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You Want a Piece of Me?
Our county in Iowa is pretty small, population-wise, only 33,500 people. Most of these are concentrated in the two, count ’em, two county seats. At any rate, the Republicans made a pretty clean sweep in this last election. One of the sweeps included the five-person County Supervisory Board. One of the loser Democrats decided the numbers “were suspicious” and contacted the (also losing) Democrat Sheriff. The loser supervisor then went on to contact the Iowa Secretary of State’s office.
The woman in charge of county election administration came to the recent supervisor meeting and, loaded for bear, made some comments during the public comment portion of the meeting. As the Daily Gate City [11/15/2024] reported:
“It has been brought to our attention the integrity of this election has been questioned, and what we do and how we do it. I want you to know that us [sic], as a team, work incredibly hard to bring the election to high standards, to uphold every rule and regulation. For us to be questioned on what we do and how we do it is an insult – and we won’t take it.” She went on to say, “We were working 16-hour days while you were rolling over in your bed. No, I’m not going to take it.. If you have something to say, you say it to us. We are the ones that make sure the citizens of Lee County are voted and voted correctly. You got anything to say to me?”
A couple of the supervisors commented that they had no issues and praised the election board for their hard work. No words from the losers.
Mr. Juliana thinks that now that Trump has won, that has stiffened the spines of some who would have, in the past, stayed quiet. I’m not so sure. I have a feeling that this election supervisor is a take-no-prisoners kind of woman by nature.
Published in Politics
I volunteered to be an election worker, as a conservative in a blue, blue state (Maryland). During my training I was immediately identified by the county’s board of election supervisor as having enough of a computer literate background and got immediately promoted to a Chief Republican Judge, which entailed a bit more training in the new electronic voting machines (which have since been retire after 1o years of being squirrelly, and hard to find volunteers to operate them). The position also entailed getting to the polls at 5 am in the morning, booting up all of the machines (and the registration logs) insuring they all of the physical security features, as well as nothing in the count memory. It involved managing irritated and emotional voters, making sure the polls rules were observed (typically it could escalate), closing the poll, reconciling the vote count between what the registration book showed and what was record on the voting machine (computer), collecting the data cards, putting them in secured bag like pouches, then driving those data cards up to the counties tabulating facility (about a 30 minute drive) waiting in line to deliver the results getting signatures for the hand off and retuning to the precinct poll to drop off the other judge (did I mention for several of those cycles, my co judge had no car, or license to drive ( I don’t ask how they lost it). On a normal Election Day I could get back to the polling place by 11 pm, except the year the extended hours for snow. I think I got home by 1:30 am that evening.
Maryland has no problem getting Democrats to volunteer, however with only one election cycle exception (I lasted 12 years) I was paired with marginally competent co judges, both with respect to knowing the election rules, and how to operate the equipment when it wanted to bog down. Even during the peak attended election (Obama’s first) and I was placed in a minority heavy precinct, only 64% of the “eligible” voters in that precinct chose to case a ballot.
Since I could look at the roles I noted my decease Grandmother and both parents remained a few cycles beyond when I reported to the county board of elections (using their forms) that they were deceased. I could also see that non residential addresses could be found in the electronic book, as well short term care facilities. The registration poll book had statewide reach so we could tell a voter if they were in the wrong voting precinct, it was their choice at that point if they wished to vote provisionally or go to the correct poll. I knew those votes would not get counted unless the vote was close enough if it was going to possibly change an outcome.
Maryland relies on a person reporting their name and address to receive a ballot, no ID is required. The MVA automatically enter’s one’s name upon issuing of a license to drive. More than once I had my democratic chief judge chastise voters for volunteering their ID, which I had had to take them aside and point out when they do that it greatly improves the checkin process making everyone (workers and voters) happier to get thru the process much quicker. My poll book workers were typically deep into their retirement years, with hearing issues, and slow to enter a voters information when they had to keep re-asking how to spell a name or address. The plus side for me was everyone in line would see this and have their ID out. No harm no foul.
My observation is that each county is its own fiefdom on how it’s operated thus I have my suspicions about how Baltimore and Prince George counties were always the last to report. Probably to see how much was needed in a tight election that the preferred Democrat would win. If it wasn’t close I think they wouldn’t bother (eg Hogan as governor for two terms, plus his opponents were complete zeros that even the Dems couldn’t abide). Given that the state is 40/60 Rep to Dem, and we have 10 electoral votes one would think that 4 republicans would be seated. But given the dominance that the Dems have accrued (including a gerrymandering lawsuit that made it to the Supreme Court) we are down to one squish.
For doing this temporary “job” I received the princely sum of $125, and had to take a vacation day. It was $100 for the rest of the poll workers, who were still getting their salary if they were county or state employees.
So I have a modicum of agreement with that county supervisor about not busting the chops of the poll workers.
Two county seats. Well that says it all, doesn’t it? Can’t get along with anyone, even each other.
Oh, there’s nothing halfway,
About the Iowa way to treat you,
When we treat you,
Which we may not do at all!
There’s an Iowa kind,
A kind-a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude,
We’ve never been without that we recall!
We can be cold as the falling
Thermometer in December if you ask about our weather in July.
And we’re so by-gone stubborn, we can
Stand touching noses for a week at a time,
And never see eye-to-eye.
But what the heck!
You’re welcome,
join us at the picnic.
You can have your fill of all the food you bring yourself.
You really ought to give Iowa a try,
Provided you are contrary.
We can be cold as our falling
Thermometers in December if you ask about our weather in July.
And we’re so by-gone stubborn, we can
Stand touching noses for a week at a time,
And never see eye-to-eye.
But we’ll give you our shirt,
And a back to go with it,
If your crop should happen to die.
So what the heck!
You’re welcome!
Glad to have you with us!
Even though we may not ever mention it again!You really ought to give Iowa,
Hawk-eye, Iowa,
Dubuque, Des Moines, Davenport, Marshaltown, Mason City, Keokuk, Ames,
Clearlake!
Ought to give Iowa a try! — Meredith Willson
Well, your “pretty small” county is still 10x the size of mine.
My son just did the same thing up in Baltimore County. I think they pay $200 now. My son’s company gave him a paid day off.
He said it was tiring but worth it.