It’s Super Tuesday in Georgia so here’s your open thread!!
Are there lines at the polls? Any issues at the precincts? etc, etc…
If you don’t know where you need to vote, you can access the State’s voter webpage to pull up the address of your assigned precinct. Happy voting Decatur!
In and out in five minutes this morning at Holy Trinity on Ponce. But I was pretty early. Hope folks get out and vote today!
I’m curious to know how many residents feel safe with our schools being in session while they are used as polling places. This affects Renfroe and Winnona Park students. It seems quite dangerous to me, given all of the gun violence in our country and the fact that many instances of such violence have occurred on school campuses.
Personally, I feel that schools should never be used as polling places whether in session or not. Giving the general public unobstructed access to a school building with little supervision, oversight or security while they’re in the building gives anyone with ill intentions the opportunity to do any number of harmful things. We have enough government buildings and churches to be able to offer plenty of polling places without having to use our schools. If enough of us are concerned, perhaps the county will change the way it assigns polling places. Thoughts?
I agree, Elle. I have always been mystified by this.
Voting was easy at Renfoe this morning when I went around 7:45. I did hear that it was busy at 7 am though.
Schools have been used as polling places for decades. I am not aware of any incidents.
Schools are central to most neighbourhoods, which makes it easier for everyone to vote.
Where I come from election day is a school holiday (at least it was when I was a kid). Schools were widely used as polling places.
I hope that Election Day can become a national holiday, with government buildings used for all polling stations and parents bringing their kids with them in droves to create a stronger culture of voting.
I definitely understand that, but given the ridiculous increases in the level of gun violence our country has seen lately, I think it’s time to change this procedure and move voting to any other community building that’s still centrally located for residents, but not a school.
Do you have statistics that show a “ridiculous increases in the level of gun violence our country”?
Random , mass shootings have increased greatly, Walrus. I assume that’s what the person meant, even if the claim was phrased more broadly.
I don’t think this has been confirmed either. The “FBI” published a report stating that they have, but then the authors admitted it was a faulty report.
Would have never guessed that the increase of mass shootings would become political or up for debate.
I like facts. That’s not political. And I made no affirmative statement one way or the other.
https://www.yahoo.com/health/are-mass-shootings-really-on-1296370046861366.html
You’re welcome.
If schools are out then they need to get rid of churches too. No one should be subjected to another person’s religion just because they want to exercise their right to vote.
You’re getting proselytized at your polling place? Woulda figured that’s illegal.
Entering a church building doesn’t subject you to another person’s religion any more than driving down the road, seeing various religious symbols and reading the signs most churches have out front. Should we remove those too as to not offend the hyper-sensitive? Perhaps you should be thankful those churches voluntarily open their doors to allow us a place to vote.
FWIW, I have voted in the Baptist church for years, and not once has any of the volunteers, who are church members BTW, even uttered a simple “God Bless You”.
In the spirit of bipartisanship, I must seize this moment to celebrate my agreement with Dawgfan!
Don’t forget, churches serving as polling places is but one of the many civic functions they perform that justify, in part, their tax exemption. Overlap between the government, institutional, business and religious realms is, IMO, at the core of how community functions best.
Any church or other religious institution can put whatever they want outside their building. That’s free speech and we must accept it in PUBLIC. When the gov’t REQUIRES me to enter someone else’s religious place of worship with banners saying “Praise Jesus! He has risen!” and “Jesus died for your sins!”, just to exercise my right to vote in person, that is forced subjection to religious speech and expression. Much different. Not ok.
Then don’t go inside.
Perhaps you shouldn’t vote if you are so easily influenced. Speaking only for myself, walking by such a sign would have absolutely zero impact on my life, assuming I noticed it in the first place.
Close your eyes.
When I read your first post, I thought you were joking. After reading your second, I realized that maybe you weren’t.
Is this really a problem for you? Of all the issues and candidates at play in this campaign, you choose to be offended that churches are polling places?
Voting,
I don’t take the same umbrage that you do about polling places in churches, but nor do I think your complaint should be so flippantly dismissed as some here have done. I’m pretty sure certain people would be pretty upset if their only polling place was in, say, a mosque.
I know someone who feels the same way you do, and he wears the shirt linked to below when he has to go in a church to vote. Counter-programming, in a sense:
http://richarddawkins.myshopify.com/collections/apparel
Or, you can just move back to Russian, you godless, socialist Nazi.
FWIW, the subjection clause didn’t make the final cut into the US Constitution. Only the establishment clause and exercise clause.
“Establishment” can and has been interpreted broadly. Regardless, the same amendment, fortunately, protects the freedom to ridicule any religion–arguably the most important freedom made possible by the Bill of Rights.
If it makes you feel safer there was a COD police officer in attendance the whole time outside this morning at Renfro Middle School watching
I’m quite okay with it. Don’t live in fear.
Agree. We can’t be the land of the free without also being home of the brave.
According to all the Republican candidates’ commercials the past week, we should live in constant fear of everything.
