Over our Xmas break, I applied to be a poll worker. This is my "enlistment" in the struggle. I have NEVER wanted to declare a party affiliation but have done so, only for the purpose of being a poll worker. "Paris is worth a Mass." Light one candle.
Over our Xmas break, I applied to be a poll worker. This is my "enlistment" in the struggle. I have NEVER wanted to declare a party affiliation but have done so, only for the purpose of being a poll worker. "Paris is worth a Mass." Light one candle.
I think most states will take poll workers without a party affiliation, but they do need some partisan people to have critical steps overseen by people of different affiliations. Rules vary on whether "none" counts as different from either/both majors.
I have worked the polls in another state when I was younger and enjoyed the experience. Even busy elections. Everyone involved was stringent in making sure the election was safe and above board. In that state you were required to have poll workers from both parties and everyone got along. I considered volunteering here, but honestly, I fear protesters. In my experience there has never been guards at the polls, just the poll workers. I hope I didn't scare you, and I hope you are in a district where you may not get hassled.
I had my first "exposure" to the threat of physical violence while working with an LGTBQ group cleaning up a trashed urban park. A young man came at us brandishing a tire iron. The police stood off in the near distance, probably to arrest the victor. We pointed out to him that we were cleaning up HIS park. Happy ending. :)
People are so bizarre sometimes. Let's say you think homosexuality is bad. I can accept this opinion if it doesn't go past you deciding that you would not participate in homosexual acts. That's your right. But a person shouldn't have the right to decide for someone else.
I was a poll worker for nine years in Louisiana 2000-09. I grew up in Boston and live in New York, but spent some years in Louisiana also. It was an eye-opening experience as we worked primarily along the Louisiana / Mississippi border. If my health permitted, I would gladly do it again.
Do poll workers have to be local? My very blue state is unlikely to need poll workers (although I'll check), but I suspect the swingy states that may have threats to poll workers might have a harder time recruiting them.
Hi Kathy: I think local -- ie, in your own County (BUT I don't know). Our problem locally is the presence of a Very Big Midwestern University so, limited numbers of GOP-identified poll workers. The County has to have certain proportions of Party affiliations. HOWEVER: "out-county" locations may need more of the other kin ... For example, I may get sent out to small towns, etc. :)
I was a volunteer poll watcher for the last two elections. As I wrote elsewhere on this thread, serving at the polls is a great way to restore one's optimism about our democracy. I plan to volunteer for every election as long as I'm able because it makes me happy. In addition to the Clerk's Office, local Democratic and Republican clubs in your area may be able to help you sign up. It feels good: DO IT!
I've worked as a poll worker for almost 30 years. I've seen the changes in attitudes at the polls from friendly celebration to distrust and rudeness. The last election we had high school students managing the polls with our supervision. People were more behaved.
IтАЩve election-judged before. Election rules around here require parity between Republican and Democratic election judges, meaning volunteers willing to wear the R badge are typically in demand (and volunteers for the R badge who arenтАЩt kooks should be even more appreciated).
Still, I donтАЩt know how this yearтАЩs healthcare and childcare will go for me yet.
Interesting. Where I was an election judge there was only one Democrat and 5 Republicans. One woman said she would sign in as a Democrat since she really considered herself an Independent.
It seems pretty common in many counties for parity to be so difficult to achieve that itтАЩs kindasorta faked.
One spot I worked had a D already wearing an R badge, meaning I got a D badge that day. We had enough to do that even the small step of switching badges didnтАЩt seem worth the interruption.
The parity rule is intended to keep election judges from conspiring to commit shenanigans, so itтАЩs not ideal for judges to wear the label of a party they in fact oppose. But itтАЩs even less ideal to refuse to operate the polling place because parityтАЩs been missed.
Typically, the not-exactly-by-the-book stuff that happens at a polling place isnтАЩt shenanigans, just having to adapt to less-than-ideal circumstances. IтАЩm more of a stickler for the book than is usual, but not to the point of pointless obstructionism.
And in terms of working polls, people usually do that because they are interested elections being run well. I felt sorry for those two women who worked the Georgia election and getting attacked. I've had days where we were counting ballots until midnight after starting at 5:00 am. No fun. And as you know, they don't get paid very much.
