Believe it or not, that is the actual headline. From the original article.
Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall has fired 76-year-old Drusilla Synal, a poll worker for more than a decade, for opposing the use of the touch-screen machines as she cast her ballot during an early voting session Aug. 23 at the city’s library.
McFall said Synal began to “announce to everyone in the polling place” her dislike of the touch-screen voting machines and was asked to leave by the precinct manager.
“She was rude, abrupt and loud. She made it clear she was a poll worker,” McFall said. “I called (her) the next day. She admitted being opinionated. She admitted as well that she doesn’t like the equipment and she doesn’t care who knows that.”
Synal’s reply, Synal acknowledged she speaks her mind, but was “dumbfounded” when McFall called and fired her the next day, explaining to Synal that offering her opinion of the machines was “OK at a Winn-Dixie, but not at the polls.”
“I’m upset this has become such a big deal and I’m in the middle of it. I figured I could say I didn’t want to use it,” Synal said of the new voting machine. “I wasn’t there as a poll worker. I just went in to vote.”
Read the remainder of the article at http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newEAST01POL082906.htm.
I diaried this because of ongoing irregularities in the Volusia County Elections Office. Let’s give a shout and fill her e-mail box with BOO-Ann, Hooray-Free Speech. You can reach her at, amcfall@co.volusia.fl.us
Really takes some stones to fire a 76 year old VOLUNTEER for speaking her mind.
Way to go Ann. Loser.
What next? Sheesh!!!
Rec’d!!!
I’m coming out of lurk mode here…..A couple of months ago, (as my frustration level reached a boiling point) I became more involved in a concrete way with politics in my community. I’m one of those volunteers working behind the scenes, I call registered Dems, I canvas house to house, I help with meet the candidate events. I signed up to be a poll worker for the first time and recently completed my training course.
During the training, it was stressed that on election day, we are all non partisan. We leave our party affiliation at the door and our jobs are to ensure that every registered voter is given the opportunity to vote without influence or prejudice. If a voter shows up (for example) with a campaign pin or wearing a t-shirt, we’re required to ask the individual to remove the pin or cover the shirt, or turn it inside out and return to cast their vote. For that same reason, we have a 75 foot rule that prohibits display or promotion in front of the poll.
If I’m being silly here, please indulge me, I’ve been a registered voter since 1977 never gave any of the actual mechanics of voting much thought beyond casting my own vote.
For the first time, statewide, we’re using Diebold touch screens and accuvote optical scanners. Our machines generate a paper trail which is spooled up into a printer housing with a security seal that I will put in place before the polls open. (I find it ironic that semi-luddite that I am, they’ve assigned me to the system that I have the least confidence in!)
I digress. The fact that I’m a poll worker, will be sworn in as a member of the election board, has no bearing on my personal opinions about the accuracy of the tally of votes I’ll be modeming in at the end of the day. I’ve already conveyed my outrage and disappointment to the secretary of state who decided to order these machines. My job is to perform my duties in as professional a manner possible, My job is to follow the procedures stipulated by the election and board of supervisors. My job is to make the voting process pleasant, positive, fair, and accurate to the best of my ability and within the scope of my duties.
Voters in my county have the option of voting early, by mail,or using a paper ballot on election day.
Perhaps the poll worker above could have given thought to the appropriate setting/venue.
just saying.
Fair and accountable are a non-patrtisan issue. She was also not working as a poll worker at the time.
Perhaps the poll worker above could have given thought to the appropriate setting/venue.
The way that I read the story, she did not endorse any candidate; she gave her opinion re: the (in)accuracy of the Die…bolds and the lack of a paper trail.
Neither do I, on both counts!
So, does this mean no one is permitted to give their opinion re: the lack of a paper trail? The actions of the supervisor imply that may be the case.
And, the setting was appropriate, as Synal was asked.
Once Diebold is installed, elections are just let’s-pretend. Your job as a poll worker is on its face meaningless. If it takes you YET ANOTHER stolen election to learn, that is fine, as long as you do learn.
So what can you do to create meaning where there is none? Things you can do AS A POLL WORKER that you could not do otherwise. The tactics of the woman mentioned in the article got her thrown off site. Perhaps you can think of better ones.
After all, by getting thrown out, she limited her on-site effectiveness. In exchange she made the news. But there may be other ways to play this position.
The fact here is that the marshall is obligated to enforce the peace of the polling place and this woman was discussing a partisan issue. To the best of my knowledge, republicans aren’t complaining about voting irregularities.
This was a case of electioneering in a polling place and this isn’t tolerated. This long time poll worker should have known better considering her years of experience.