I expected dirty tricks in this election, but I’m not sure what’s the point of pulling them in Texas, which is almost certain to go for McCain anyway. Please be aware that the “advice” this guy (see press release from Travis County Elections after the jump) was giving to voters – claiming that straight-party voters must also then select Obama’s name again – is completely wrong and will actually “unselect” his name and cause no vote to be cast for Obama. (Actually, the press release doesn’t specifically say the guy was trying to confuse Obama voters; I’m just assuming that, because the infamous e-mail referenced specifically was targeting Democrats.)
Bottom line: Before pressing the “cast vote” button, review your choices on the confirmation page and make sure all your selections are accurate. If they’re not, go back and fix them.
Also: Intentionally giving misleading info to voters is illegal and anyone doing so should be reported to the cops.
PRESS RELEASE FROM TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTIONS DIVISION:
Pole Cat in the Polling Place?
Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir has confirmed reports that a person was at one of the Early Voting polling places who was providing misleading information to voters.
Election workers were busy processing voters when the Early Voting Deputy overheard a man giving misleading instructions to voters regarding straight-party voting in language similar to an email that has been circulating on the Internet.
At that moment, the election worker said, “Sir, that’s
inappropriate.”
When confronted, the man immediately turned and fled the polling place in the Randalls at 2025 West Ben White Blvd.
One report to the Clerk’s office said that some voters thought the man had entered the area as a voter, but hung back and began to offer “advice” to voters as if he were an election worker.
The man was described as a white male in his late 30s dressed in business attire.
DeBeauvoir praised the county election worker for his swift
intervention.
“Looks like we had a pole cat in the polling place,” DeBeauvoir said. “Voters can really help with this kind of shenanigans; they can quickly call attention to this kind of misbehavior.”
DeBeauvoir has reported the incident to local law enforcement and will take action as necessary to uphold the election laws.
This article appears in October 17 • 2008.