I was horrified by the unjustified accusations made toward election workers in 2020 and the harassment that followed. The indecency of such fanciful accusations still galls me, as does the Republican partyтАЩs permissive attitude toward such pernicious fantasizing, and ultimate lack of solidarity with Republican election workers who knew better. If party discipline wonтАЩt shut down such fantasizing, what is party discipline for?
The very first election I worked, an elderly election judge began throwing paper away as soon as polls closed, while we were still processing absentee ballots. She accidentally threw some absentee ballots away before they were counted. (ThereтАЩs a reason the rulebook delays disposal of ancillary cards and papers until after absentee ballots are tallied тАФ this.) I was willing to stay past midnight to find and count them, but the number of missing ballots was well below the margin of victory for any result at that polling place, and I was outvoted.
I could, but I live in a very blue part of a very blue state, so would my effort make a difference in the outcome of the general election? I contribute to Biden's campaign and plan to canvass for him in one of the purple states next summer.
All of these comments are ALMOST enough to make me wish I lived in God's Own Country ... emphasis on the capitalization. I expect to be protesting the R candidate at the US Consulate in Frankfurt and talking to as many people was want to chat.
I worked the polls in 2020/2022 and it was a fantastic experience. A bonus was that I was assigned to the polling place at NC State so I got to sign up a TON of first-time voters. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and it is critical to making sure our elections run smoothly.
I attended an alumni event at NC State during the 2020 election. Those young people stood in very long lines at the campus polling places in order to cast their ballots. If anyone thinks that their vote doesn't count for anything now, if the orange putrescence wins, elections will be over. Life on earth could come to an end.
Yep, the lines were long, but bless 'em, they preserved and waited their turn to vote. Unfortunately, Biden didn't carry NC, but those young people tried. I voted early at the Board of Elections; I tried too.
And we will keep trying. We need to keep that lunatic Robinson from winning the Governor's race. The damage he could do with the Republican supermajority in the state legislature is terrifying.
Wow, The NC legislature hasn't banned on-campus registration yet? I thought that was the GOP's big initiative; can't let those educated uppity college types vote as they usually don't vote Republican.
I wouldn't put it past them, but current law allows for in person registration. Students can even use their student portal login and student ID as proof of residence.
Not for lack of trying! TheyтАЩre not even subtle about strategies for voter suppression as if they werenтАЩt perfectly aware that despite AmericaтАЩs myriad problems, the issue of тАЬrigged electionsтАЭ, thousands of тАЬfake ballotsтАЭ or ineligible voters is definitely NOT a thing!
JVL, when I talked to our local Clerk's Office recruiter, she said that we need *100 more* workers of ALL Party affiliations. EVERYONE! Call your local Clerk! Ask! Lots of training online -- at least in Michigan. Look, this is supposed to be a *participatory* "democracy"? NOT JUST "a vote." We talk the talk? We walk the walk. I'm about to turn 64! LET'S ROLL!
Thanks to all the inspiring people on this thread! IтАЩve singed up before but wasnтАЩt sure IтАЩd be able to this year but IтАЩm starting to reconsider. Thanks!
I have started serving as a poll worker too. Note there are tasks throughout the process, at least in my state, that require a poll worker from two different parties to observe and/or verify. How easy (or not) it will be to always have a good mix of poll workers will vary from place to place. But I can guarantee that spending time as a poll worker will disabuse any reasonable person of the notion that elections can be rigged or stolen. So if you have people in your life who need this lesson, encourage them to volunteer.
I signed up kind of out of curiosity. I wanted to see how easy (or difficult) it would be to steal or rig an election (spoiler alert: it would be really difficult and would require hundreds of people to act in concert). I didn't anticipate how rewarding it would be.
Over our Xmas break, I applied to be a poll worker. This is my "enlistment" in the struggle. I have NEVER wanted to declare a party affiliation but have done so, only for the purpose of being a poll worker. "Paris is worth a Mass." Light one candle.
I think most states will take poll workers without a party affiliation, but they do need some partisan people to have critical steps overseen by people of different affiliations. Rules vary on whether "none" counts as different from either/both majors.
Poll work is very rewarding. Let's do it for Ruby and Shaye!
