Testing Photo ID In Shiawassee

Update: – 3:15pm – The sign at Caledonia Twp Hall has been taken down. Thank you MDP for your assistance with this!

I always take election day off. There’s something about that pesky democracy thing that just demands that I be out here on the street, watching out for the voters.

So I started my day like any other election day, by heading down to the good ol’ Caledonia Twp Hall, to cast my vote for Pocket Hillary. (And for the SATA millage, which actually means more to me than the presidential primary … go figure)

And what do you think greeted me at the door?

If you can’t see through the glare, the sign reads, “PHOTO ID WILL BE REQUIRED” with the little statutory reference beneath.

No mention of the fact that you do not need to have a photo ID to vote. So basically, they turn you away at the door, if you don’t have a photo ID and you don’t know your rights.

I checked my pockets, and wuddayaknow, no photo ID. I don’t know how that happened. I didn’t do it on purpose of course. Perish the thought.

Moving on … I filled out my ballot app, and read the affidavit on the back. It leaves you with the impression that you are saying that you don’t have an ID at all .. not that you don’t have one with you. But, whatever. I gave the app to the woman at the desk.

For the sake of symbolism, let’s call her “da man”, and I’ll be “the little people”

The adventure continues over the jump

da man: “I need your ID”

the little people: “I do not have one.”

da man: “you do not have one?”

the little people: “I do not have one.”

da man: “you do not have one anywhere, at all?”

the little people: “I do not have one.”

da man: “you don’t have a photo ID?”

the little people wonder if da man requires us to press 1 to speak english. “I. Do. Not. Have. One.”

da man: “well … I guess you have to fill this out and sign it.” da man turns my ballot app over and gives it back to me.

the little people comply.

da man: :sigh: “wait a minute … ” da man goes and gets assistance. da other man says “yes, she just has to fill it out.”

the little people hand the affidavit to da man.

da man: “you have to fill it all out.” da man hands it back to the little people, with a pen.

the little people: “I think that’s where you are supposed to sign it.” the little people point the part of the affidavit where it says “sworn to me on this day of ….”

da man: “get your ballot over there.” da man is disgusted with the little people. the little people get irritated, but still get to vote.

She never did sign the back of my ballot application. (Anyone know if that matters?)

Well I voted, got my ‘I voted!’ sticker, and left.

Then I hit my first assignment, which was Perry Township. (blogging live from the thriving metropolis of Perry right now) Turnout should be high out here, due to the school consolidation issue being on the ballot. Perry Township was rockin’ (precinct 1, anyway … precinct 2 seemed kinda dead).

Perry Township also had a photo ID sign:

This one wasn’t as bad as the one in Caledonia. Still, no mention of the fact that you do not have to have a photo ID.

No petitions so far, but I have my anti-RTW For Less lit with me, and I know how to count to 100 (feet).

(I also have my digital voice recorder and camcorder, my cell phone, my pocket pc, and .. wait for it .. my laptop. So no funny business, mister, or I’ll blog you!)

Lots and lots of Ron Paul signs out here. Sometimes I think he is the only Republican campaigning. 3 Huckabee signs. That’s it.

Big props to the AFL-CIO and all the other unions who got us the lit & organized the petition resistance! You’ve got a genuine Christine Barry contribution coming your way. (Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations)

Cross posting to bfm, because that’s where the Lansing people are.