DEAR FELLOW DISSEES:
The beat goes on. An unabated stream of complaints (and one incredibly
arrogant response) continues from Democrats and other non-Republicans
about the missing Washoe County primary election sample ballots.
As you will note, below, some people still have not received theirs.
Hereinbelow is Susan
Voyles' splendid story in the Reno Gazette-Journal wherein
Washoe County Registrar of Voters Dan Burk states he mailed
the Republicans first because Washoe County has more of them.
Through long experience, he also knows that Republicans know how
to fight and the Democrats have long ceased doing anything of
the sort.
An official
response from the Washoe County Registrar of Voters office
just came in.
As we watch the minions
of HIs Accidency the President rip John Kerry's
lungs out, the D's had damn well better remember the advice of
another Massachusetts Democrat. "Politics ain't bean bag,"
said the late House Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neil.
'Twas ever thus.
Several of the folks
whose letters appear hereinbelow are quoted in the RGJ story.
This really hit home with voters all over the area.
Thanks to all for the prompt responses and please keep me posted.
The weirdness has not yet truly begun and, as Hunter S. Thompson
once opined, when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
You done good.
Be
well. Raise hell.
Andrew
Barbano, Editor
Reno
Gazette-Journal Editorial: Voting timetable must be changed
8-31-2004
Some
residents haven’t received sample ballots for early voting
Reno Gazette-Journal 8-27-2004
|
THE
OFFICIAL WORD
From:
"Cutler, Luanne"
Subject: voting questions
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:49:34
Hello
Mr. N______,
I'm not sure if I completely understand
your questions but I will try to answer them the best that
I'm able to.
As a bit of background, the absentee ballot
and sample ballots are run and distributed through two completely
unrelated processes. Your sample ballot is automatically
sent to you. Although we attempt to get the sample ballots
out as early as possible, they do not always beat the absentee
ballots to the mail.
Due
to the complications involved with the implementation of
the new vote tabulation system (which was ordered by the
Secretary of State) we were not able to prepare the sample
ballots as early as we usually do. We send the sample ballots
to a mailing house for addressing and mailing. They must
run each type of sample ballot (Democrats, Republicans and
Nonpartisan)
in separate runs since they are each different.
One
type must go first, one second and one third. No preference
involved. It might be as simple as which boxes of printed
materials are nearest the printer.
We
are truly sorry if all of this has caused you any distress.
We're trying very hard to implement many, many new laws
and procedures as well as learn an entire new voting system
all at the same time.
Just
as a reminder, your absentee ballot needs to be back in
our office by 7 pm on Sept. 7.
I
hope that I have addressed your concerns. Please let me
know if you have any other questions.
Luanne
Cutler
Administrative Secretary
Washoe County Registrar of Voters Office
(775) 328-3690
lcutler@mail.co.washoe.nv.us
|
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004
17:34:43 -0700
Said that they would send out our sample ballots tomorrow. We'll
see. PEG
At 04:11 PM 8/31/2004, Barbano wrote:
Let me know what they say.
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 10:42:55 -0700
Dear Andy: It is now the last day of August and our all-Dem. household
STILL hasn't received sample ballots. Am going to call the registrar
of voters today. Sure, they send to Republicans first, but this
is ridiculous.
PEG
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004
14:13:57 EDT
Subject: Re: Nevada News from BallotBoxing.US
Thanks Andy. Wondered why I haven't received mine. Jan
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 17:22:47
Mr. Barbano
I am a registered voter and I prefer non-partisan comments: Just
because a person doesn’t receive his or hers sample ballot
in my opinion is not a big deal. (Is like a fat person trying
to blame the spoon factory for his or her FAT condition). Further
more I know when election day is and I don’t need a sample
ballot to cast my vote.
Please, note the following: If you intent to continue sending
one side comments. Please remove my name from your list.
Sincerely,
John-Michael M.
[I
wouldn't mind this guy's arrogance so much if he knew how to avoid
skewed simile. Perhaps he was called a fathead by the girls in
grade school. He showed 'em when he grew up. He apparently now
knows everything.