Interesting op-ed by Thomas Sowell in the morning’s AJC that says just the opposite.
Early voted at Clark Howell Bldg last week. Took 5 minutes or so. They had way more machines than they needed since there were only 4 check-in stations and it took about 15 seconds to vote. They needed 10 at most but had at least twice that.
Same here but voted at Brookhaven City Hall. There were so many machines and check-in stations the place was claustrophobic.
Please allow a minor correction. You didn’t vote at the Clark Howell Building. It’s the Clark Harrison Building. Big difference. Clark Harrison was a former county commission chairman (back when we had honest government in DeKalb) and was a principal founder of Fidelity National Bank. He was also a war hero, paralyzed from the chest down by a German sniper’s bullet in World War II. Clark Howell was a newspaper editor (AJC) and local and state politician. He did some good things, but parts of his record are less-than-admirable. (Read the story of Leo Frank for a particularly dark chapter on Mr. Howell.) I just wanted to set the record straight.
You are correct. It’s the Clark something building, I just couldn’t remember. It’s also 330 W Ponce.
Thanks Bill. Clark Harrison ran for office using the slogan “The Man Who Won’t Forget”. Funny how I never forgot the slogan, the catchy jingle, or the man. His “I Remember” talk is posted at the DeKalb History Center online site. He was born on Wilton Drive and never left Decatur (and is buried in the Decatur Cemetery). He never let his war injury interfere with life. I believe he flew solo to Alaska and maybe Europe. Every person I’ve ever met that personally knew Harrison has said he was an outstanding man, honest businessman and elected leader. It is sad that so many people in Decatur know almost nothing about him.
We need more Clark Harrisons willing to serve in Decatur, the General Assembly and at the national level.
Clark Harrison’s book is good reading. Long Way Home: A Journey from Despair to Triumph (DeKalb Library doesn’t seem to have a copy.)
http://www.dekalbhistory.org/documents/11ClarkHarrisonOctober1985.pdf
Steady, but no line, right now at First Baptist.
“Any issues at the precincts?”
Just the candidates on the ballots.
This may be the first time in a long while that I don’t vote. Just can’t see me hitting that button for any of them.
Can’t you vote against somebody you particularly hate by voting for their strongest rival?
Just remember, if you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain about who we end up with.
Amen
Count me among those who don’t understand this mindset. Voting is not just an opportunity to register your adoration for a candidate. There’s always a “worst” option, so even if there’s no one you’re particularly jazzed about voting FOR, you can at least exercise your civic duty to vote AGAINST that less desirable candidate. Apathy is not a defensible political position.
Of course one could argue that intentionally refusing to cast a vote is in fact a vote. You are telling all of the candidates they aren’t worthy of your vote Perhaps you believe that low turnout may inspire a third party/independent candidate to get in the game.
But I agree that failing to vote due to ignorance or laziness is inexcusable (although I must admit that I would prefer those who don’t bother educating themselves as to the candidates or other ballot items to stay home).
I believe it is. Each vote this year puts some unqualified person closer to the presidency. If you believe, as I do, that none of the manor party candidates is suitable for the job, casting no vote is the only way to “participate” with a clear conscience. I’ll just hang tight and vote for the libertarian when the general election rolls around.
I agree that citizens should vote at every election if we want this democracy/republic thing to work. But I think it’s ok to skip items on the ballot when one has no earthly idea who is the better candidate. Or maybe even what the elected office is. That’s happened to me in the past when I’ve been new in town and was voting for local, municipal, or county elections. Actually I still run into an office now and then, usually some kind of judge, where I’m scratching my head. I don’t want to be voting on the basis of whose mother named them better. Of course, it would be best if we would all check the entire ballot ahead of time and research all the candidates and posts. Not too hard these days. Every once in a while, I’ve been known to email a wise, issues-savvy friend in an effort to save time and maximize the value of my vote…
I wish I thought that politicians paid attention to protest non-votes but that is probably giving them too much credit.
I think voting for someone that you do not like is an indefensible position. “Hey, I know I voted for the person that turned out to be awful, but that other person COULD have been awful too!” You can have that. Just a difference of opinion. And again, I said this would be the first time I didn’t vote – I just believe a non-vote this go-round is stronger than a vote for any one of these clowns. I am very politically active (far from apathetic) so I believe I can still complain about who is in office (which is a silly statement anyway). Are you saying that if I voted for Carson (who had no chance), I could complain? Finally, Trump and Clinton had GA in the bag anyway.
I will stick to only voting for people I actually believe in.
The primaries in Georgia are not winner-take-all, so a vote for candidates other than Trump and Clinton would still help that candidate win delegates.
I almost skipped too, as I’m unexcited (to put it very mildly) about any of the candidates. But I decided to vote for Clinton for one reason: Trump is the likely Repub. nominee, and she has the best chance of beating him of any the remaining candidates (and the other Repubs are mostly terrible too). I don’t care if she has ten thousand classified emails on her Ipad,Trump is a dangerous candidate who represents the worst elements of this country, and, by comparison, Clinton will be an exemplar of statesmanship and simple decency.
