1. I've read, and listened, and asked, and contemplated...and now I'm off to vote...

Think I'll make the poll worker ask for my ID, just to see if they really do.

Happy voting everyone!!

Posted by: dl on September 20, 2005 07:47 AM

2. Any comments on the Carter-Baker Commission's report on voting? http://www.american.edu/ia/cfer/
Most notably they recommend requiring a PhotoID for all voters, state wide registration lists that can be cross checked for multiple registration, purging lists of felons (in states that have those laws) and non-citizens, and a paper receipt for each voter.
Also note their finding that absentee voting is the largest source of voting fraud in the US.

Posted by: zorkpolitics on September 20, 2005 08:25 AM

3. I voted this morning. Weren't they supposed to ask me for a photo ID? Their all-important question that they reminded each other of was asking for my address. And I could have just read that off the big list that she was pointing at with that straightedge.

Oh well. At least I know that *I'm* honest. For now.

Posted by: Sotosoroto on September 20, 2005 08:40 AM

4. Hey, at least you have "polls"!

Here in Kommie-Kitsap we have none. We are at the mercy of the U.S.P.S.. (Now, there's a scary thought!)

Posted by: Jeremy on September 20, 2005 09:54 AM

5. Remember the democrap credo: "Vote early and vote often!"

Posted by: alphabet soup on September 20, 2005 11:12 AM

6. I voted at the polls today here in Tacoma where I live. They had a prominent sign near the doors to the polling place saying "ID Required." They asked me for my ID, and checked it carefully against my address and signature, which DUH, matched.

Then, I was required to sign on the line in the poll book. And they had a little acrylic plastic sheet with an oval in it so that you could only sign on the correct line, and no other, provided of course that the sheet was lined up with my name, which it was. I was checking their work as much as they were checking me for authenticity. The way it should be.

The only things on the ballot were a few local positions, and of course, a chance to reject keeping the Dome on the public dole.

Hopefully it went better it King County, but from the posts here, I see that ID was not always required. As liberal as Tacoma is, I think the auditor here for Pierce County, Pat McCarthy, is reasonably committed to clean elections and some integrity in the voting process. Too bad we can't get the same from King County, where the thought of authenticating voters is met with gasps of disenfranchisement from the lunatics at Horses Ass, etc.

The litmus test is simple, if a person is more concerned with assuring the ability to vote than they are with a legitimate election result, then they are most probably a Democrat. It seems like common sense, but that's the problem with those on the far left, reason is optional.

Posted by: Jeff B. on September 20, 2005 01:28 PM

7. "I'm off to the polls".....I wish I could say that. Now, here in Clark Co. we're just using the first 2 letters..I'm off to the P.O. What a travesty!

Posted by: Susu on September 20, 2005 01:45 PM

8. Voted at the poll today, SE King Co. I didn't offer, but they did ask me for ID, which was new here (in the past I've offered & was told it was unnecessary). The workers were wonderfully polite and helpful, of course!

Posted by: dl on September 20, 2005 02:08 PM

9. Jeff B.,
Don't be so sure of your auditor there. Pierce County, correct? Read my comment on "He who hesitates..." post.
to wait and see.

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 02:12 PM

10. OOPS, meant to delete "to wait and see."

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 02:13 PM

11. To Support Reagan Dunn:

#1. Vote if you can! Remember to check and see if he's on the GOP ballot, then vote for him and against Dean Logan!

#2. Give h-e-2X-l to the Parisian on this blog named Doug or something like that. We don't surrender.

#3. Go to THIS and THIS link to run off pro-Dunn, anti-Logan signage! Put them on your car, in your office, wave them around and if you are going to Mt. Vernon tonight for the open gov't forum - wave them around for the cameras to support OUR King County Councilman Reagan Dunn (who relieved RMK so he could kick buttuski as YOUR Attorney General)!

#4. Go vote! Decisions are made by those who show up!

