One of the reasons in past elections that incumbents have seemed so uber-confident could relate to the little known process of “tagging” vote by mail ballots. As I understand it, the City Clerk will allow a campaign to “tag” certain vote by mail ballots and receive notification when they are returned.
For example, Mayor Dude could potentially tag my vote by mail ballot. He knows I am going to vote for him because of the Spirit Award prank, and when he receives notificaiton that my ballot has been returned he can count at least one vote in his favor. Extrapolate that to 4,00o to 4,500 known supporters returning their ballots and Mayor Dude could feel supremely confident right now.
But are the incumbents confident? The robo-calls from Cameron Smyth on behalf of the incumbents that Jeff Wilson reported at this late date might bely some concern regarding the development of the tagged vote by mails. Before everyone gets excited that the Berlin Wall of incumbency might be falling, the challengers also seem concerned since they are plumping getting out to the polls on election day, which implies they are not getting as many returned ballots as THEY would like.
Unfortunately, I fear a lower number of developing vote by mail ballots does NOT imply a higher turnout at the polls, but instead a turnout that may go from the dreadful (19%) to the ridiculous (10 to 12%).
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I’m not sure how this “tagging” works. The candidates (or anyone else for that matter) only know who has voted by absentee ballot not who they voted for. So far (as of this morning) only 2100 ballots had been returned and logged in.
Exactly. A candidate could know they registered that voter or know they are voting for them (a supporter) and then count on that vote once it is logged, though the voter could have double crossed them.
I am not sure how the mail ins developed in 2008 but that 2,100 number seems quite low and could really portend a disastrous turnout.
Can anyone call the clerk and find out how many mail ins have been returned and logged?
We’re up to 2800 mail-in ballots this morning
I haven’t even seen my mail in ballot yet.
Are you permanent mail in? If you are something has gone wrong because you should have received the mail in ballot two weeks ago.
No, I am not permanent. I sent the request for the ballot in the mail last week. Normally, I go to the poll
So I would guess it would be in the mail today or tomorrow.
CC:
You do realize that now that you have drawn a vote by mail you CANNOT vote at the polling place, you can only take your completed vote by mail there on election day to become a provisional ballot. So mail it back in FAST!!
Anything that identifies who has voted for whom is destructive to a democracy. This is in a grey area that can only cast suspicion on the voting process.
How about a candidate state his/her views, and let the voters decide? WHy allow all this silly manipulation and game-playhing as we approach the election? Is it all about winning the game, or representing a view and the voters?
Sheesh, what money does to an election… time for “clean money” and other reforms. We’ve corrupted the process enough already!
They don’t tell how they voted they just say they voted.
Another example:
Laurie Ender’s campaign signs up 400 people to vote by mail. The campaign can “tag” those ballots and find out when they are returned. They assume they will contain a vote for Laurie since her campaign signed them up. Also, they can call people up and say “return your ballot.”
Like economic predictions that said 2007-2009 could not happen, this year’s elections (including the local elections) will be very different and perhaps unprecedented in modern times.
It’s time to throw the bums out.
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/03/30/americas-quiet-anger
NO VOTES FOR INCUMBENTS! (pass it on!)
I saw my first home-made political sign locally today. All it said was “NO INCUMBENTS!” If everyone who was not happy with how things are going locally, statewide, and/or nationally, would go to their local polling place on election day and stand outside of the 100 foot limit and hold up their hand-made sign that stated “NO INCUMBENTS!” that would send a powerful message to status quo ruling elite that their days are numbered.
One person at one polling place would be a statement. Enough citizens at every polling place would be a movement.
Think about it. Then pass it on.
I am fundamentally disturbed that city employee time (which we pay for as taxpayers) is wasted doing special favors for Council Members, like this tagging.
This sounds unethical, if not illegal to me.
The challengers tag vote by mails too. In fact, I learned about the practice from a challenger.
Timmy, you have overlooked the outlier. That college kid!
A good reason not to vote by mail. I resent someone tracing my vote without my knowledge or consent. No place for this crap in an open election.
They do that on election day as well. They go to the polls to see the voter rolls and they call their voters who haven’t showed up yet.
…not if my number is unlisted!
Spineflower:
Not as off the grid as you thought!