Be well. Raise hell. — AB]
8-30-2004 (By phone)
I finally got my sample ballot today. I have to early vote. I'm
disabled and it hurts to stand in line.
Mary - Reno
[NOTE:
Early voting closes this Friday, Sept. 3.]
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004
07:56:44
Just got my sample ballot in the mail on Saturday! I will suggest
in my letter to the SoS (Secretary of State) that it needs to
be mailed by zip (as most bulk mailings are) not by party. This
weekend, there was a news article on NBC about how more than 56%
of the voters in the 2000 election were Dems. So how did we end
up with Bush? Oh, yeah, he won a "re-count" in his brother's
state! Yeah, right! Does anyone have any information on Kerry's
visit to Northern NV? Haven't seen anything on his website, yet.
Janet
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 10:16:42
Hi. I am happy to say that my sample ballot finally arrived. Thanks
for your interest and advocacy.
Sincerely,
Betty
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004
19:52:04
Dear Sue and Andrew,
I am a registered democrat and I have not received my ballot.
My husband is a republican and he has received his. (don’t
worry, I’ve talked to him a lot) I have lived in the same
place for 15 years and have voted in the same polling location.
I have been out of town since last Thursday, so if it has come
I’ll let you know tomorrow when I pick up the mail.
Please let me know what I should do.
Thanks,
Betty
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 19:46:55 EDT
Subject: Re: Sample ballots not received?
To: barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
We did receive them yesterday. Thanks. Rita
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 15:28:02 EDT
Both my husband and I have not received sample ballots. What's
going on?
Rita
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004
18:10:36 -0700 (PDT)
To: Andrew Barbano <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>
Andrew, I got mine last Sat.the 21st. Lloyd
Subject: Re: Sample ballots
not received?
To: svoyles@rgj.com
CC: barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 05:45:27 EDT
Subject: NO SAMPLE BALLOT/NOT ON REGISTRAR'S
RECORDS
To: svoyles@rgj.com, barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
8/29/04
Hi Sue,
I wanted to let you know that I have received several calls in
the last few days, from parties who state that they registered
to vote have their receipts and have not received their sample
ballot, for most I advised them to wait a few days and the call
the Registrar's Office.
But then, I received a call from Yolanda R., who lives in Cold
Springs; she was very upset about this situation stating the neither
her or her husband had received their sample ballot (they have
their receipts). Yolanda had already contacted the Registrar's
Office, and was told; that their is no record for her or her husband,
that there was nothing that could be done and that neither of
them could vote in the Primary Election. These parties are very
irate to say the least.
Please keep me posted as to the resolve to this problem (if any).
Thank you,
Shirl Moore-Byas
Vice Chair, Black Democratic Caucus (BDC), of Washoe County
(775) 359-2840 Email: BlackDemCaucus@aol.com
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004
01:58:15 EDT
Hi Andy. I've been gone for a couple of days but, as of Thursday,
Greg and I had not received ours!
Debbie Smith, Sparks
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
21:55:54
All four of us DEMOCRATS received ours today..... :)
Charlotte
Fri, 27 Aug 2004 17:39:06
Hey I am one of them! My Republican friends had a great and uproarious
laugh because my daughter, who lives with me (a 'till death do
us part DEM) registered Republican... then she got her ballot
and I didn't! I called the voter registrar's office to get her
a large print version of the absentee ballot, then asked why I
hadn't gotten my sample ballot. The woman answering the phone
looked me up to make sure I was registered, and then got very
snippy when I pushed on the issue of why all the Republicans I
knew had theirs but nne of my dem friends did. Even the independents had
called to ask me questions about education races because they
got their ballots too! I heard the Registrar in Washoe County
is Republican.... the plot thickens! (I got my ballot in the mail
today).
Deidre
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
16:21:59
I, too, have not received my ballot. My husband got his on Wednesday
(he's a republican, but I married him anyway!) I expected mine
long before today, especially since early voting has started!