Posted by: Reagan Dunn Fan on September 20, 2005 02:15 PM

12. I voted around 1pm, and was the ninth person. There was only one item to vote on... Jeff Sax.

John M

Posted by: John F McKay on September 20, 2005 02:16 PM

13. One more reason to vote for Reagan Dunn: David Goldstein is for Steve Hammond, against Reagan Dunn!

Posted by: Reagan Dunn Fan on September 20, 2005 02:26 PM

14. I understand Goldstein is also a poll judge....pathetically it is judging the "poll-dancers" at his favorite gay male strip club!

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on September 20, 2005 02:41 PM

15. I went to go vote on my lunch break, even though pretty much everything but port commissioner seats were uncontested on my ballot. Surprisingly enough, they actually managed to remove my registration from the precinct that I recently moved out of (I vote in the same place, but a different precinct now) and I'm not registered twice. There were only a couple of voters at the polling place when I was there, but I noted a surprising number of leftist slogans on bumper stickers in the parking lot...

Posted by: Vexorg on September 20, 2005 03:40 PM

16. I voted at 7:10 am and was the first one at the polling site. I was not asked for my ID (I had never seen the person before), and the big question was whether to put my ballot number next to my name. ARGH!!! Ballots are secret, don't they teach that in election monitoring 101? After a conference they decided not to put my ballot number next to my name, thankfully, but it was touch and go there for a minute.

As for those of you that are tempted not to vote because there is "so little on the ballot", keep in mind that Sims' name is on there. If you stay home, it is the same as rubber stamping him back into office. Go to the polls, mark "Republican, and vote for Irons. Let them know we're here. It's time we made noise.

Posted by: Jenny on September 20, 2005 04:11 PM

17. #3. Go to THIS and THIS link to run off pro-Dunn, anti-Logan signage!

Hey Reagan Dunn Fan,

Dunn isn't running against Dean Logan last I checked. So I guess the Pro-Dunn, anti-Logan stuff would be a waste.

#4. Go vote! Decisions are made by those who show up!

Actually, decisions are made by those in King County that count and enhance the ballots

Posted by: Jim L on September 20, 2005 04:59 PM

18. Remember all....the ONLY way this is a valid election is if your guy wins! If not...time to yell "fraud" and attempt to undermine the election results!

It almost worked last time...gotta try try again until it sticks!

Remember: It's your guy or bad election...there is no other result that should stand!

Posted by: Harry Partch on September 20, 2005 05:09 PM

19. I voted this a.m. around 7:30. First in my precinct. The elderly woman who signed me in did not ask for my I.D.--I had to remind her to check it. She glanced at it and said "Yup, that looks like you. Mine doesn't look like me." I took both her failure to ask me for I.D. and her subsequent comment as her way of saying she didn't think much of I.D. checks.

Posted by: Organization Man on September 20, 2005 05:18 PM

20. Harry Partch,

So what do YOU do when the number of illegal votes is larger than the difference between the candidates? (Remember, even Judge Bridges ruled that there were 15x more illegal votes counted than number of votes separating the candidates in 2004.)

Do you ridicule the people who FIND the problems and keep voting for the people who CAUSE the problems? I'll bet YOU do!

But thankfully you're not getting your hands dirty, so we TRUE citizens can do the REAL work and defend our RIGHTS to a clean vote.

Posted by: Larry on September 20, 2005 05:21 PM

21. I voted this morning.
I was asked for ID - though the poll woman recognized me. We had a wonderful conversation after I voted. (it was very quiet in there...)

I asked if my husbands name was still listed in the poll book - though he votes absentee. She showed me how small the book was this time because the county had removed all absentee voters from the poll books! This is new! Then we discussed the possibility of King County changing to an All Mail Vote county. She told me that she was pretty sure that's the way they are going - though she did not support the change....She agreed that absentee ballots were responsible for most of the problems in last Novembers election - and she was confident that NO Provisional ballots went through her vote machines. She was going to offer me a form to sign up to work the polls - but remembered that none were delivered this year...(further evidence that King County intends to go all absentee voting?) She showed me another change since last year - a Provisional voting desk. With a designated poll worker exclusively for that job! I commented that last Novembers election brought many flakey looking provisional voters into our small voting place - at least at the time I was voting. She felt that her polling place was able to keep on top of the unusual number of provisional voters last year...No ballots went through her machines....She felt that certain polling places in Seattle were responsible for most of the poll ballot and provisional ballot problems.....(we all know which precincts she was referring to!)

