Rant #2,019: Why? Why? Why?

Yes, I was at my polling place right at 6 a.m. yesterday so I could vote and get the heck out of there.

I was surprised to find so many people wanting to vote, since this is considered to be an off-year election.

I went up to the sign-in desk for my particular area, the woman asked me what street I lived on and my name, she checked these things off and gave me my paper ballot.

And then she asked me —

"What party are you a member of?"

I must have done a double take. Since I was 18 years old, I have gone to this polling place to vote, and in all of those years, I have never been asked this question.

She continued, "Are you a member of the Democratic Party —" as she picked up a white piece of paper that looked like it was torn out of notebook to record my reply.

As I probably did a double take, I replied, "Why are you asking me this question?"

"Are you a member of the Republican Party — "

"Why are you asking me this question. It is none of your business."

Another lady ran over to where I was, who I found out was the woman's supervisor.

"Our supervisor asked us to ask this question," she said.

"Well, it is still none of your business."

I walked away, went to the area where you are supposed to fill out your ballot, and found that of the five booths set up, at least two that I saw did not have pens attached so that you can fill out your ballot.

Then I went into a booth that had a pen, and the pen was not working ... until another voter showed me how to use it.

I then went over to the area where my ballot was read by machine, inserted my ballot, and waited for it to give me the OK.

When I did so, I went over to the place where I checked in.

"Why are you asking such a question?" referring to the "what party are you a member of" question of a few minutes before. "I don't know if that is illegal, but it is completely unethical to be doing that."

"We were asked to ask the question of voters, but if we see that people are going to get upset, I don't think we will continue to do so," said one of the women manning that area.

I exited the polling place, bought myself breakfast, and drove to work. When I got there, I used my cell phone to call the Nassau County Board of Elections.

I got someone on the phone, and she took down all of the information. She said they would check into it, but she never really answered me about why such a question was being asked in the first place.

I came into work, spoke to a woman from another, neighboring county about this, and no, she was not asked this question when she voted.

Someone else at my work said it all "has to do with Donald Trump," and yes, I am sure he came back from his Asia trip incommunicado just to see that my particular polling place asked such a question. And yes, I know that since it rained yesterday, it was the President's doing, too.

Back to the point ... why was such a question asked in the first place?

As you know, I happen to be an Independent voter, and I do not belong to any political party. I believe that I vote the right way--for the candidate, not the party--and I did it again this time, voting for those under the Republican, Democrat, Liberal and Conservative banners.

But whose business is it what party I am a member of, or anyone is a member of?

If this is supposed to be a secret ballot, then it is also supposed to be a secret what party one is affiliated with.

In my case, it is a moot point, but how about others who are being asked the same question?

Illegal, probably not. Unethical, yes, I believe it is.

I contacted my mother, who will vote later in the day with my father and my son, and I told them what to expect. My mother said she will refuse to answer the question.

Good for her.

Has anyone else experienced such an invasion of privacy at their polling place?

And again, I ask the same question: Why was this information asked of me?

I don't blame the President, nor do I blame Hillary Clinton, or even Chicken Little.

No, this isn't Watergate, just let's call it Votegate and hope it never happens again.