Protect your vote. Go to GregPalast.com and download 7 Ways to Beat the Ballot Bandits. One is don't vote provisionally. You can say, "I want a polling judge to determine that I get a real ballot." In California, an independent NPP has a right to vote in the Democratic primary.
DB: Is there somebody like a polling judge around? Do they legally have to produce that person? How does that process work? Many people might want to fight for their vote but they might be intimidated. They might be threatened that they are causing problems. They could be threatened with violations of getting in the way of the vote that's taking place. How do you fight this at the front line?
Palast: You do have a right to ask for an adjudication of your vote. There should be a poll judge who is assigned to each poll.
I would give advice that everyone should have a lawyer, but that's not possible. This is how it's coming down in America. It's unfortunate and sad.
Also, outside California, if you can, do "early voting" in November. If your name is not on the voter rolls, don't wait until Election Day to find out. It's better to vote early so you can find out if there's a problem. In California, you don't have that choice in the primary. You've got to go in and stand up for your rights. The ACLU and Rock the Vote and others will have numbers for the general election. We'll find out what's available for voter protection in the June 7 California primary. I was hoping California would be a little bit cleaner, but it looks filthy already.
DB: How many votes could be at stake in California?
Palast: There are well over a half million NPP independent voters in California who all have the right to vote in the Democratic primary. Over half a million is real numbers in my neighborhood. The Republican Party is closed to the NPP voter.
DB: The difference in New York is that the independents were not allowed to vote in the Democratic primary. Hillary says she has more voters, but it's because independents can't vote. But in California, independents have the right vote in the Democratic primary, and nobody should tell them differently.
Palast: 100%. If you are in the American Independent Party you need to vote for them. But if you are truly an independent voter, registered as an NPP, you absolutely have the right to a real Democratic Party ballot to vote in the Democratic primary for the president of the United States. That's California law. There is no reason for a provisional anything. In California, please check and make sure you are registered. If not, you will get a provisional ballot that will go to the shredder.
*Dennis J. Bernstein is the executive producer of Flashpoints, syndicated on Pacifica Radio, and is the recipient of a 2015 Pillar Award for his work as a journalist whistleblower. He is most recently the author of Special Ed: Voices from a Hidden Classroom.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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