King County should NOT be allowed to change to All Mail Voting....PERIOD!

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 05:41 PM

22. I voted in lovely unincorporated Pierce County and yes they asked for my ID. I told the poll worker I was very glad that she had asked but it looks like the turn out is low today. I'm in a small area so I guess that's not too much of a shock, but I'm going to continue to go to the polls until they tell us otherwise. I want them to check ID!

Posted by: thebergs3 on September 20, 2005 07:29 PM

23. Could it be - that the reason for low turnout is fewer illegal voters due to the ID requirement?

Actually - there is always a light turnout for Primary elections! Especially since we went to the Montana style voting...

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 08:06 PM

24. I guess our local city police chief voted at the poll in his uniform with name tag and the poll worker very seriously asked for his id. He was kind of offended. I think that's funny!

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 08:29 PM

25. What's up with King County election results site? They haven't updated since 8:03? And stand at only 8.96% counted? According to their schedule -they should have updated at 9pm to 20%....

Are they too busy manipulating the count? Because some of the results.... are already looking funny........

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 09:25 PM

26. I was a poll judge today in Kenmore.

I want to clarify a misconception on this thread. ID is not required to vote.
First, there is a very broad definition of what counts as ID. For eg, a utility bill counts.
Second, ID is only required to vote a "poll ballot". It is not required to votea "provisional ballot".
In other words, ID offers no further security since you can vote with or without one. It is purely used for King County's internal ballot bookkeeping.

Other observations.
- the poll workers were very nicy and cheerful people. The voters were very nice too.
- We had very very low turnout.
- We still had dead voters on our roles. We also had people who no longer lived in King county (Family members told us in both cases).
- We observed ballots are 8.5 x 11 and printed on a standard paper, and have no distinguishing marks on the actual ballot. In other words, it looks like you can go to Kinkos, print off 1000 ballots and feed them into the vote machines. And they will count (even though that means more votes than the precint has voters).
- I couldn't help but notice the number of other security holes. I think my fellow poll workers got very annoyed with me pointint them out; though they seemed to concur.
After poll judge class and working as a poll judge for 15 hours, I conclude that KC elections are still basically an honor system voting. We are still a long ways off from having secure elections in King County.

Posted by: Mike S. on September 20, 2005 09:35 PM

27. Thank you for your service Mike S.

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 09:40 PM

28. Deborah - funny you should mention the glaring lack of results. Normally, they start declaring winners one minute after the polls close. I had just pinged my son and a couple of other people with this remark, when I decided to check out SP. There you were, asking the same question. Hopefully somebody has a brilliant answer . . . other than our question of "what in the heck is going on THIS time".

Posted by: lksimstrailgrammy on September 20, 2005 09:42 PM

29. Deborah,
I am wondering the same thing here in Whitman County. I am ready to go back down to the newspaper and see if the editor has any word. No results in Whitman County at all on local news.

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 09:42 PM

30. I was a pollworker down here in Sherwood Forest. We had a great time.

Jenny - That number they write next to your name ONLY appears on the piece of paper they TEAR OFF your ballot at the top. There is NO WAY to tie your vote to you. They need that number to account that a particular torn off strip goes to your name to prove that indeed you got a real ballot.

About asking for address - they only wanted to verify their database was up-to-date.

Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on September 20, 2005 09:44 PM

31. Way to go Jonathan Gardner!

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 09:46 PM

32. OK - King County updated elections results at 9:26.. Why the delay? Don't they realize that they are not in a position to err in something as important as election results?? Do they care?

Is anyone watching King County process their election results?

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 09:59 PM

33. I took 3 absentee ballots in to the local poll. The look on their faces was priceless as I said "this is how they taught us in Chicago". Yes, all 3 were legit!

Posted by: PC on September 20, 2005 10:03 PM

34. Deborah,
I was surprised Whitman County has their results up already!

For King County go to:
http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/

Posted by: cc on September 20, 2005 10:30 PM

35. Looks like Dunn is ahead of Hammond by moderate margin and Ferguson has moved in front of wack-job Edmonds - for the two KC Council positions. However, many of 70% + of the absentee ballots are not included in these totals. At least the poll workers were actually checking ID and watching the ballot box where I voted.

