Skirv's LiveJournal - Day

10:41AM - Angry, Tired, and Successful

I haven't missed an election in my life. I don't plan for that to change any time soon. I have always had a hard time understanding why others don't feel the same way - but then I see crap like this, and I get it.

I just got to work, after spending an hour and a half making sure Beth could vote. They turned her away because she didn't have adequate proof of residence; after a few phone calls, talking with a few lawyers, and begging her roommates for additional paperwork, I managed to both get her ballot counted and the voting judges to hate me. But with any luck, I've successfully re-enfranchised a few dozen voters today. I feel accomplished, and a little bit sick.

( Voting Story )

I still feel bad. I know that others behind us were turned away, and probably others already had been; I should have done more to make sure they got to vote too. But I still feel...invigorated. Excited. My adrenaline high hasn't gone away entirely. And I am *angry*, so angry that they would *do* this to the students. That *students* would do this.

And yes, I do understand why some of this is necessary. I saw the students turned away because they didn't understand the concept of "precinct", where they showed up at the wrong place and just expected to be okay. The system isn't set up to allow that kind of thing, and while it probably should be... *shrug* Maybe later, once the technology has been properly rolled out.

If you can vote, vote. If they try to turn you away, call somebody and make sure they can't. Do not give up. It matters.

5:43PM

If nothing else, I enjoyed today at work. The sense of "all that matters is that you vote" just *permeated* the group. The highlight came when we managed to convince one of those that didn't want to vote to actually get out and do it...

Right now, I am proud.