I worked at 12/8. Sibley Park building- it was part of redistricting. We had
over 2900 voters at end of day, with 3511 registered in precinct.
First off thanks to those who waited over an hour. The park building is
obviously way too small for us to hold that many folks at once, with all the
booths and tables we set up for handling more volume.
The Line went outside and up the street. And it was chilly. We had a ton of
curbside voting and brought some inside as it was not ideal at all for people
to vote inside their cars on that long long ballot. Especially some that were
not well, and or elderly. We handled over 100 Curbside voters, with
unfortunately no extra clip boards - and barely enough pens. ( I'll let Mpls
elections know). I think more folks should understand they can do curbside,
but we need the supplies and extra "signage" to tell folks that - I heard alot
of people left because they could not figure out how to do the curbside or did
not know it was available, many other voters came to tell us. Also more people
should know they can request AB ballot's if they are not well. Not just the
nursing homes, but general people with other reasons why they can't park and or
walk blocks. ( I'll make that known too).
Most all the voters were happy, some people a little cranky that showed up with
the wrong info to register. They showed up with ebills on their phones- but
then could not get the best reception inside the building- for which my opinion
is - if you are paperless, then register online and avoid trying to do it on
election day if you are not sure you can get phone service inside a brick
building.
We only had one elderly voter use the automark, for as much $$$$ it cost/and
the reason they bought them ( ya I know HAVA)- no one ever uses it, and the one
elderly woman who used it, it did not print. We calibrated it- ran 2 ballots
thru it and it worked, not sure why it did not for her, but for all the cost of
those boat anchors, I think they should sell them on ebay and buy more
clipboards and pens for curbside voting. It's easier, two judges do it and it
is a better experience for voters. Thumbs down to the automark IMO. And I
work in polling place with alot of elderly folks and wheelchair/walker bound
voters.
The park people are fantastic. It is just too small for us to have that amount
of people waiting outside in cold in NOV. We need a gym somewhere. We used to
be at Providence /Nile, but that felt very invasive to the residents and it was
too many voters as well.
I hope anyone that voted there will give some feedback, as those fine fine
folks at Mpls Elections listens to everything, and they will work on the issues
I am sure.
Thanks for waiting at 12/8.
Gina Palandri