Now that the election is over, I will tell you a little bit more about myself. Perhaps then you will understand why I responded to your post in the manner I did.

This election, I worked as a poll worker in one of the most problematic districts of Cuyahoga County. As someone with some legal experience, felt that I would be of the most help to the integrity of this election by ensuring that fewer shenanigans occurred at the polls.

On November 4, I chose to man the voter assistance table, where all provisional ballots are handled. I did my best to avoid giving provisional ballots. When voters were sent to me, I always double checked the registered voter lists. At least twice, the first person who looked at the list just missed the voter’s name, and the voter was able to cast a regular ballot without further trouble. If I couldn’t find the voter’s name, I checked their address. Often, they were simply in the wrong precinct. I personally called the voter registration hotline to give them directions to their proper voting precinct (the only place their votes count), along with a the BOE voter registration number to call if they got lost.

In all but a handful of cases, I would only whip out the provisional ballot when the person admitted requesting an absentee ballot but failed to turn it in. With every provisional ballot, I gave the voter information about what I was doing, why I was doing, and how to avoid it in the future. I also strongly advised the voter to call the BOE within the next ten days to verify the status of their vote.

All told, the precinct I worked used a grand total of 29 provisional ballots. But most importantly, it had no complaints after the initial morning rush. (When the polls first opened, one inattentive poll worker didn’t realize the ballot was a 2-pager, and gave a handful of voters split ballots. The problem was quickly discovered and corrected, but the issue was reported to the BOE all the same.)

You also might like to know that I was a Presiding Judge in this election. You also might like to know that, to be a Presiding Judge, one must be of the same party as the current Secretary of State.

Ergo, I am a -Democrat-.

In your quest to reveal me as a GOP douchebag, you overlooked the major hints I dropped which revealed my actual political affiliation. I tailored those hints specifically based on what I knew you already knew, and what the casual observer would not. Had you inquired into those hints as I recommended, you’d have quickly discovered my full identity.

By the way, my name is actually Matthew. I also represent indigent criminal defendants in the metro area, so I have an strong interest in keeping people out of jail.

Anyway, I post my message in a bygone thread because I know that you’re probably the only person who will receive notice that the post has been made. In all likelyhood, you’ll also be the only person who reads it. As I said before, I’m a private person. Unlike you, I can and choose to preserve my internet anonymity to the extent I can.

In the end, I just regret that you felt the need to mistreat me like others mistreated you.

Good night, and good luck.

~Matthew

Stay on groovin’ safari,
Tor Hershman

Duke

I don’t live in Beachwood.

I’m also not recommending that everyone lay back and take the provisional ballot if someone hands it to them. I keep saying it: go to the other judges, who will be of different political parties, and see if they’ll give you a regular ballot. Tell the poll observers what the first judge tried to do. Try whipping out another form of ID. Try the other tables at the polling location.

But for goddsakes, don’t try taking a regular ballot by forcing the pollworker to give you one. Don’t interfere with other voters, or intimidate election officials. These acts -are against the law- and -carry heavy penalties.-