(Light Politics) My Day As A Poll Official

"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
11/04/2020 at 10:28 • Filed to: voting, Politics

Yesterday I served as a poll official for the first time. I felt that I needed to do my part to help these important processes function. My role was small, mostly getting people into the building, checking IDs, cleaning and helping with other functions. We were on duty from 5:30AM to 8:30PM. It was a long day, but well worth it. Below are my personal observations and ramblings. Nothing too shocking or controversial , but by definition they include politics

Everyone seemed very keen on making sure folks had an opportunity to vote. Hardly surprising there. This was especially true in today’s times where some people are trying to make it harder for others to vote. There was also an acknowledgment of the fact that many polls traditionally run by seniors and they didn’t need to be out there right now with COVID. We had a mixed group based on age and religion. Our youngest was 16 and our oldest was retirement age. All different kinds of backgrounds. It was cool to see.

I never once heard anyone on the team mention a candidate or preference for how things went. That was kind of surprising. Not once. We were there to do a job and to make sure everything was fair.

Observing the voters was interesting. I noticed that some folks were carrying little cards and I couldn’t figure out what they were for a bit. Finally, I saw one in the trash and realized it was a Republican part mailer saying who people should vote for all the way down the ballot. Never saw one for the Democrats, but they may have existed. What made me shake my head was that the party that calls people sheep had the most people coming in with the little card saying who you should vote for.

Lots of women voters came in and that was great. Also a lot of teen and first time voters. I hope we have them a good experience. An observation that probably doesn’t mean anything by, but a good number of the ladies were wearing Converse. A certain candidate is also big in wearing those.

Flip side, I’m betting that every bro truck that showed up voted for the same party. They were also the most likely to not wear a mask in the polling place.

People don’t realize that there are rules. To be poll observers you have to register with the county. We had to turn away a group that wanted to observe because they didn’t register. They just had snazzy tee shirts. I think they were democratic leaning. Also, we had a number of folks show up to the wrong precinct. They had moved and didn’t get thing changed. If they were in county they got a provisional ballot, but if they were out of county there wasn’t much we could do for them but tell them where they were registered. The ACLU stopped by and were super polite. They knew their stuff.

I got to spend some time handing out I voted stickers. This made me happy. You could tell the folks who were excited to vote. A number of selfies with stickers were taken in the parking lot.

All in all, I would encourage everyone to work as a poll official at some time. It connects you to your community and really helps the democratic process run. It also gives you a deeper understanding of the voting process.

DISCUSSION (21)

VincentMalamute-Kim > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 10:44

That is a nice and encouraging post. Thank you.

vondon302 > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 10:45

Thanks for doing this.

I just might do it myself next time around.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 10:48

Good for you.

Careful judging books by their covers , even if stere otypes exists for a reason...

For Sweden > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 10:49

If someone asks you if you are a cop, do you have to answer truthfully?

benn454 > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 10:53

I was one of only three people willing to use the auto marker. Everyone wore masks, from the young minority kids who looked like they probably just turned 18, to the camo and blaze orange wearing middle aged country boys. Everyone was polite and gracious. There wasn't a peep of political talk. 10/10 would vote again.

ttyymmnn > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 10:55

Thanks for this post, and thank you for doing your part. I have shared this with my family, and encouraged my boys to read it. My oldest voted for the first time this year, and he was very proud about it. We didn’t come out on the winning end of things generally here in Texas, but it was close, and it’s important to participate even if you think you are going to lose.

I haven’t ever seen those cards either, but we did take a sheet of paper into the polls with our choices. Gotta do the homework.

f86sabre > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/04/2020 at 10:59

Oh, I understand. Just sharing what was going through my head.

f86sabre > ttyymmnn
11/04/2020 at 11:00

I typically bring notes as well. It was just when I started to see the same thing over and over.

I agree that you have to keep voting even if you aren’t going to win. That’s how change happens.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 11:12

Never saw one for the Democrats, but they may have existed.

I live in a very left leaning area, and we get them for the Democrats consistently, but Republicans only occasionally . They don’t even use cards, they use full sheets of paper that are exact duplicates of the ballot, but with all the boxes checked for each parties candidates/measures . The only things that would prevent you from confusing them for the real ballot is they are on flimsy, colored (usually yellow or orange) printer paper, not card stock. They actually stand in the parking lot of the polling place and hand them out.

Also, we had a number of folks show up to the wrong precinct. They had moved and didn’t get thing changed.

Are you allowed to answer questions about this? In the 2018 election (so Nov 2017) I had just moved the month prior, and submitted my change of address, but hadn’t received any confirmation by the time the election rolled around. I went to the new polling place I thought I was suppose to go to, and tried to ask a worker for help and she basically stuck her fingers in her ears and went “LA LA LA LA LA LA I CANT HEAR YOU!!!” I had to ask 3 people before I finally got a rational person so I could explain my situation. It was annoying.

Anyways, thank you for sharing your thoughts, and good on you for serving your community and your country.

newnamesameme > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 11:24

Thank you very much for doing this! Thats some quality citizenship right there and i appreciate your efforts.

Chariotoflove > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 11:36

I think the same thing can be said of volunteering at soup kitchens, etc. It helps you feel connected to your community. There will be lots more opportunities to get that experience during the holidays. I’m hoping to get out there and contribute.

The folks at my polling place were nice and helpful too. All they get for their effort is maybe a free donut. It’s appreciated. I had a father son team working mine. That was cool. Doing something important with your kid is a big part of raising them right.

smobgirl > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 12:27

I tried to sign up to work here but apparently they had about 8,000 people apply and only needed 1,000. Pretty sure I was rejected because I don’t speak Spanish. It sounds like it would have been a fun experience.

shop-teacher > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 12:27

One thing I noticed yesterday, was the average age of the poll site workers dropped by a LOT from elections past. I’m sure the circumstances you mentioned were part of the cause, but I think it helped that my state made election day a holiday for the first time ever.

PatBateman > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 12:47

Why does that sticker have a butt emoji on it?

Taylor Martin > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 12:52

You, my friend, are a saint. I didn’t do poll working this time around because... well... I’d never polled before, but it’s certainly on the to do list. Glad your experience went well (despite the poll- watchers and maskless bro-dudes)

Stef Schrader > f86sabre
11/04/2020 at 21:54

Hell yeah, thanks for helping out.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > f86sabre
11/05/2020 at 00:24

Kinja'd!!!

f86sabre > Snuze: Needs another Swede
11/05/2020 at 06:15

For the situation you described it sounds like you should have gotten a provisional ballot. No big deal in the grand scheme. Odd that it took a bit to get you the help you needed. Everything we did was very straight forward.

f86sabre > shop-teacher
11/05/2020 at 06:16

I’m sure both are true. Give people an opportunity and a reason and things can change.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > f86sabre
11/05/2020 at 08:58

Yeah, it was a weird situation and that was probably the right answer. It was just weird that nobody at the poll wanted to address my question. I understand that the poll operators want to avoid even the possibility of impropriety, but at least listen to my question, and then you can tell me that you can’t help me (if I’m asking something weird or fraudulent or what have you ).

At this point we’ll probably be living here forever, so hopefully I won’t have that kind of issue again.

PS9 > f86sabre
11/14/2020 at 01:25

ANOTHER AGENT OF THE DEEP STATE OBAMA ELECTION RIGGING MACHINE DESIGN TO...to....ahhh....

I don’t even have the energy for jokes about this anymore. It’s been four years. Just end this shit already.