I have worked the polls in another state when I was younger and enjoyed the experience. Even busy elections. Everyone involved was stringent in making sure the election was safe and above board. In that state you were required to have poll workers from both parties and everyone got along. I considered volunteering here, but honestly, I fear protesters. In my experience there has never been guards at the polls, just the poll workers. I hope I didn't scare you, and I hope you are in a district where you may not get hassled.
I had my first "exposure" to the threat of physical violence while working with an LGTBQ group cleaning up a trashed urban park. A young man came at us brandishing a tire iron. The police stood off in the near distance, probably to arrest the victor. We pointed out to him that we were cleaning up HIS park. Happy ending. :)
People are so bizarre sometimes. Let's say you think homosexuality is bad. I can accept this opinion if it doesn't go past you deciding that you would not participate in homosexual acts. That's your right. But a person shouldn't have the right to decide for someone else.
I was a poll worker for nine years in Louisiana 2000-09. I grew up in Boston and live in New York, but spent some years in Louisiana also. It was an eye-opening experience as we worked primarily along the Louisiana / Mississippi border. If my health permitted, I would gladly do it again.
I just "evangelized" my colleague ... told her that many more were needed in our County. I said: "Spread the word! "
Do poll workers have to be local? My very blue state is unlikely to need poll workers (although I'll check), but I suspect the swingy states that may have threats to poll workers might have a harder time recruiting them.
Hi Kathy: I think local -- ie, in your own County (BUT I don't know). Our problem locally is the presence of a Very Big Midwestern University so, limited numbers of GOP-identified poll workers. The County has to have certain proportions of Party affiliations. HOWEVER: "out-county" locations may need more of the other kin ... For example, I may get sent out to small towns, etc. :)
Thank you so much.
Let's fuggin' go!
Great work. I wonder how many people from this community we could get to volunteer as poll workers?
I was a volunteer poll watcher for the last two elections. As I wrote elsewhere on this thread, serving at the polls is a great way to restore one's optimism about our democracy. I plan to volunteer for every election as long as I'm able because it makes me happy. In addition to the Clerk's Office, local Democratic and Republican clubs in your area may be able to help you sign up. It feels good: DO IT!
I've worked as a poll worker for almost 30 years. I've seen the changes in attitudes at the polls from friendly celebration to distrust and rudeness. The last election we had high school students managing the polls with our supervision. People were more behaved.
Also applied just before Christening, and so did my spouse!
IтАЩve election-judged before. Election rules around here require parity between Republican and Democratic election judges, meaning volunteers willing to wear the R badge are typically in demand (and volunteers for the R badge who arenтАЩt kooks should be even more appreciated).
Still, I donтАЩt know how this yearтАЩs healthcare and childcare will go for me yet.
Interesting. Where I was an election judge there was only one Democrat and 5 Republicans. One woman said she would sign in as a Democrat since she really considered herself an Independent.
It seems pretty common in many counties for parity to be so difficult to achieve that itтАЩs kindasorta faked.
One spot I worked had a D already wearing an R badge, meaning I got a D badge that day. We had enough to do that even the small step of switching badges didnтАЩt seem worth the interruption.
The parity rule is intended to keep election judges from conspiring to commit shenanigans, so itтАЩs not ideal for judges to wear the label of a party they in fact oppose. But itтАЩs even less ideal to refuse to operate the polling place because parityтАЩs been missed.
Typically, the not-exactly-by-the-book stuff that happens at a polling place isnтАЩt shenanigans, just having to adapt to less-than-ideal circumstances. IтАЩm more of a stickler for the book than is usual, but not to the point of pointless obstructionism.
And in terms of working polls, people usually do that because they are interested elections being run well. I felt sorry for those two women who worked the Georgia election and getting attacked. I've had days where we were counting ballots until midnight after starting at 5:00 am. No fun. And as you know, they don't get paid very much.
I was horrified by the unjustified accusations made toward election workers in 2020 and the harassment that followed. The indecency of such fanciful accusations still galls me, as does the Republican partyтАЩs permissive attitude toward such pernicious fantasizing, and ultimate lack of solidarity with Republican election workers who knew better. If party discipline wonтАЩt shut down such fantasizing, what is party discipline for?
The very first election I worked, an elderly election judge began throwing paper away as soon as polls closed, while we were still processing absentee ballots. She accidentally threw some absentee ballots away before they were counted. (ThereтАЩs a reason the rulebook delays disposal of ancillary cards and papers until after absentee ballots are tallied тАФ this.) I was willing to stay past midnight to find and count them, but the number of missing ballots was well below the margin of victory for any result at that polling place, and I was outvoted.