Latest polls show Sanders making a stronger showing than Clinton against all three top Republican contenders. Just sayin.
Yeah, I just don’t buy that. Explain to me how he is about to get shellacked in these primaries but somehow would do better than Clinton in a general election? Sanders wins states that Dems win anyway ( New England mostly). Also, his core support is dominated by typically unreliable voters, i.e. twenty-somethings. If Trump is the nominee, lots of Republicans will vote for Clinton (from what I’ve read); I’d say that’s much less likely to happen with Sanders as the nominee.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Bernie is a socialist and thus unworthy of elected office in a country founded on principles of individual freedom. He’s the only “major” candidate I can recall who could possibly motivate me to vote for Trump, though Hillary is a close call too.
I think the socialist thing is overblown, frankly.
And show me a political candidate that has run solely on “individual freedom” and I’ll show you nobody ever.
i just cast 20 votes for Bernie at Oakhurst Baptist, and boy do i feel better.
Finally. We now know who’s behind all of the election fraud that I’ve been hearing about the last few years. Thank you for finally stepping out of the shadows 🙂
Must have been some ex-Chicagoans working the polls.
Biggest turnout I’ve ever seen.
As far as Trump is concerned, where’s Ashton Kutcher when we need him?
Would bring about a big sigh of relief (and would be the most epic “Punk’d” show ever).
#did-trump-really-just-win-georgia?
I’m still hoping for a giant prank also.
While I wouldn’t care for this tactic at all, I am hoping that Trump is just a genius marketer/manipulator and figured out a sure fire way to get elected. He is basically playing a heal straight out of the WWE handbook. People love a good heal. However, once in office, maybe he will tone it down and actually do good work. Say what you like about the man, but he is no idiot.
And it looks like we may have to hope for this scenario to play out…
*heel
I thought it was his father that was the bright one and Donald mostly inherited the money for back up when things go wrong. I think I saw that on Facebook so it must be true.
I overhead the lady behind me in line asking for a non-partisan ballot. That didn’t strike me as unusual right then, until I was voting and verified that there was nothing on the ballot besides the presidential election primaries. I wish I had hung around to see if she convinced the poll workers to give her the non-partisan ballot with nothing on it. 🙂
Probably had more to do with her thinking it was none of the poll workers business what party she was affiliating with. I actually wish it were that way as well. Put all the names there, and let us choose.
My wife did hear one woman complaining loudly that Hilary wasn’t on the ballot she was given.
I wonder if the folks who took the non-partisan ballot could change their minds once they saw what was on it? As long as they hadn’t “voted” yet, could they change their ballot?
I have always wondered about the ethics of taking the ballot of a party to which I am not a member, just because it seemed more important a primary to try to influence. Haven’t done it yet, mostly because I’m afraid that the law of unintended consequences will strike me down.
Our process empowers citizens to use the ballot box as their tool of influence over who will lead. Voting on another party’s ballot is no more unethical than using the handle of a screw driver to pound a nail. It’s the tool you’re given. Use it (legally) however you wish!
My 84 year old mother-in-law, a life-long resident of Alabama and a Democrat, had never voted in a Republican primary in her life, for pretty much the same reason as AHID cites. But this year she did, as a way to cast a vote against Trump. Personally, I don’t like the idea of voting for someone in a primary who I wouldn’t even consider voting for in the general (as would be the case with any of the remaining Republican candidates), but the rules are the rules, so if others do that I have no problem with it.
I’m wondering who she felt was better than Trump and why.
She didn’t say who she was going to vote for, just “anybody but that horrible man.”
Well, I now feel empowered to vote in any primary I want, just like brianc’s mother. But I’m still worried about the law of unintended consequences–what if the lesser-evil candidate of the not-my-party won by one vote and then beat my party’s candidate in the general election. And meanwhile, the greater evil candidate might not have. (I was once traumatized by a work situation in which I lobbied hard against the selection of someone I felt was a mediocre but likely candidate, and for the selection of a great candidate, for my supervisor’s vacant position, Leadership decided to pick neither and brought in someone not even in the running who made us all miserable.)
My mother-in-law is of the belief that Trump as the nominee is too great a risk, and needs to be stopped from getting the nomination. I’m starting to agree with her. Despite what the national polls say right now (it’s the electoral college that matters anyway), Cruz is an easier to beat candidate in November because he has limited appeal outside of the religious right (lots of talk about Trump’s ceiling, but Cruz has an even lower one in most states). Rubio has been a pretty bad candidate and would be a weak nominee if he somehow managed to eke out the nomination. Trump is a wild card. Who would have thought he could get this far? The big increase in Republican primary turnout is because of Trump. He can’t be laughed off anymore.
Remember that this tactic is generally credited with us getting rid of Cynthia McKinney.
Speaking of, when are we going to get her name taken off of that part of Memorial Drive?
I used this tactic for that very reason.