ever force you to. the check is your signature in the book. it’s an imperfect system but better than many and not fair to bitch over (not saying you were of course, but if one were to)
In response to gnoor who said:
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November 3rd 2009 - 15:19:07 |
Red, good job as usual on election regs. The only thing is that the rules on challengers, ID, etc. are Federal not New Jersey.
However, NJ is notorious for having poll workers that ignore them. Mostly because most counties in NJ do not enforce Federal requirements for annual training and the reason they do that is because they almost never have enough poll workers so they do feel they can afford to enforce all the rules.
If you want to help improve voting in NJ, then sign up to be a poll worker. They are even paid! Contact: Hudson County Board of Elections about one month before an election.
In response to Red Haven who said:
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November 3rd 2009 - 15:22:45 |
I’m pretty sure they’re not all gaga over the $114k. Big deal.
I think the point here is how much extra “under the table” cash is floating around… Cammarano got busted PRE-ELECTION taking 20k in cash… can you imagine how much that office is worth once you’re actually in it?
In response to MF who said:
salary should be $90k. that would be sufficient. it’s arguable whether it should even be a full-time job. probably yes, but certainly debateable.
anyone who then is shocked that these people are more desperate than crack whores to get that office is really, really naive, with all due respect.
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November 3rd 2009 - 16:51:28 |
Look at the qualifications of the people running. They couldnt get 115k plus the super benefits any where in corporate america. Of course there watering at the mouth.
In response to am78 who said:
I think the point here is how much extra “under the table” cash is floating around… Cammarano got busted PRE-ELECTION taking 20k in cash… can you imagine how much that office is worth once you’re actually in it?
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November 3rd 2009 - 17:40:44 |
I just saw a large group of adults with “Artie Lange for Mayor” signs. Saw Richard Christie and Sal in the pack as well. Anyone else see them? They re on Wash St now with film crew
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