Sunday, November 9, 2008

Working the polls

M volunteered to be a poll worker.  He had to go to a training class to learn all about the process.  He was assigned to be a roster judge - checking IDs and signing them in.  He also had to be a backup for the other jobs as well.  He knew he wasn't going to be able to vote on Election Day, so he went the Saturday before and stood in line for 4 hours to cast his vote.  So proud!!  On Sunday, he had to go to back to the polling place to do some roster judge practice.  He spent about an hour doing his training.  He was told he probably couldn't leave at any point during the day so we packed snacks and meals for him.  We thought he should be prepared to be there until midnight since the workers cannot leave until the Election Judge says they can leave.  

He got up at 4:45am on Election Day and headed for his polling place.  He got there and there was already a line waiting!  The day was a long day - many voters.  M said there weren't any problems that day.  By 6pm (an hour and a half before the 7:30 close time), the polling place had slowed to a crawl so he was pretty sure he wouldn't be there until midnight.  He was home by 9pm.   A long day that was worth it.  The outcome is irrelevant - he participated in the democratic process!  Way to go M!!!

My Election Day was much less eventful.  I waited in line for about half an hour and cast my ballot.  :-)

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