anthony baldwin ([info]photodharma) wrote in [info]connecticut,
@ 2006-11-07 17:58:00
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voting rights wronged
Something´s rotten in Bridgeport...

I moved here to Bridgeport in August, and within days, I had a Bridgeport Public Library Card.
When I acquired the card, the library also offered me an opportunity to register to vote, right there at the library, which, of course, I accepted, because, I VOTE.
Today, after working all day in court in Stamford, I went to the place the Bridgeport City website indicated was my polling place, my daughter´s school.
It was completely locked up and empty.
So, I returned home and called the Registrar of Voters.
I asked them where was I supposed to vote.
They said: what´s your name?
Me: Isn´t this by address? (then gave my name)
Them: You´re not registered to vote.
Me: Impossible. I registered at the Library in August and received confirmation in the mail.
Them: There´s no registered voter at your address, nor with your name.
Me: Is that why the polling place is closed?
Them: I don´t understand...
Me: The polling place for my neighborhood is locked, abandoned, empty, and you´ve lost my registration...
Them: Well...I don´t know what to tell you...*click*


Now,
1) I KNOW I registered to vote.
2) I received confirmation of said registration.
3) The polling place for my address is clearly indicated on the Bridgeport Registrar of Voters ¨Vote Locator¨ as Beardsley School.
4) Beardsley school was locked, dark and empty.
5) The city registrar has no record of my registration to vote.



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[info]rwdederick
2006-11-07 11:04 pm UTC (link)
Ask your neighbors where they went to vote. Go there and talk to someone.

(Reply to this)


[info]jimheem
2006-11-07 11:05 pm UTC (link)
so you've got 2 hours to find that confirmation, find out WHERE you are supposed to vote, and show up with it.

(Reply to this)


[info]jimheem
2006-11-07 11:07 pm UTC (link)
http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us/newdepartments/voter/voting_locator.aspx

(Reply to this) (Thread)

yep
[info]photodharma
2006-11-07 11:59 pm UTC (link)
that´s the page that told me to vote at Beardsley School.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]jabber
2006-11-07 11:31 pm UTC (link)
1-866-OUR-VOTE

If you see ANYTHING that looks like an irregularity -- step away from the polling place to the legal distance (generally something like 100 feet, but you can look this up), call this number, tell them clearly which polling place you're at and what's going on, and let them know that you need someone there RIGHT NOW. They'll have lawyers *driving around* waiting for this kind of call.

Also, if you're in a place where this is legal (again, look this up), and you have any issues with machine voting, and you have a cellphone with camera, DOCUMENT the problem you're having -- with video if possible, but still shots if not. DO CHECK, however, if this is legal in your state/county/district. It's not everywhere.

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[info]jabber
2006-11-07 11:32 pm UTC (link)
Go to the website that tells you what your voting place is, and PRINT OUT THE INFO!

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]jimheem
2006-11-08 12:03 am UTC (link)
seriously, do as Jabber says on top of that - Call television news stations. They are dieing for these stories. I googled Beardsly school and then google maps'ed the area, and put in a fake address near that school, and you are right, it shows up plan and simple as that location. get a screenshot of that. Make some waves.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]jessicaem
2006-11-07 11:46 pm UTC (link)
Oh my gosh! I don't have any advice, but I hope you'll keep us updated!

(Reply to this)


[info]the_bobby
2006-11-07 11:54 pm UTC (link)
whoa... bridgeport sucks...

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[info]wordsofroblatt
2006-11-08 01:35 am UTC (link)
I recently moved to Trumbull (smooth voting there btw. Frenchtown elementary is beautiful) and when I registered, I got notification from the town that I indeed did register to vote. Without getting one of those, your form was not submitted.

I think fear of things like that is why registered witht he town directly by mail.

(Reply to this)


[info]kurometarikku
2006-11-08 06:59 am UTC (link)
It's ok, nobody's individual vote counts for much anyways.

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