Election Day Reflection Part 1 of 2

I was a volunteer poll worker Election Day looking for a story to write that could make us laugh. My fellow poll workers were an well-experience, dedicated group who knew their job well and teased veryone who came their way. Yet that was the extent of the light-heartedness. Most people there to vote, though smiling, were quite serious, as was I.  

 

I was up at 3 am, arriving at the polling booth a little after 5 am. There were already people there waiting to vote, though I did not understand at first they were voters that had arrived before me.

 

From 6-8 am, we worked as fast as we could. From 8-9 am it wasn’t quite as fast. Then it slowed for a while. Around 3:30 it got steady again for most the rest of the day, but never as fast as morning.

 

People were pretty intent on voting, even when told they were have to bring back additional identification or vote a provisional ballot, most went home or to their car to get the additional items. One poor guy had an car accident while going to get more ID. We only had one person give up in frustration who said it was a Communist-Republican conspiracy to keep him from voting.

 

There were mothers who brought their children through the poll booth to show them how voting was conducted. There were people who announced it was their very first time to vote. There were students and the elderly from a nearby retirement home. Many people were in a rush to get to work, or back to work, and it wasn’t fun to tell them we needed additional identification. Many people were listed on our election sheets as having voted early ballot, yet who said they had never requested or voted by early ballot. There were people who had lived and voted years in that same area, yet their names were not on our election list. Both those problems made me worry about whether it could be possible election fraud.  

 

There were people standing outside from different organizations (I’m not sure which ones) who stayed the entire day to watch the process. I admired their dedication to try to ensure a fair election process. There were also a couple people inside whose entire job all day was just to watch the process.

 

 

Cameras were not allowed within 75′ of the polling booth, nor were cell phones with cameras so I could not take pictures.

 

After our booth closed at 7 pm, we had a people there for awhile, trying to finish, but who did not understand the wording of the propositions. We were not allowed to explain anything to them. They had already used the published book on the propositions, but still did not understand. This feels wrong - that somebody (who?) made the wording so confusing. I had spoiled my early ballot for the same reason, needing to change it when I received an email explaining what each proposition really meant. I wonder how many people were tricked into voting other than they would have due to the confusing wording. 

 

We (two poll workers from different parties) had just taken taking the ballots to the designated drop-off point where security were standing close by. The ballots were unloaded and we left around 8:30 pm. I was exhausted and headed for bed thinking I must wait until morning for results. 

 

I heard some confusing information about a concession by John McCain, but I was sure the results could not possible be in yet. Arriving home, I was told John McCain was giving a concession speech. When I looked at the TV, I was shocked to see the incredible words “President-Elect Barack Obama.” I thought was mistaking the news. When I felt sure it was true because people were happy and celebrating, I fell into bed totally exhausted, but happy.