Hopefully, this effort will be reinforced in November - especially in the bowels of sewer of corruption in King County. Elect David Irons in November - the people out there who care about clean elections deserve better than King Sims the sewermaster - those who don't care - why bother to vote ? - useful idiots !

Posted by: KS on September 20, 2005 10:37 PM

36. Here are the King County results at 9:26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unofficial Cumulative
KING COUNTY 9/20/2005 9:26:41 PM
Sep 20, 2005
September 20, 2005 Page 1 of 20

Jurisdiction Wide

Jurisdiction Wide

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 99270 / 1012559 9.80%

Precincts Counted/Total Precincts: 457 / 2573 17.76%

Preference

DEMOCRATIC DEM 57446 61.77%

REPUBLICAN REP 35551 38.23%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the King County Results at 10:08

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unofficial Cumulative
KING COUNTY 9/20/2005 10:08:22 PM
Sep 20, 2005
September 20, 2005 Page 1 of 20

Jurisdiction Wide

Jurisdiction Wide

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 115382 / 1012559 11.40%

Precincts Counted/Total Precincts: 1164 / 2573 45.24%

Preference

DEMOCRATIC DEM 69171 63.71%

REPUBLICAN REP 39399 36.29%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice how the number of precincts counted
went from 17.76% to 45.24% - yet the overall cumulative totals only increased by 16,112 votes?
They must be counting the tiny precincts first?

Only 11.40% of registered voter ballots have been counted....I expect a turnout of about 35 - 45% for the primary.....

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 10:42 PM

37. OK..Let me get this straight...

70 to 75% of voters in King County are voting absentee...Do the results on King County's website represent only Poll ballot results?

And - as of 10:47 only 12.81% of registered voters ballots have been counted....
There is an expected 28 to 30% voter turnout in King County....So......there are a majority of outstanding ballots yet to be counted....

I hope no one concedes quite yet...

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 11:26 PM

38. OK..Here is the results schedule for King County...Apparently - the results showing on the website after 9pm ARE only the polling place results - per this schedule.. with the mail ballots processed at 8:15pm:

2005 King County Primary Election results schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 20 State Primary
7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Polls open.
8:15 p.m. Mail ballot results posted online.
9 p.m. First returns from polls posted (20% of poll precincts reporting)
10 p.m. Cumulative returns (50% of poll precincts reporting)
11 p.m. Cumulative returns (98% to 100% of poll precincts reporting or when poll count is complete)
Wednesday, Sept.21 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Thursday, Sept. 22 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Friday, Sept. 23 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Saturday, Sept. 24 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Monday, Sept. 26 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Tuesday, Sept.27 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Wednesday, Sept.28 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Thursday, Sept. 29 4:30 p.m. Results posted
Friday, Sept. 30 2 p.m. Primary certified
4:30 p.m. Results posted

Note: All Canvassing Board meetings are open to the public and held in the Records, Elections and Licensing Services Director’s office, Room 533, King County Administration Building.

Updated: Sept. 20, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

King County | Elections | News | Services | Comments | Search

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 11:34 PM

39. It doesn’t look that good for Ron Sims: 10:47 p.m. update:

Ron Sims – 53,915 (45.53%)
Karen Rispoli – 15,528 (13.11%)
Michael Nelson – 7,459 (6.30%)
David Irons – 41,504 (35.05%)

Total Votes – 118,406

In 2001, Ron Sims got 59.32% of the vote in the primary. In 1997, Ron Sims had a little over 60% of the primary vote (with about 5% going to another Democrat).

I would expect Ron Sims’ percentage will be a bit less than 45.53% when all the ballots are counted. Probably less than half of the absentee ballots have been counted. Almost all of the Seattle poll precincts have been counted (only 15 left), while 757 poll precincts outside of Seattle are left to be counted. I think Sims will end up at a bit less than 44% of the overall primary vote.

Posted by: Richard Pope on September 20, 2005 11:42 PM

40. We voted for you Richard!

I agree....no matter how you crunch the numbers....Ron Sims is in trouble!

