I was a poll observer on election day. I saw:
One poll worker who called everybody "baby," as in: "Have you ever voted before, baby? Well, sweetie, you just fill out the bubble for the person you want, OK baby? But don't write anybody's name down there where it says 'write-in,' baby, because then you're voting twice. OK, baby?"
Lots of people who filled in the bubble and then also wrote in Obama and Biden. The machine spits out their ballot and they have to start all over with a new ballot.
One polite young man who had voted in the primary but was no longer on the rolls. We called the Board of Elections and they had canceled his registration due to a felony conviction on July 1. No notice, no opportunity to re-register. He is in fact eligible to vote as long as he is not incarcerated.
One Hispanic couple who didn't have any idea they had to register in advance. They couldn't vote.
Many people who were at the wrong precinct. I think we caught most of them because we had internet access at the library where this polling location was, and between my laptop and two other outside volunteers, we were able to find where people were supposed to go vote, rather than having them cast a provisional ballot at the wrong precinct, which would not have been valid.
One person who had no ID, only the last four digits of her Social Security number, which should have entitled her to vote provisionally. I had to rather firmly persuade the Presiding Poll Judge not to check the box that says she has to come back to confirm her identity within 10 days in order for her vote to count.
Poll workers very prone to just issue a provisional ballot at the drop of a hat–which are less likely to get counted, due to technical errors in filling out the required form.
A half-hour to 45-minute wait right when the polls opened at 6:30, but no lines at all at the usual rush time, 5 to 7:30 close. We were worried about turnout. The tentative summary currently shows that this precinct had 108 percent turnout, which can't be right.
Lots of first-time voters.
A friendly, helpful environment, even with the Republican observer there. (In Ohio, we have bipartisan rather than nonpartisan observers–I was appointed by Barack!)
Summit County's 57-40 margin and 45,000 vote edge contributed greatly to Ohio's 200,000 vote margin for Obama.
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I really hope the instances you experienced were uncommon and isolated in this election cycle. After all the hype and multi-media notices re: voting rules and processes, it is hard to believe that people who took the trouble to try to vote still didn't understand the rules.
BTW, if you are on a first-name basis with the President-elect, please mention to him that I am very interested in receiving my share of the wealth that some say he has promiced!
Thanks for helping our community during a much-watched and anticipated election. Having informed advocates at the polls really helps democracy as a process.
What Jill said.