Voting in AL

I'm new to AL, or at least voting in AL. I moved to AL about a year ago and this is the first time I've voted anywhere other than FL. Anyway, when I went to vote I signed in and was given a ballot and a black marker. But what was lacking was privacy. Everyone had to sit at round tables. (I pulled a chair into a corner) People were using their purses or laptops to hide their ballots. And then there were people standing or sitting around the ballot counter machine. ????? In FL we were given a folder to place our ballot in and we used little stand-up tables that were shielded on 3-sides. Is AL weird, or do I need to report what I feel was a violation of my voting privacy to my county's election supervisor? I miss the voting machines with the curtains

Gisela

Gisela,

Yesterday was the first time I've ever had to fill in a ballot with a marker. I've always used the voting machines before. We did have privacy and they did put our ballot sheets in folders. My boss said that while he was in line the man in front of him presented his ID and the volunteer told him he had already voted. He was a Sr. and his son is a Jr. They told him they guessed they marked the dad off earlier instead of the son and they went ahead and let him vote. Is that right????? Then as he was leaving one of the volunteers found 2 marked ballot sheets lying on a table and went ahead and fed them into the counter. That didn't seem right either. My voting location was fine and I didn't see anything out of line.

As far as your question, I think I would report it. My boss is reporting what happened where he votes.

DebbieDoo

DebbieDoo

Thanks for your reply. I was not NOT going to vote, but dang, that was weird.

I was a poll worker yesterday and you are right - that was against all the policies we were taught.  Even in my small town (where we did use markers) we had erected several little booths that were curtained off so the voter had privacy.  NO ONE is allowed to be with you when you vote unless you have asked for assistance due to some impairment. 

The whole process is different here in Tennessee. We used electronic machines to vote but the whole place was chaotic and I saw at least two people vote who never signed the registered voter log. The people at the machine just werent paying attention.
Karen

My heart is in Tennessee Karen. My first husband, who is deceased, was from Shelbyville. I grew to love that little town. I also like Tullahoma (forgive the spelling). My SIL works at the college there. It is a quaint little town. Have you ever been to Bell Buckle? What a name!! My husband had some family that owned a little store there. It had an old fashioned soda bar. Just the coolest place.

Anyway, just had to put my little 2 cents in.

Welcome to the Bama Board.

DebbieDoo

Thanks, sweetie.
I mostly hang out here in East Tennessee. I've lived here all my life except for about 18 months when we relocated to coastal NC. I liked being near the ocean but we eventually got homesick for the mountains and came home. I haven't heard of Bell Buckle. I'll have to check that out. I was born and raised in Gatlinburg and it used to be a quaint little place too. Now, not so much. My age is showing because I'm starting to reminisce about the old days.

Blessings,
Karen

Nothing wrong with those olden days Karen. I guess most of us have a lot of memories about those days - some good and some not. We were poor but we were happy and didn't even realize how little we had.

My husband and I would love to move to the mountains in N.C. We go up there to meet friends and have some good times. We take the motorcycle with us and hit the trails. They have some fantastic winding roads. We ride to Gatlinburg everytime we head up that way. Its so commercialized now that I hardly recognize it. That's progress!!

Do check out Bell Buckle. They have several antigue shops and flea markets. Its worth a couple hours drive. Its not far from Shelbyville. I believe they used a section of that road in the movie "Star Man" or something like that. You'll have to excuse my memory. I've been told that when you are taking chemo you develop what they call "chemo brain" so I've been blaming all my memory lapses on that.

Take care and come back again.

DebbieDoo

That is horrible Gisela.  We had the little stand up things and the folders to place our ballot in.  There were people who didn't want to wait and just went and say on the side and voted.  I personally liked the electronic booths we used to have...with the curtain.  I'm with the others...I think this should be reported.

During the primary this year when I had to select the party I wanted...I pointed to the one I wanted and the poll worker said, "Are you sure?"  It was very unsettling.  I did tell her Yes I am sure, but I wish I had reported her.

Please don't judge all of Alabama by what happened.

If you report it, please post what if anything comes of it.

Glad to see you here.  I mostly stay in lurkdom too.  Just come out  when I can't stand staying silent anymore.

Hope to see you in the Spring at Oak Mountain.

It all depends on the job whether or not I'll get to be there. I didn't get to attend last year or get to Luverne for the other one. Did get to go to Randall and Lucy's wedding. Wish you had been there. I think I read that you might have been sick. I hope all is well now.

I'll let you know what I learn....

Gisela