Postscript on Election Day

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votingThis is not a political post. No commentary on the new congress. It’s about people.

I have been voting at the same place for the last 11 years. It’s in a church vestibule and it works great. The only time there was a long line was the primary election where Hilary Clinton was running against Barack Obama back in 2008. (Hilary won in our district.)

The people who manage the polls are an interesting study. It’s a collection of retired folks who thoroughly enjoy the day. It’s a long day and not all fun and sitting around.

My brother at age 85 still works the polls for his district. He sets up, opens, tallies at the end of the day and manages breaks. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. That’s a long day for anyone.

I got to the polls around 9:30-ish. There was only one person ahead of me.

It was a weird election for us. There was a big gubernatorial contest and two other positions. Both candidates were unopposed. That means you only voted for the governor.

The incumbent was upset by a Democratic challenger. (I know this is different from the rest of the country but it’s how it went here.) The race was lively which helped the turnout.

The same poll people were working. They seemed to be friends, laughing, chatting and catching up. There was a table along the back wall where voters can’t go that was covered with food.

There were casseroles, cupcakes, pies, snacks and drinks. All they needed was a margarita machine and I was all in!

I had no idea how six people would be able to eat all that food. Maybe other volunteers would join them later in the day when it was busier.

Everything is manual in our district except for the voting machine but they were cheery and upbeat and kept things moving.

Voting is expected to be a very solemn and serious job (a lot like an undertaker). It was wonderful to see people volunteering for a grueling day, having a great time and doing a service at the same time.

In our district it was a win-win all around.

24 thoughts on “Postscript on Election Day”

  1. I share the same name as someone in my apartment building (including the middle initial), and he is as consistent a voter as I am. I know every first Tuesday in November that I will share a laugh about it with the poll workers.

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  2. We’re an all-mail-in state, and I love it, but sometimes I miss the out-in-the-open, public aspects of going out of the house to vote.

    It’s interesting that you started with “This is not a political post.” I decided from the beginning not to be political on my blog or on Facebook. I’m glad I did. Years ago, I used to enjoy a good political discussion or even argument. Now I find it more relaxing to think my own thoughts about politics and for the most part keep my mouth shut.

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    • I was very political when I was a young hippie many moons ago. There are far more knowledgeable people than me who can comment on politics. I vote and stay on top of what’s going on in my area and of course I allow myself the occasional wine (whine). I would love to be in a mail in state. Going to the polls is interesting but I can’t help wondering if the ads would be less if there wasn’t just one day to vote. I am appalled at what is spent on elections. We could do good stuff with that money.

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  3. I served as a poll-watcher in the 2012 and 2010; and I love those folks. Dedicated people who did everything they could to help people vote. Unsung heros!

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  4. Our place has some characters, too. They are always so gracious (although some are taking longer to do their part as they age, no one would dream of being ugly about it) and happy to see voters. They always have homemade cookies for voters. We vote early and at odd times, so we can chat a bit. Nice thing about being in a small-ish town.

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        • If I brought in a tray of cookies, someone would think I was trying to poison them for some kind of political advantage. People are talking about getting machines to check for razor blades in Halloween candy (some were found in a nearby town). I liked it better when life was simpler and more trusting and we didn’t have to look for sinister motives.

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          • This area’s been using hospital/clinic x-ray for candy since the 60’s or so. Houston was probably the first high profile attempted murder by a father of his and neighborhood kids by poisoned candy. I remember it. The next year there were razor blades, then LSD and drugs. Children. Takes a sick sick person. No wonder Halloween trick or treat came to a screeching stop and now private parties exist. I’m not sure I’d take my kid to houses where I didn’t know the people – we were very careful. Sad a whole tradition and childhood experience was destroyed. Definitely agree with your last sentence.

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              • Despite what the media says now, things did happen in the past and we grew up anyway. I remember an English teacher being shot in class because a kid got a B+ instead of an A on an essay. (I took a gun away from a student in class weeks after that..we were all pretty on edge mid 70’s) And a few years later was a huge serial killer case where runaways and young boys had been snatched, tortured, and buried in multiple storage units. With the rapid spread of news via internet and news media, we just all hear about so much more now.
                But with the internet and smart phones, raising kids seems much more difficult now. (Think I’ll go find some old black and white tv shows like Ozzie and Harriet to watch and pretend)

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  5. That sounds nice and a friendly place to vote. Sometimes I feel like I am tiptoeing around when voting. If you talk, it might appear you are trying to influence somebody.
    The voting cubicles are so close that there is little privacy.
    I sit beside my husband or behind him. Glance over and give him a little nudge or a nod as he reads the ballot.
    Just glad it is over. 🙂

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    • It is friendly although not big. If there ever is another hot election, the line winds outside around the parking lot. So far it’s only happened for the Clinton-Obama primary. Hasn’t happened for the presidential elections.

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  6. I do enjoy seeing the same neighbors every year at our polling place. Some of them have been in that same role for decades! They are friendly and always glad to see us! There was a polling site in Beverly Hills that made the papers. They served high-end refreshments to the voters. The polling place was one of the big hotels and apparently this really was a party! Our little area just served a smile. 🙂

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  7. That’s the way voting was when we lived in Wisconsin in the middle of German dairy farmers! So wonderful an atmosphere! Now we’re more ‘seriously citified’ and it’s not nearly so interesting or charming! But, it’s always a privilege to be able to vote. And aren’t elderly people just so nice? Takes one to know one…I had my 84th birthday last week…just a 25 year old trapped in an 84 year old bod. All I can say is I’m one deliriously happy elderly person. Yes!!!

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  9. I vote at our local Volunteer Fire Department. Each time the individuals working the polls are elderly and so friendly. They really seem to enjoy carrying out their civic duty, despite having to report at oh-dark-thirty.

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