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 11:48 PM

41. At 11:37PM the race between Dunn and Hammond seems to be stalled at only 59% of precincts reporting and only 13.44% of registered voters ballots counted....They have a long way to go for a final tally! I wonder why King County is taking it's time with this particular race when most of the others for county council are at a 90% precinct count already?

COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 9

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 16253 / 120897 13.44%

Precincts Counted/Total Precincts: 154 / 259 59.46%

Metropolitan King County Council District No. 9 - Rep

Steve Hammond REP 3827 43.70%

Reagan Dunn REP 4928 56.27%

Write-in 3 0.03%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by: Deborah on September 20, 2005 11:59 PM

42. I wonder how many Republicans declared themselves Democrats for the purposes of this primary so that they could vote for a Sims opponent. I would imagine that were quite a few creative souls. With those numbers factored in, Mr. Land Grab appears to be in trouble.

Posted by: lksimstrailgrammy on September 21, 2005 12:26 AM

43. iksimstrailgrammy..

Funny you mention that! My hubby had suggested we do that..(I objected vehemently!) - He said some of his buddies were talking about doing that just to get rid of Sims!
I wonder how many people would actually vote that way in the primary just to affect Ron Sims chances at a run in November?

Posted by: Deborah on September 21, 2005 12:33 AM

44. 12:12 a.m. update (2563/2573 poll precincts, lots and lots of absentees still outstanding):

Ron Sims – 58,157 (44.39%)
Karen Rispoli – 16,870 (12.88%)
Michael Nelson – 8,204 (6.26%)
David Irons – 47,796 (36.48%)

Total Votes – 131,027

There are at least 87,000 more absentee ballots to be counted – just based on what was received in the mail by election day 09/20/2005 – 177,578 absentee ballots received by mail, with only 90,709 absentee ballots counted in the early returns. There will probably be at least another 70,000 absentee ballots either turned in at the polling place on election day (i.e. in their sealed envelopes) or received in the mail after election day (with postmark on or before electiond day).

I will predict that Ron Sims will end up with a lot closer to 43% of the total primary vote, as opposed to 44%. Possibly even less than 43%.

P.S.: Thanks for the support Deborah! Wish more people had voted the way you did yesterday!

Posted by: Richard Pope on September 21, 2005 02:35 AM

45. The bottom line re Sims appears to be that the demo/rep split in KC is 60/40 and when there is only one demo vs one rep -- the demo will probably win

Posted by: Bill on September 21, 2005 05:14 AM

46. Bill--
A whole lot of unfortunate truth to that one.
Way too many folks are True-Blue Party Loyalists in the final election.
Just look at how many R's voted for Wil Baker for State Auditor???
Both sides do it.
However, this time may just be a bit different.
Virtually NO R's will vote for SIMS.
However, a whole bunch of D's will vote for Irons because:
1) Election Dept. debacle
2) CAO---a lot of Dems have had their land grabbed by SIMS too.
3) Perceived need to clean house cuz Sims is a crook.
Will there be enough disgruntled D's that will not only not vote for Sims but make the step to vote for Irons???? That is the question.
I don't think so.....but this is why we have elections. My guess is SIMS by less than 8 points. But if Irons gets enough $$ to run a huge negative campaign on Sims, he may very well make it closer than that. If Irons doesn't have the guts or wherewithall to ATTACK Sims record non-stop, it will probably be more like 10 pts.
Can Irons win???
Do you believe in MIRACLES?
No one thought the 1980 USA Hockey Team could beat those Pinkos either.

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on September 21, 2005 06:48 AM

47. I seriously considered registering as a democrat because there are some good democrats that I would like to see make it to the general election.
I'd rather a good D be in office than a bad D.

Posted by: Mike S. on September 21, 2005 09:46 AM

48. Don't get discouraged yet. Washington voters consider themselves very independent, and are willing to cross party lines for a good candidate. The primary ticket format muffed this somewhat, but there could be some surprises in November. After all, isn't that how Sam Reed was elected when all or most of the state offices went democrat? Let's not forget Dino. It can be done, if we get even a fairly clean election.

Posted by: dl on September 21, 2005 10:35 AM

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