I Just Voted: A Personal Story of Frustration and Persistence

So here's one for you! I just voted, which is very cool. It took two trips to my polling location today to get this done. The first time I went, I was told that I could not vote, and I asked why. They said, "Well, you're not in our system." That's it. So I came home and thought that's really weird. It came down to when I moved last year from Dallas County to Tarrant County. I redid my driver's license, but apparently, I didn't update my voter registration online. This kind of thing didn't sit well with me.

Thanks to a couple of people on Twitter, some friends of mine, including Bruce Wyman, Texas SOS, and a few others, encouraged me to get on the phone and talk to the Tarrant County elections office. I did that, and they explained to me that I should have been offered a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is a ballot that you can go ahead and fill out, you can go ahead and vote, and then within the next six days, you do need to follow up and put your registration through and make sure the address is correct, and then your vote gets counted. So I went back over there to do that.

I walked in and said, "I was told I could do a provisional ballot." The woman looked at me squarely and said, "Well, why would you want to do that? Because it doesn't count." I said, "It doesn't count, what do you mean?" She replied, "Your vote won't count. Your vote won't count this is not what you want to hear." Two polling locations and I'm sorry but that's not your call," the guy sitting next to her said. I am NOT one to get mad and cause a scene, and I don't know what came over me, but I got very hot.

I said, "You know what? I really don't care. I'm here to vote, and I'd appreciate it if you get the provisional ballot and we get this going on." Do you need my ID?" they asked, and then they went around getting it. Another woman knew that I was getting hot and came over to say, "Sir, I really really admire your standing up to protect your right to vote. You make volunteers like me it makes it all worth it when people like you come in." It was also funny because somebody behind me said, "Told you the system was rigged." The woman looking at the pen said, "It's not rigged when she's scrambling for a pen so I can fill out my information."

So finally worked it all out, got it all arranged. It was also funny because someone behind me said told you the system was rigged. Can the woman like it's not rigged when she's scrambling for a pen? So anyway, I got my vote in. You guys should too. Voting is a right, and you have the right to do it. You should exercise your right and get out to vote. Anyway, that's all for today later.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso here's one for you I just voted which is very cool it took two trips to my polling location today to get this done the first time I went I was told that I could not vote and I asked why and they said well you're not in our system and that's it so I came home and I thought that's really weird and it came down to when I moved last year from Dallas County to Tarrant County I redid my driver's license I thought I'd redone my voter registration online and apparently I was still at the old address according to that and it this kind of didn't sit well with me and thanks to a couple people on Twitter some friends of mine Bruce Wyman Texas SOS and a couple others I was encouraged to get on the phone and talk to the Tarrant County elections office which I did and they explained to me that I should have been offered what is called a provisional ballot provisional ballot is a ballot that you can go ahead and fill out you can go ahead and vote and then within the next six days you do need to follow up and put your registration through and make sure the address is correct and then your vote gets counted and so I went back over there to do that and I walked in and I said I was told I could do a provisional ballot the woman looks square at me and she said well why would you want to do that because it doesn't count and I said it doesn't count what do you mean it doesn't count the guy sitting next to her says yeah your vote won't count your vote won't count this is not what you want to hear two polling location and I'm sorry but that's not your call um and I am NOT one to get mad and cause a scene and I don't know what came over me but I got very hot and I said you know what I really don't care I'm here to vote and I'd appreciate it if you get the provisional ballot and we get this going on do you need my ID and then they went around got it and this other woman knew that I was getting hot and she came over she says sir I really really admire your standing up to protect your right to vote and you make volunteers like me it makes it all worth it when people like you come in I thought well that I mean great but what are these two company yeah who's doing up here anyway so finally worked it all out got it all arranged it was also funny because somebody behind me said told you the system was rigged can the woman like it's not rigged when she's scrambling for a pen so I can fill out my information so anyway I got my vote in you guys should too voting is a right and you have the right to do it you should exercise your right and get out to votes anyway that's all for today laterso here's one for you I just voted which is very cool it took two trips to my polling location today to get this done the first time I went I was told that I could not vote and I asked why and they said well you're not in our system and that's it so I came home and I thought that's really weird and it came down to when I moved last year from Dallas County to Tarrant County I redid my driver's license I thought I'd redone my voter registration online and apparently I was still at the old address according to that and it this kind of didn't sit well with me and thanks to a couple people on Twitter some friends of mine Bruce Wyman Texas SOS and a couple others I was encouraged to get on the phone and talk to the Tarrant County elections office which I did and they explained to me that I should have been offered what is called a provisional ballot provisional ballot is a ballot that you can go ahead and fill out you can go ahead and vote and then within the next six days you do need to follow up and put your registration through and make sure the address is correct and then your vote gets counted and so I went back over there to do that and I walked in and I said I was told I could do a provisional ballot the woman looks square at me and she said well why would you want to do that because it doesn't count and I said it doesn't count what do you mean it doesn't count the guy sitting next to her says yeah your vote won't count your vote won't count this is not what you want to hear two polling location and I'm sorry but that's not your call um and I am NOT one to get mad and cause a scene and I don't know what came over me but I got very hot and I said you know what I really don't care I'm here to vote and I'd appreciate it if you get the provisional ballot and we get this going on do you need my ID and then they went around got it and this other woman knew that I was getting hot and she came over she says sir I really really admire your standing up to protect your right to vote and you make volunteers like me it makes it all worth it when people like you come in I thought well that I mean great but what are these two company yeah who's doing up here anyway so finally worked it all out got it all arranged it was also funny because somebody behind me said told you the system was rigged can the woman like it's not rigged when she's scrambling for a pen so I can fill out my information so anyway I got my vote in you guys should too voting is a right and you have the right to do it you should exercise your right and get out to votes anyway that's all for today later\n"