I wish I had video of this, but I only have the audio. I’ll do the best I can to describe the missing visuals…
I watched several people walk to the table and point out their name, sign and go into the booth to vote. Not a single person was showing ID, no was asked.
My wife went before me and simply pointed to the paper worksheet with all of the name on them and said “That’s me”. The poll workers both pointed her to the booth and away she went to vote. She could have been anyone Obama bused in from out of state, like he’s known to do.
| Me | Poll Monitor 1 | Poll Monitor 2 |
| “Last name, sir?” | ||
| “[My Last Name]” | ||
| (flipping through pages to find my name, finds the right page) | ||
| “That’s it right there. [First and middle initial].” | ||
| (pushes page to me and gives me a pen, pointing to the signature line) | ||
| “Do I need to show ID?” | ||
| (stands up) “Yes, sir! We have to see ID.” | ||
| “No, no, not the ID.” | ||
| “Let…” | ||
| “Here…” | ||
| “Can I see the ID, sir?” | ||
| “Are you asking for ID for everyone?” | ||
| “No, we don’t need ID” | ||
| “No one does?” | ||
| “No” | ||
| “Sir.” | ||
| “So I could be anybody?” | ||
| “Sir, can I see the ID, I just said it.” | ||
| “So you want it.” | ||
| “Yes.” | ||
| “After I asked?” | ||
| “I’m gonna ask anyway.” | ||
| “Were you?” | ||
| “Yes, sir.” | ||
| “No.” (laughs awkwardly) | ||
| “That’s interesting, cause she didn’t want it.” (I pointed to poll monitor 2) | ||
| “Sir, I am the chairperson here because … waiting out there so I have to ask.” | ||
| “Ah” | ||
| “Ok?” | ||
| “But my wife just went without showing ID.” | ||
| “Who, who, who is the person that just came? Maybe when I went down to the dock.” | ||
| “No. You were standing right here. Right in front of me. This woman.” (pointing to the space my wife had just vacated on the floor in front of me) “Who’s in the poll right now.” (pointing to the booth) “Did not show ID.” | ||
| “Maybe, I didn’t take notice.” | ||
| “She didn’t show ID!” | ||
| “I said I did not. I said ‘I’, my mistake.” | ||
| “Yes, but shouldn’t you notice?” | ||
| “Yeah. Really that’s my mistake. People have to show ID, especially right here…” (points to another persons name on the list) “and then right there” (points to another name on the list) | ||
| “But I just watched her not show ID, so how many people have not showed?” | ||
| “Yes, but you see, for you…” | ||
| “She, she will not show ID here. For you, you have to show ID. Because it is recommended that…” | ||
| “For you they’re asking for ID.” | ||
| “They ask us. You have to.” | ||
| “Uh, that’s not me.” (pointing to the name they are looking at, a few people below mine) | ||
| “Ok. We are just saying people like that. People like this…” (pointing back at my name) “we don’t have to ask them.” | ||
| “Why is that?” | ||
| “Because maybe they a, they, they, they ah, submit your papers they was in… uhhhh” | ||
| “I don’t know.” | ||
| “The same. (pause) That was why they asked, and they made a special ballot for those people anyway. Another booklet.” | ||
| “So for you they didn’t need it, you see?” | ||
| “You see, we don’t need it! Anyway…” | ||
| “OK” |
What else can you say to that? I considered lecturing them about how to run a fair and accurate polling place, but it was clear they were completely in the dark and I’d only be wasting my time on them.
Audio to be included as soon as I can verify that is was legal in my state.