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BFreeFranklin t1_ivq1hy8 wrote

Question: Do you know why poll workers (at my polling place, anyway) we’re asking people for their party affiliation after they signed the voter roll?

I only ask because I can’t recall encountering that before.

I don’t know if it matters, but another volunteer ushered me into the booth after I signed the roll but before this person could ask for my affiliation.

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LinIsStrong OP t1_ivq2txl wrote

Was it just one person, or all the poll workers at your polling station? We have to look for party affiliation in primary elections because PA has closed primaries, but poll workers should not be asking affiliation during a general election. If the official poll worker with the voter roll was asking during a general election, they were either poorly trained or purposefully intrusive. That question should not be asked during a general election and a complaint should be filed with the person in charge of the polling station (the Judge of Elections in our precinct).

Now I’m super curious why that person was doing that.

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BFreeFranklin t1_ivq4ngv wrote

I’m not sure whether it happened at any other tables. I went to the table for my precinct/ward (apologies for any imprecise language), and there were three workers, if I remember right. One of the first two would ask for your name and give you the roll to sign.

Then most people seemed to proceed to the third worker, who (again, if memory serves) had a pen and notebook and was asking voters for their affiliation.

A voter ahead me in line took issue with it, which seemed to annoy the worker. I did not catch the explanation of the reason for that question, but the voter’s response was something to the effect of, “Well, check your book then.”

My only real hypothesis was that it was a weak attempt to catch impersonators, but that doesn’t seem a very satisfactory answer.

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LinIsStrong OP t1_ivq5hp6 wrote

That seems sus for sure. The voter roll we work from here in Chesco has party affiliation already printed in it; there is no need to ask. I would call your county election office about this and complain. Number can be found here

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NotNowDamo t1_ivqd817 wrote

I have another question, similar.

I went to the fire station, our local polling place, and the woman with the signature book (I don't know what it is called) asked me my name times, at the third time I spelled it for her and she responded, I know the name, I just don't recognize you, then when I looked at her with a blank stare she just said, " oh, give me your paper."

I need to point out that this is a very rural community and I don't work in this county and am a new transplant.

I did get to vote, but found the situation uncomfortable.

I find this to be abnormal behavior and never encountered it before, but am from another part of the state and have never voted in this area before.

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LinIsStrong OP t1_ivqfml5 wrote

If this was your first time voting in that precinct, I am guessing that the “paper” you gave her was some sort of identification? In PA, when you vote in a precinct for the first time, the voter roll book has “ID needed” next to your name so that we can verify you as a legitimate voter in our precinct.

If this was the case for you, it sounds to me like the poll worker was rude or thoughtless with her comment but not necessarily obstructionist.

Poll workers are just everyday people - some make voters feel uncomfortable which stinks! I’m lucky, I work with a group that works hard to make every voter feel comfortable, welcomed and appreciated. Sounds like yours was just an unpleasant person, unless there is something I’m missing.

Thank you for voting!

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NotNowDamo t1_ivqgede wrote

It was my registration. I realize that was my ID and brought it for that reason. However, she asked me for the ID before she looked up my name in the book.

I was more worried about her asking who I am and then saying she doesn't recognize me.

My town has 1400 people and people don't move here--they move away, so I get a lot of "I don't know you" when I meet someone for the first time.

Which is what I think was happening, but thought that the polling place was the wrong place for that interaction.

Thanks for volunteering!

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ScienceWasLove t1_ivssgea wrote

In my rural polling place around 1,000-2,000 people vote in non-presidential elections.

There about a dozen volunteers that run the polling almost every time I have voted.

It is common for them to put my name to my face in that setting and say “oh I remember you”. At least in my experience.

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wagsman t1_ivq4v1u wrote

In a general election it would make no sense, but in the primary it would make complete sense given we have closed primaries.

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Megadeth201 t1_ivt7zqg wrote

The only thing I can think of is that maybe a poll watcher was there. Repeating your affiliation is only needed for primaries, but people act weird when someone is watching them.

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