I spoke to the Secretary of State's Elections Division and spoke
to Meredith. She told me that it is sent out from the county registrar's
office. She also suggested writing a letter of complaint and faxing
it to their (SOS) office at 684-5718. Then they can investigate
them for any improprieties. If they find any, then they can take
legal action. This might help, considering that the registrar's
office has been letting the media know that Bush is ahead in the
elections, so far. Well, DUH!
Peggy
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
18:57:12 EDT
Hi Sue,
I have not yet received my sample ballot through the mail. I checked
with the mail gal in Incline Village and she said they are trickling
in.
Thanks, Donna
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
15:49:07 -0700
My wife and I received ours yesterday and we voted today.
Bob
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
14:57:44
Sue:
As per Andy’s e-mail, I wanted to let you know I just got
my sample ballot in the mail yesterday! In fact, was perturbed
when I looked at it and read that early voting began last Saturday,
August 21st. I reside in East Sparks in Bernie Anderson’s
district, Assembly District 31, where I am precinct captain. I’m
copying the SNEA Reno Organizers, my fellow Board members for
the Washoe Chapter of SNEA/AFSCME Local 4041 (Norman Huckle is
our Board President), and our Executive Director, Scott McKenzie,
as well as members of the Black Democratic Caucus, to ensure they
are made aware of this and/or can respond. Thanks for the heads-up
Andy.
Janet
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
12:19:17 EDT
Sue: I DID NOT receive my sample ballot. My husband did. How come
there are more missing that are democrats than other? More chicanery
out of the nation's capitol no doubt !! ha ha Anyway, the ballot
is so short could probably just memorize it and forget it !
Mary
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
22:54:08 -0700
I am an Incline Village democrat and I have not received my sample
ballot, even though early voting has started in Incline. I went
to my post office box today, Thursday, August 26, around
2 p.m. All mail is supposed to be in the boxes by noon. My son,
a Reno democrat, received his sample ballot today.
Byllie
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
20:58:03
We received all three demo ballots at the same time, today, Thurs.
Aug. 26. Don't know any repubs off hand that I could ask about
their receipt of ballots.
Ginnie
Thursday, August 26,
2004 7:34 AM
I live in a household with 1 registered Republican, 1 independent
and 2 dems. The Republican ballot arrived on Fri last; the inde
arrived on Mon. No dems ballots have arrived. I called the registrar's
office this morning. She took our dem names and said she would
put them in a special bin to be sure we would get one. hmmmmm
I told her about the Rep and Inde already having received their
ballots and she said she had heard that a lot from dems. She also
said the last mailing was Monday. Is this something that should
be passed along to the press?
I'm concerned that dems are getting their ballots later with less
time to research candidates. Many of the RGJ's interviews have
already run; and I know many people don't start thinking about
races until their ballot arrives. Of course worse things could
happen: the ballots may not arrive at all.
Thank you for listening.
Nancy
[EDITOR'S NOTE: GIven the early morning timeline, this lady may
have given the RGJ the idea to do the story. Mazeltov!]
Subject: Our lost sample ballots
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 19:53:48
Dear Sue: My wife and I still have not received our sample ballots.
We live in central Reno. We voted on Saturday, August 28th, the
first day possible, but it would have been nice to have a sample
ballot. (We figured Dan Gustin intercepted ours!!)
Peter
Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:12:47
-0700 (PDT)
Thanks Andy: Dora and I asked for absentee mail-in ballots,,disabled,
We got our ballots with a note to return the next day. Aug.19.
I received my Independant ballot yesterday, Dora got
her Dem. ballot today. Dora read me my ballot the only name I
reconized was Welder so I voted for him.. So much for Democracy.
Roy
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
18:59:15 -0500
Beth and I received our DEM ballots in today's mail.
Herb
To: "Andrew Barbano"
<barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>
Subject: Re: Sample ballots not received?
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 15:50:38
Hi Andy,
My wife and I received our sample ballots yesterday. She is a
Republican. I am an independent.
Don't know if this helps.
BTW. I voted my feelings of
Charter with my feet. I now have a dish.
Doyle
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
14:48:49
To: svoyles@renogazette-journal.com
Just got a note from Andy Barbano that you are looking into people
who have not yet received their sample ballots.
