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A look at Pr. George’s elections from the judge’s seat
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Related Topics: Prince George’s County
As of several weeks ago, the county’s Board of Elections still needed about 1,000 workers to hold the election.
Is this your first time as an election judge? Why?
“Yes it is. ... I’m concerned about our new election machines. I know quite a bit about the Diebold machines. ... My husband’s a computer expert and tells me these machines are not safe and reliable and I believe him. It’s also who I am as a Unitarian-Universalist and as a citizen in a democracy that I believe we should all be involved and we should all vote, especially.”
Are you doing this to get a firsthand look at how the voting machines work during the election?
“Actually at the primary election, in spite of my knowledge of the machines and what we should be doing as concerned citizens, I had a problem when I voted and one of the candidates that I voted for did not come out in the results. I was disturbed by that and went back again and again and there wasn’t a judge nearby and I felt a little uncomfortable having a judge look at my ballot. It was an unopposed candidate, so the only reason to report it was to let them know there was a problem with the machine. I didn’t do it. ... So I went over to a judge after I was done and she said it was too late. It had been recorded and there was nothing I could do. ... I hope that I can make people feel comfortable with reporting a problem before they’re done voting without them worrying about me looking at their private ballot.”
Are you excited about being a judge or is it more out of a sense of duty?
“I would have to say it’s more a feeling of duty. My schedule is crowded. I don’t feel like I have the time but I feel like I have to put aside the time. Someone told me they were there from six in the morning until midnight for the primary because they were at a poll that had problems.” - Erica Jacobson