Already been a poll worker since 2021. It is a great way to spend two days per year.
I could, but I live in a very blue part of a very blue state, so would my effort make a difference in the outcome of the general election? I contribute to Biden's campaign and plan to canvass for him in one of the purple states next summer.
It's an important part of building a community. If you have the time and inclination, I recommend the experience!
Well, after seeing Elizabeth's note about the need for workers, found the link about rules for poll workers. Unsurprisingly, each state has their own rules. My husband and I are retired: this may be our early November occupation. https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/2023_Complete_Poll_Worker_Compendium.pdf
Where can I learn to access the secret capabilities of Dominion machines? Do I need a Venezuelan passport?
I worked the polls in November 2020 and this past November. I'll be doing the same for both elections in the upcoming year.
All of these comments are ALMOST enough to make me wish I lived in God's Own Country ... emphasis on the capitalization. I expect to be protesting the R candidate at the US Consulate in Frankfurt and talking to as many people was want to chat.
We can all find a way to serve. Thank you!
I worked the polls in 2020/2022 and it was a fantastic experience. A bonus was that I was assigned to the polling place at NC State so I got to sign up a TON of first-time voters. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and it is critical to making sure our elections run smoothly.
I attended an alumni event at NC State during the 2020 election. Those young people stood in very long lines at the campus polling places in order to cast their ballots. If anyone thinks that their vote doesn't count for anything now, if the orange putrescence wins, elections will be over. Life on earth could come to an end.
Yep. The line at Talley was long.
Yep, the lines were long, but bless 'em, they preserved and waited their turn to vote. Unfortunately, Biden didn't carry NC, but those young people tried. I voted early at the Board of Elections; I tried too.
And we will keep trying. We need to keep that lunatic Robinson from winning the Governor's race. The damage he could do with the Republican supermajority in the state legislature is terrifying.
Wow, The NC legislature hasn't banned on-campus registration yet? I thought that was the GOP's big initiative; can't let those educated uppity college types vote as they usually don't vote Republican.
I wouldn't put it past them, but current law allows for in person registration. Students can even use their student portal login and student ID as proof of residence.
Not for lack of trying! TheyтАЩre not even subtle about strategies for voter suppression as if they werenтАЩt perfectly aware that despite AmericaтАЩs myriad problems, the issue of тАЬrigged electionsтАЭ, thousands of тАЬfake ballotsтАЭ or ineligible voters is definitely NOT a thing!
This blatant encouragement of voter suppression by Cleta Mitchell here never fails to amaze me!: https://youtu.be/BQVwXxP99qc?si=c-_7WSy7t0u0OAoZ
JVL, when I talked to our local Clerk's Office recruiter, she said that we need *100 more* workers of ALL Party affiliations. EVERYONE! Call your local Clerk! Ask! Lots of training online -- at least in Michigan. Look, this is supposed to be a *participatory* "democracy"? NOT JUST "a vote." We talk the talk? We walk the walk. I'm about to turn 64! LET'S ROLL!
Thanks to all the inspiring people on this thread! IтАЩve singed up before but wasnтАЩt sure IтАЩd be able to this year but IтАЩm starting to reconsider. Thanks!
As Viktor Laszlo says to Rick in CASABLANCA: "Welcome back to the fight ..." Thank YOU!
I have started serving as a poll worker too. Note there are tasks throughout the process, at least in my state, that require a poll worker from two different parties to observe and/or verify. How easy (or not) it will be to always have a good mix of poll workers will vary from place to place. But I can guarantee that spending time as a poll worker will disabuse any reasonable person of the notion that elections can be rigged or stolen. So if you have people in your life who need this lesson, encourage them to volunteer.
Excellent suggestion.
THANK YOU!
I signed up kind of out of curiosity. I wanted to see how easy (or difficult) it would be to steal or rig an election (spoiler alert: it would be really difficult and would require hundreds of people to act in concert). I didn't anticipate how rewarding it would be.
I have heard the *very same thing* ! A long, hard day's work and Heroic, capital-H. THANK YOU!
Handing out the тАЬI VotedтАЭ stickers at the end is fun :)