OK, so yesterday, the early voting poll place near me opened (a local library). Today, I went up to cast my vote accompanied by Mrs. A. (we were there before the polls opened due to our misreading the active times). When we got there, everything was set up to service voters except that there were no election officials present, the polling place was unlocked, all equipment present, including two voting tabulators, and an open slit-top cardboard box to accept paper ballots. We were there about half an hour before a librarian showed up, fetched by another woul-be voter who showed up after we did. She ushered us out and locked the door. She was dismissive of our concerns, expressing that the library was locked overnight so there was nothing to worry about, but the bare fact is that access to the polling place was unrestricted between when the polls closed yesterday, and at least noon today, at least at the times when the library was open to the public. Her attitude was such that this was not an unusual situation. She showed other hallmarks of being a Karen-style leftist (not that you would expect otherwise in the Fairfax County library system). This left a pretty decent window of opportunity for someone interested in stuffing a ballot box, or having unrestricted access to a vote tabulating machine (in my area, voters mark a paper ballot which is fed through the machine).

Someone inclined to conspiracy theories might have a field day with this situation, but I think most voters would be appalled at an apparent lack of interest in ensuring a fair and valid untampered vote. Yes, we did report this to the local election oversight authority, they didn't seem too concerned about it.

Go to the media.

If you do, I suggest the Washington Times.
No other media in that area, assuming northern VA, will give a crap.

Report it and her to the VA Election Department

https://www.elections.virginia.gov/

This applies to me as much as anyone else, but when I read these scenarios I used to get upset or think “the elections rigged!!” But now I think, well what am I doing about it? Am I volunteering at the polls? Are you? Do I have the right to be upset if I’m not actively engaged in trying to change things or be a more active participant for change? Personally I think it’s telling when you can go to the polls and it’s observed that most of the volunteers are seemingly liberal or democratic. I dunno, I’ve been reflecting on things like this a lot and trying to find ways to be be involved.

quote:

Originally posted by GarandGuy:
Do I have the right to be upset if I’m not actively engaged in trying to change things or be a more active participant for change?

I believe you do. We expect systems (machines, organizations, groups, hospitals, utilities, whatever) to work properly, whether we're actively involved in the running of them or not. (At least, I do.)

They would not let me volunteer because I would be looking for, and expecting, a verifiable chain of custody combined with multiple layers of physical security. That would drive them bat shit crazy. Where I live I've not seen what appear to be dishonest people running the poles, but that's not really the point if you want to secure the process. Honest people are good, but you need all that other stuff as well to secure the vote. I believe even in the best run voting systems, there is nothing close to that situation. That means there is and has always been some fraud in voting, and I'm sure in some cases, massive amounts of voting fraud in some areas, particularly in past US history.

Here we go again.