Absentee ballots have stolen more elections in Bridgeport than I can remember. It seems like it is an Olympic sport on the East Side of Bridgeport, mostly.
These seniors who are filling out these absentee ballots are just too damn lazy to drive to the polls yet they have no problem going to local senior centers and to bingo.
They should stop the handout of these ballots. If a person wants to vote absentee they should call the town clerk or registrar of voters for an absentee ballot.
If you think I am wrong about seniors and senior complexes, drive by a senior housing complex at night and see the parking lot full, drive by around 9AM and the same lot is empty. Yet these people get absentee ballots. Please!!!
Andy, is there abuse of absentee ballots? YES, but unless things have changed in the last two years there is NO handout of absentee ballots. You have to fill out an application. No one can legally touch a ballot other than the voter unless they are physically unable to fill it out and a party worker MAY NOT touch it.
And BTW in Arizona early voting is very common. In fact though I have long supported CT’s system, I asked for an early ballot for the Dem primary election here and voted two days ago. Despite the fact Arizona has one of the most corrupt state govts in the country, there are very few problems with early voting. Everyone is allowed to vote by mail. Tucson’s municipal elections are conducted entirely by mail, though there are drop-off places at govt offices. Once again almost none of the problems there are in Bridgeport. Maybe it is worth changing.
Andy, the seniors are being manipulated by members of Andres’ camp. They probably don’t know who they are voting for. Remember when the Black Rock seniors were told Mary-Jane Foster was a Republican like Sarah Palin? Until there is a complete revamping of the process, elections will continue to be stolen in Bridgeport. Shame on Andres for playing dirty. I have lost all respect for him.
Supervised balloting is a step in the right direction. Phil and Rick won on the machines, Phil lost to AB. The AB vote changing results is citywide, however some districts have certainly perfected the art form. CT is one of I believe 14 states that require cause for AB voting. I am actually in favor of early and AB voting without cause. Open primaries is something I also support.
Paul, if you read the link Jen gave you, it will tell you what the law is. Ballots are still executed in secret. Just think of the way regular voting is “supervised.”
What do you call a Governor who was elected, removed, returned and now faces a normal re-election cycle?
Answer: a political superstar! www .huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/wisconsin-voter-id_n_5637250.html
Things once again turn Scott Walker’s way. I know it takes a little imagination but Black Rock also has a Walker climbing the political ladder. It is not impossible to imagine a national GOP Walker/Walker ticket in 2016. Is it genetic?
Off topic:
Is anyone having trouble paying their taxes? I sent my check in a month ago and it has not shown up as cashed. Do you suppose they are up to “your check was late” scam they did a few years ago to several people?
Back on topic, folks. 1300 ABs and we’re almost two weeks out. What day is someone going to come in and clean this up? This is a total subversion of the democratic process, it leads to corrupt elected officials who surround themselves with people whose only qualifications are to perpetuate the status quo and as we can all see, nothing happens in Bridgeport because of it. Who wants to come to Bridgeport when we turn a blind eye to repeated and blatant voter fraud? It’s not funny, it’s not legendary, it’s humiliating. Shame on the people who could do something about this and don’t. The Secretary of the State, the SEEC and the FBI apparently can’t be bothered. Having our Registrar of Voters supervise voting is like letting the fox into the chicken coop. Can’t wait to see who her little helpers are.
Any respectable mayor–and any respectable governor seemingly beholden to that mayor for votes–would publicly respond to Funkhouser’s points … and, with the help of experts, propose concrete steps to address and solve these serious problems.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on him not understanding it.”–Upton Sinclair.
Getting rid of elected registrars of voters would be a start. This should NOT be a partisan office. Other places have widespread AB voting and it works!
Absentee ballots have stolen more elections in Bridgeport than I can remember. It seems like it is an Olympic sport on the East Side of Bridgeport, mostly.
These seniors who are filling out these absentee ballots are just too damn lazy to drive to the polls yet they have no problem going to local senior centers and to bingo.
They should stop the handout of these ballots. If a person wants to vote absentee they should call the town clerk or registrar of voters for an absentee ballot.
If you think I am wrong about seniors and senior complexes, drive by a senior housing complex at night and see the parking lot full, drive by around 9AM and the same lot is empty. Yet these people get absentee ballots. Please!!!
Andy, is there abuse of absentee ballots? YES, but unless things have changed in the last two years there is NO handout of absentee ballots. You have to fill out an application. No one can legally touch a ballot other than the voter unless they are physically unable to fill it out and a party worker MAY NOT touch it.
