vote fraud, live on crabwalk.com!

This morning, like a good citizen, I voted. I was in the Richardson city hall on business and saw the early voting booth there. It was one of those newfangled electronic ballots, and I got through most of the 16 screens of candidates before coming to our local congressional race.
Context: A year ago, my boss was off on a rant about how young reporters aren’t as invested in their communities as old-timers are. As proof, he asked me who my congressional representative was. I didn’t know. And I felt like an ass. So I quickly went to find out: it’s District 30’s Eddie Bernice Johnson, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. I made sure to remember her, if only because of the shame brought by my boss’ comments.
Anyway, so this morning I’m voting and get to where I should be voting for Eddie or her opponent Ron Bush. But instead I see incumbent Sam Johnson and challenger Manny Molera.
Who are these people? Having heard of neither, I think: Are you sure you live in Eddie Bernice Johnson’s district? Eddie Johnson, Sam Johnson — you cracking up, JB?
I voted anyway and left the polling place. Got back to the office and checked: I am indeed in Eddie Johnson’s district, not Sam Johnson’s. The Richardson voting booth I was at, however, is in Sam Johnson’s. So I voted illegally in an election after being given a faulty ballot.
I called the county elections office, and their response was, roughly: tough noogies.
Maybe I should move to Florida.

4 thoughts on “vote fraud, live on crabwalk.com!”

  1. seriously josh, that needs to be in the paper.
    it’s my understanding that during early voting, you don’t have to physically vote in your district. each polling place -should- have a ballot for each district (at least they do here in arlington), and when the workers check your registration, they should give you the correct ballot. if you were given the wrong ballot, it’s up the the dallas county board of elections to correct the mistake. as it stands, you’ve been disenfranchised and this is just truly unbelieveable. i think you need to talk to your bosses at belo. this is front page stuff.

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