There are two of us in this household, both Democrats, and neither
of us have received our sample ballots.
PEG, Reno
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
2:49 p.m. PDT
I'm a Democrat and John's non-partisan. We have not received our
sample ballots.
Mary, Reno
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
17:18:17 EDT
Subject: Re: Sample ballots not received?
We just received ours today, Andrew. I was beginning to wonder
if it would ever arrive.
Paul C.
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
20:58:25
I again questioned why I had not received my sample ballot when
I read in the early voting article about voters receiving incorrect
ballots. One of the corrective suggestions was to bring your sample
ballot. That is going to be hard for many of us to do until we
receive it. Does this mean early voting for just a chosen few?
Of course, as a Democrat Precinct Captain of 658, living at my
home in Village Green, Sparks, for more than 12 years and voting
in every Primary and General Election. Maybe the Postman can't
find me or my wife without priority mail? Maybe its that I am
a member of Unidos Con Kerry that is affecting the delay? Maybe
the Bush Administration has found ways to lose the bundled mail
conveniently bundled Democrat, Independent, and Republican bundles.
Ooh! I forgot the Republican Sample Ballots are sent 1st Class
under the classification of "Franking".
Diego
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004
00:50:10
Spoke too soon it appears, both sample ballots delivered today
by a late postal delivery in our neighborhood. Normally mail is
around 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. they can't keep good mail people, today
delivery was after 5:00 p.m. What am I talking about, back
to bashing cable contracts!--
Diego
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
13:35:10 (PDT)
From: peter sferrazza <pjsferra@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Sample ballots not received?
To: Andrew Barbano <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>
WE GOT OURS TODAY.
PETE
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 13:30:41
To: Andrew Barbano <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>
Andrew,
You might want to post your request on the Reno-Gazette
Journal's opinion forum . You might find a couple more people
who haven't received their ballots, either.
Sue,
I understand that you are interested in Nevada voters who haven't
received their sample ballots. My husband and I are registered
Democrats in Washoe County. We received Republican sample ballots
addressed to the former owners of our house, but have not received
sample ballots addressed to ourselves. We're fairly new to Nevada,
and if we hadn't received the ballots for the previous residents
of our home, we probably wouldn't even have known to expect them
at all.
If you need more information, please email or call me.
Abbie
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
13:18:55
Andy and Susan
No, Wayne and I have not received our ballots.
Patty
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
16:02:22 EDT
Subject: Democratic BallOT
To: svoyles@rgj.com
CC: Barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
Where oh where can my ballot be? Oh where oh where can it be?
I'm a registered Democratic in Washoe County and get more junk
mail from the GOP that my own party. After one visit to Motor
vehicles (its easy to register to vote at the DMV), one trip to
the web, and finally a personal visit to the register of voters
at the Washoe County offices, I finally received my voter registration
card in person showing that I am a Democrat.
Ross Steffner
Teamsters Union Local 533
Business Agent, veteran, and proud member of the Democratic Party
(I hope).
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
12:57:59
CORRECTION: All the NPs in our household received them. None of
us Democrats. Hmmmm....
Jeanmarie
Subject: Re: Sample
ballots not received?
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 12:48:45 -0700
Two members of our household received sample ballots the other
two (one a Democrat and one a Libertarian), did not.
Stan
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
15:42:20 EDT
Subject: Re: Sample ballots not received?
Hi,
Thanks. I have not received mine yet.
I will call (Sue Voyles at the Gazette-Journal)
MC
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
14:50:06 -0700
To: Andrew Barbano <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 14:48:49 -0700
To: svoyles@renogazette-journal.com
Subject: Sample Ballots
Just got a note from Andy Barbano that you are looking into people
who have not yet received their sample ballots.
There are two of us in this household, both Democrats, and neither
of us have received our sample ballots.
PEG
KATHERINE
HARRIS, PART DEUX
Unions
will monitor polls during September 7 Nevada primary
Poll monitors will highlight problems with voter access
Nevada voters must show i.d. to vote for first time
You will show your papers
or we will find your relatives in the old country!
About the Editor 