How many ballots will Democratic Registrar of Voters Sandi Ayala print for the Feb. 22 special election to fill Chris Caruso’s state rep seat? One ballot for each registered voter, and than means more than 11,000.
Unless she hears otherwise from Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, Ayala says she will print ballots for 100 percent of registered voters in Connecticut’s 126th Assembly District that takes in portions of the North End and Upper East Side. Ayala knows the turnout will be pathetic, but until she hears a stated institutional policy from the state, or one dictated legislatively by the city, this will be her short-term policy.
Printing costs come out of Ayala’s department budget. Each ballot generally costs 40 to 50 cents to print. Ayala, a tough cookie, endured a media frenzy of ridicule following the ballot shortage from the November gubernatorial general election that delayed the final results and led to a Freedom of Information recount sponsored by the Connecticut Post. Who wants to go through that again?
“Unless I hear otherwise,” Ayala told OIB, “the standard I’ll use is one ballot for every voter.”
Hey, maybe the winner of the special can use the leftover ballots for a bonfire celebration!
*** HERE WE GO! ***
This is a prime example of government waste and laziness. Is it a huge cost to the city to print ballots for every registered citizen in the district? Maybe not. But just do some simple research about voter turnout in the district and maybe prepare for 10 – 15% more voters to be on the safe side. Print as many that vote in a presidential election if you want to be on the extremely safe side. But one for every registered voter? They’re trying to make us feel better that this won’t happen again by going way over the top. What would make me feel better is seeing them actually doing some smart hard work (which this actually wouldn’t be because it’s very simple to figure out) and show that their office has the capability and will to do their job well. If they can’t handle this simple task, how do you think they handle the tougher ones? What confidence do you have that they can handle the much larger task of training all those poll workers when they can’t make a simple educated estimate?
Willy, Santa had to eat a lot of shit after the November election–some of it deserved, a lot of it ignorant and lacking in perspective. There were a lot of calls for “a ballot for every voter” that accompanied demands for her resignation, in the media and from elected officials.
Yes, ballots for 100% is a little ridiculous, but practically every demand that has been made of her office following the election has been ridiculous. It might not be the right number, but it’s a rational response to irrational criticisms.
marl(ys) right on target! I’d like to see all the ballots not used accounted for after the election. I’d like to hear all those lazy election workers who worked in the last one will not be hired for this or any other election. I’d like to see a human watchful eye next to every scanner to make sure two or more ballots weren’t given to a single voter. I’d like to see election enforcement checking on every absentee ballot voter (sorry Lydia Martinez) to see if they are really out of town or sick. NOTE: Do not confuse this posting with “The Mayor’s Wish List.”
Talking about the mayor, The Congress Street Bridge Press conference wasn’t all that bad–until the end of course. It was like a Party, you know the kind of party where there is always somebody who ruins the fun–the drunk guy who knocks over the cake or the womanizing creep with bad breath hitting on your girl and she says to you, “I wanna go home.” I arrived early and Councilman Richard Paoletto was already there. When we made eye contact we started to walk towards each other and he gave me a hug, a hand shake, and said “Happy New Years.” We chit-chatted for a bit and Councilman Robert Curwen arrived, approached us, extended his hand to me first, we said or greetings, how’s the family, you look good … I had served with these two gentlemen on the City Council and on many occasions I’ve expressed my disagreement with some of the decisions they’ve made.
I’ve said many times, “We can agree to disagree, screw those who disagree with such concept.” Paoletto and Curwen are two Council members who obviously share the same view, I thank them for not changing with me after I left the council. That’s the kind of spirit which doesn’t call for an OIBitch-slapping.
Richard was on his lunch hour I presume?
*** Did you see him during your dozen smoke breaks? *** HERE WE GO! ***
I was daydreaming for a bit and I’m going to share it with you. I daydreamed that I was elected and sworn in as the new Registrar of Voters for Working Family Party. Next thing I know that instigating S.O.B. from OIB Lennie Grimaldi is holding a recorder to my face and asked me these questions:
Joel, what will you do different from the Republican and Democrat Registrars?
First of all Lennie, it’s Registrar Gonzalez. I don’t want to sound like former mayor Bill Finch, but I’m going green. You’re painting the building green? No, Lennie. We have a lot of waste at the Registrar. There’s no waste at the registrar! Shut the hell up and listen, let me talk, you’re starting to look like Bill Finch. I’m sorry Joel! It’s Registrar Gonzalez. There is waste at the Registrar office–it’s costing money and lots of trees. I will implement a program which will eliminate waste and help build a future generation of smart voters.
For example Lennie, we print One Ballot Per Registered Voter and 70% of the unused ballots end up at the Resco Incinerator adding to air pollution. I will seek a partnership with the Bridgeport Board of Education and implement a voter education program in every school. In September of every year, the BRV and BOE will conduct mock elections in the schools using all the ballots that would have otherwise polluted the environment. The mock elections will be incorporated into the school curriculum in the Social Studies and History classes. We will cover all aspects of elections from voting by Absentee Ballot to what poll workers do. That way, we will start to build the voters of the future while eliminating waste and saving our environment. That’s going to cost some money Registrar Gonzalez, the City is almost broke, how will you get the city to go along? The BOE will chip in, corporations can be approached for donations and if the city officials won’t provide funding, I’ll have to do some OIBitch-slapping then. Have any … Next thing I know, there’s Bill Finch with his hands raised in front of Lennie’s face telling him “Stop, let’s do this in private.”
The Stafstrom/Finch marriage is a easy one Bridgeport.
Foster and Finch run against a strong minority like Gomes or Coviello and they split the white vote and get bombed on the minority vote.
It’s all about politics 101 and teaming up to not lose what they have.
Sad what the power brokers in Bridgeport will do to not lose their grips or keep a minority out of city hall. Pitiful. Enemies uniting as they are scared of qualified minorities and losing bond work for the city.
Coviello is not a minority. Otherwise, I agree with your post. It’s all about maintaining the power right where it is and we all know where that is.
*** Coviello is the blue-eyed soul brother of the East End I’ll have you know! The 3rd Righteous Brother, no? *** HERE WE GO! ***
*** Things always look easier from the outside looking in, no? Let’s hope things are resolved & the voting process is made better for all, “cross your eyes!” *** HERE WE GO! ***
We go from one instance (the Platonic kind) of incompetence to another. Traversing from:
Before Election Day: Not doing your job (by not printing enough ballots)
After Election Day: Not doing your job (by failing to think intelligently and calculate a reasonable number of ballots to print based on past trends).
I’d like to addend my above post by saying that Joseph Bourgess should be held equally responsible. After all, there are two registrars who share joint power.
Hey all you clowns that’s what got Santa and the other registrar of voters in deep shit the last election they calculated a reasonable number of ballots to print based on past trends, or did we dream that last one up?