And BTW in Arizona early voting is very common. In fact though I have long supported CT’s system, I asked for an early ballot for the Dem primary election here and voted two days ago. Despite the fact Arizona has one of the most corrupt state govts in the country, there are very few problems with early voting. Everyone is allowed to vote by mail. Tucson’s municipal elections are conducted entirely by mail, though there are drop-off places at govt offices. Once again almost none of the problems there are in Bridgeport. Maybe it is worth changing.
Andy, the seniors are being manipulated by members of Andres’ camp. They probably don’t know who they are voting for. Remember when the Black Rock seniors were told Mary-Jane Foster was a Republican like Sarah Palin? Until there is a complete revamping of the process, elections will continue to be stolen in Bridgeport. Shame on Andres for playing dirty. I have lost all respect for him.
And people were also told her husband is a KKK member, both horrible lies.
Supervised balloting is a step in the right direction. Phil and Rick won on the machines, Phil lost to AB. The AB vote changing results is citywide, however some districts have certainly perfected the art form. CT is one of I believe 14 states that require cause for AB voting. I am actually in favor of early and AB voting without cause. Open primaries is something I also support.
Congrats to Senator Andres Ayala on your victory.
Oh, dislike button, but I do understand your point.
Here is a link where I map out absentee ballot info.
socialecologicalresearch.tumblr.com/image/72375438239
And here is a map of voters within the 132 rep. District.
socialecologicalresearch.tumblr.com/image/49435040012
And here is the link to the bsi Bridgeport social issues blog. If you have a topic of interest let me know.
socialecologicalresearch.tumblr.com
Very nice blog. Thanks for sharing!
Is supervised balloting constitutional?
www .cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap145.htm
None of your f’n business.
I thought the purpose of balloting was to be unsupervised.
Paul, if you read the link Jen gave you, it will tell you what the law is. Ballots are still executed in secret. Just think of the way regular voting is “supervised.”
What do you call a Governor who was elected, removed, returned and now faces a normal re-election cycle?
Answer: a political superstar!
www .huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/wisconsin-voter-id_n_5637250.html
Things once again turn Scott Walker’s way. I know it takes a little imagination but Black Rock also has a Walker climbing the political ladder. It is not impossible to imagine a national GOP Walker/Walker ticket in 2016. Is it genetic?
It is scary … two pols in the pockets of corrupt billionaires.
Off topic:
Is anyone having trouble paying their taxes? I sent my check in a month ago and it has not shown up as cashed. Do you suppose they are up to “your check was late” scam they did a few years ago to several people?
I mailed my checks at the beginning of the month and was surprised, they cleared quicker than normal. Usually it takes 15 days, so you’d better check.
Black Rockin, I mailed in my taxes weeks ago and the check has not cleared my account yet.
I long for the day when adding lasting value is given higher priority than just paying taxes.
Move to Trumbull!!!
Oh that’s right, you live there already.
Off topic but what the f. Something seems a little fishy here.
Wheelabrator sold to private equity firm for $1.9 billion.
Towns reach new agreement for waste disposal.
It would be a mistake to think Bob Walsh’s political experience has a “blogospheric” counterpart.
Back on topic, folks. 1300 ABs and we’re almost two weeks out. What day is someone going to come in and clean this up? This is a total subversion of the democratic process, it leads to corrupt elected officials who surround themselves with people whose only qualifications are to perpetuate the status quo and as we can all see, nothing happens in Bridgeport because of it. Who wants to come to Bridgeport when we turn a blind eye to repeated and blatant voter fraud? It’s not funny, it’s not legendary, it’s humiliating. Shame on the people who could do something about this and don’t. The Secretary of the State, the SEEC and the FBI apparently can’t be bothered. Having our Registrar of Voters supervise voting is like letting the fox into the chicken coop. Can’t wait to see who her little helpers are.
Well said, Baffled. Humiliating and shameful.
Why the rest of the state–which effectively bankrolls B’port–isn’t demanding answers is beyond me.
Anyone with a brain cell working who begins to examine current Bridgeport governmental practices will find them substandard for a U.S. city in 2014.
The elephants in the room are not dead horses yet–see Funkhouser.
www .governing.com/gov-institute/funkhouser/gov-why-fundamentals-of-governance-are-important.html
Any respectable mayor–and any respectable governor seemingly beholden to that mayor for votes–would publicly respond to Funkhouser’s points … and, with the help of experts, propose concrete steps to address and solve these serious problems.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on him not understanding it.”–Upton Sinclair.
Getting rid of elected registrars of voters would be a start. This should NOT be a partisan office. Other places have widespread AB voting and it works!
The East Side and South End have turned absentee balloting into an art form.