I think my wife and I just witnessed an ogre of a husband intimidating his wife

[CivicGrief]

at the early voting site. They were ahead of us on line, and I heard him tell his wife that she has to ensure she registers as a republican for the next election cycle.Then my wife saw him standing over her as she voted. We have those small standing tables with panels blocking three sides, and it is easy to see over someone's shoulder from behind. So much for a secret ballot. I wonder how often this is happening.

[Dock_Yard]

1. Disgusting misogyny

This is one reason I miss the old 'curtains-pulled" mechanical voting machines.

[CivicGrief]

3. I do too.

I loved pulling the lever back to register my vote. I hate filling in the little circles.

[3catwoman3]

12. There was something very satisfying about the metallic "click"...

...as you pulled each little lever, and the loud "thunk" sound when you pulled the big handle back to open the curtain and register your choices.

[electric_blue68]

34. I loved them. Pulling that big lever, with that "Thunk" sound felt like "Done!".

[electric_blue68]

33. Hadn't thought of that. Dang!

[brush]

2. Where were the election workers? They're supposed to stop that from happening.

Voters are entitled to their privacy.

[XanaDUer2]

5. Exactly

[CivicGrief]

6. Good question.

It was not run very efficiently, and it was getting busier and busier.

[Ms. Toad]

22. Every voter is entitled to have assistance when voting.

It is not up to the election workers to keep family members out of the booth, unless requested.

Employers and labor union representatives can't provide assistance, but otherwise the choice is wide open - including election workers. If election workers provide assistance, there has to be one R and one D present at all times when the ballot is visible.

But it is not their job to intervene prevent someone who appears to be there at the request of the voter from seeing their ballot. (If they have reason to suspect intimidation, in some jurisdictions they can require both parties to sign affidavits to attest to the need tor assistance, and to attest that they aren't a boss or labor union representative, and that they didn't tell the voter how to vote.

[dflprincess]

26. You may have someone help you but it needs to be cleared with an election judge first & the voter must request it

At least that's how it worked the last time my mom voted & needed my help filling her ballot out.

[Ms. Toad]

29. It depends on the local rules as to how that plays out as a practical matter.

Some precincts/counties may require you to get permission first or sign an affidavit - but often they don't. I have spent hundreds of hours inside polls on election day and during early voting. I have seen many couples, or parents and children, occupying a single voting booth and Idon't recall any election worker suggesting that an apparently voluntary extra person in the booth needed to step out (nor does our training suggest that is anything we should be watching for).

My point is that it isn't the election worker's job to watch and make sure you don't take a buddy to your booth with you. Privacy means you are entitled to a private vote - not that one is forced on you if you choose to share (with limited exceptions related to vote buying).

[dflprincess]

30. That really must depend on where you are.

I few ago I did see an election judge tell a man his teenager could not be in the booth (though our "booths" are also the little tables with tall sides, no curtain) with him & would need to wait by the door. The guy did not make a fuss & just said he had thought he'd show the kid how it all worked, but understood the rules.

[XanaDUer2]

4. I'm surprised they allowed that

I could barely help out a handicapped person with their ballot

[misanthrope]

18. Speaking as someone in the deep red heart of MAGA land

I am not surprised.

[dalton99a]

7. Kick

[CivicGrief]

9. I see trust is the foundation of their solid relationship.

Is he looking to trade "up" again?

[Mr.Bill]

11. That photo is from 2016.

Not that it makes much difference, except they will likely not be voting together this year.

[Harker]

16. She might have written in Justin Trudeau. n/t

[dflprincess]

31. Probably copying off her paper

just like he was back in school.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Election officials and/or observors should not allow such behavior

[LisaM]

10. I worry about that with mail only ballots.

What about some household with a bullying patriarch in charge ensuring every votes how he wants? You can't tell me that's not happening.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

19. Oh, yes it happens

I remember telling a guy ay work that our votes cancel out each other. He then told me he has 3 votes. His, his wife, and his mother. He said he fills them out and his wife and mother signs them because they trust him.

[kimbutgar]

13. How old were they about ?

[phoenix_rising]

14. Just curious...

Were you or your wife able to speak with any election workers about it? Just wondering how they handled it, if you did.

[Wonder Why]

15. Where we voted, there was no privacy. Anyone else walking to or away from

their machine could see as well as the person escorting the voter.

[idahoblue]

17. As a poll worker

It is my job to prevent voter intimidation. I would walk over an ask him to move away from the voting booth.

[Susan Calvin]

21. Somebody was not doing their job, that's for sure. nt

[mcar]

28. Thank you for being a poll worker!

I am a poll watcher and I know how hard you all work.

[2naSalit]

20. Used to see it...

When I lived in Idaho. Women aren't full citizens there.

[Skittles]

23. THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED

seriously

[NorCalBlue]

24. A lot

I helped my housekeeper register to vote. She’s been a citizen now for 10 yrs. She registered Independent because she was afraid her husband would find out she wanted to vote for Harris. Her Trumper husband told her that she shouldn’t vote for Harris because the people counting ballots could see who she voted for and would report her to the government if she didn’t vote for Trump. And, if Trump won the Presidency he would deport her. She is a highly anxious person and this preyed on her fears. I did what I could and talked to her about how ridiculous this was. He’s a piece of shit and I can’t stand him.

[Warpy]

25. Probably a lot to women married to narcissists and other domineering assholes

Some women even like that behavior, it makes them feel protected (yeah, I know) while reducing any messy choices and relieving them of any responsibility for making a wrong choice.

It's the same reasoning that attracts people to domineering churches.

[mcar]

27. That is illegal, at least in FL

I poll watch and one of the things we are trained to do (as are the poll workers, BTW), is note if someone is seeming to influence/watch another's vote.

Husband cannot look over at wife's voting. The clerk should have picked up on that and told him so. If there was a Democratic poll watcher in the room, they should have picked up on that and told the clerk.

This makes me angry. Our vote should be private.

[Freethinker65]

32. Someone left some BS proselytizing laminated crap in the voting cubicle I used.

I gave the propaganda to the guy who helped guide my ballot in the reader. I told him where I found it, that I was not happy about it, and that they should periodically check the cubicles/booths.

[JustAnotherGen]

35. We still pull the curtain

And press the button.