When your former employer sold your name to an election farming company
Election Day today! The residents of my county were asked to agree to extend a sales tax through 2064 to fund Arrowhead Stadium and the Chiefs. Oh yeah, and to build the Royals a new stadium downtown. The vote was tallied super quick:
Regardless of where you stand on that decision…..this is about farming for votes and how Missouri allows for election interference.
For starters…..I received a letter asking me to vote YES to the Chiefs sales tax extension. Who sent it to me? The University of Kansas Health System training complex. My husband did not get this letter, but I did. You know why I got this letter? Because my former employer sold the names of employees that reside in the county in hopes of swaying their vote. I haven’t worked for that hospital for more than 10 years. But they had no problem making sure that any current and former employee got a “super special letter” from Clark Hunt, asking for our vote of Yes today.
My second concern of the day: Missouri allows for candidate sway at the poll sites. They are supposed to be 250 feet or more away from the polling location entrance. Below is a photo of my polling location, the red is the entrance and the yellow is where there were 8-10 people yelling “vote for so and so” and handing out fliers, holding signs, etc. When I left the polling location, some random dude walks up and asks if I am interested in Missouri changing their abortion law to pro choice. So they also allow post voting polling in the state.
I am tired of election interference. This is interference. A former employer selling my name to solicit a vote. All of this is so wrong.
The election I am truly invested in today is my local school board. We have been slowly trying to take back the education of our kids here. The school board results are what I am most interested in, but that sits at 0% counted. I guess they can count stadium tax votes faster than school board votes, even though they were on the same damn ballot.
I served as a poll worker yesterday. Electioneere, those folks trying to sway you as you enter the poll, must conduct their activities 25 feet from the door to the polling place. Not 250. As many people voting at my location had strong feelings about the Sports Tax situation, they wanted to talk to me (in a loud voice) about their opinion as I checked them in. I had to remind them that what they were doing wasn't allowed and they needed to go outside if they wanted to try to persuade other voters to vote their way. Most understood and quietly went on to cast their ballot. Another factor of electioneering is clothing endorsing one candidate or proposition inside the polling place. As polling place workers we were forbidden to wear any clothing sporting the logo of either team. However voters were allowed to wear their team jackets, shirts, hats, etc... The whole electioneering thing is a balancing act between undue influence and free speech. I'm sure there are supporters of some causes that would jump on the chance to totally silence any opposite messages.
The politicians that wrote the measure for the ballot made it as complicated as possible. It was a triple negative. Some of the voters took white a while to puzzle that one out. I believe if the measure had been more straightforward it would have suffered a larger defeat.
About the letter Dr. Funtimes mentioned, I got one also. I have no idea how they got my name or why they believe I would be susceptible to their messaging. It was appalling.
Finally, I had MANY young, first time voters quietly confide to me while checking in that they were there to vote against a tax they didn't want to pay for the next 40 years. Hope for the future!
This is not a 'Dear Jen Letter' ❤️
If it were, i would say, Uncle!' and mix up the metaphors.
But i am one of those 'at the polling station, just beyond the legal boundary people' attempting to do my civic duty: communicate w/my community, educate and enlighten anyone who is unsure what's on the ballot, at the zero hour. Those people used to just stay home.
My stand up question, "do you need a sample ballot, or explanation of bills/bonds/measures on the ballot?'
Unlike you, an educated force of nature, politically savvy and awake & active voter... some people come to the polls as unprepared as that frozen turkey in the meat case. They are driven to the polls by incessant advertising on local MSM for one "issue" propaganda or one candidate's face.
Pushy pollsters are annoying & not me. i can take 'No' for an answer. I do get some compatriots who know One of their votes but want to see the 'whole party ticket.'
For the record, I'm done with the red-blue party gig, and the inconsistency of the party makes me regret being involved.
Them: Lucy with the football.
Me: Charlie Brown attempting to kick said football.
Sincerely, BORed
p.s.
i, too DETEST getting unsolicited mail, having been sold down the subscription river!