Election Day 2020—Working the Polls
Before I retired, my work at a local public radio station precluded me from volunteering as a poll worker on election day. It was the time-honored tenet that media professionals needed to maintain objectivity—no preference given to political party—that rightly kept me away.
Once retired, I no longer had to observe that mandate. So I tossed my name in the hat and became a poll worker for the 2020 Presidential Election.
It was an eye-opening and wonderful experience. First off—training. As a voter, it never occurred to me that people have to learn how to usher voters through the process. Training takes several hours and involves equipment tutorials as well as how to handle various challenges that crop up every election day (voters at the wrong precinct…voters with inadequate identification…voters whose signatures don’t “match up”…etc.).
Second…set up and swear in. On the night before the election, poll workers gather at the precinct to which they are assigned. I did not know anyone in our 12-person team—6 Republicans; 6 Democrats—but I quickly gained respect for them. Many had been volunteering for years; others (like me) were newbies. We worked together to arrange the room, which was a challenge in 2020, given the COVID pandemic and resulting protocols. We were given start-up assignments, with careful consideration paid to ensuring Republicans and Democrats always worked side-by-side. And we swore an oath to follow the rules and laws governing the election.
Third…Election Day and an early arrival. At 5:30 am, we were blearily at our precinct, starting up voting machines and dividing time evenly between political parties (even signing up for our 2, 45-minute breaks meant equal party involvement…1 Republican and 1 Democrat could leave for lunch/break at any one time).
6:30 and the polls opened, and for the next 1 1/2 hours, voters patiently stood in line and took their turn to cast their votes. Lots and lots of sanitizing…masks (of the 700-plus voters at our precinct, only 3 people did not wear masks…and, yes, they still voted!)…protective gloves…6 feet of distance. Things held at a slow but steady pace after that first onslaught, but patience and good humor were never in short supply…not among the poll workers OR the voters.
When the polls closed at 7:30 that night, we still had to close the machines—again, 1 Republican and 1 Democrat always assigned to these tasks—and our numbers had to balance. The number of votes recorded in each machine had to match the number of voters recorded in the check-in machines. That took a bit of time, but—again—there was no impatience nor were there cross words, and that was among a very tired group of 12 poll workers. After we finally balanced the numbers, everyone pitched in to seal up election bags, gather our election gear, and take everything to one car. That vehicle was the transportation for our crucial votes—and, again, 1 Republican and 1 Democrat went together to get the stuff back to the Board of Elections. The rest of us went home.
Home! My husband had dinner at the ready, along with a glass of red wine. And although I fully expected to be too exhausted to watch TV, my energy rebounded enough to join millions of other Americans in watching the elections returns and waiting for results.
I think my renewed energy also resulted from a great experience that day. The thoughtful care and concern shown by every one of my fellow poll workers was inspirational. Voters were fantastic—particularly families with children dressed in their best red/white/blue…first-time voters!...elderly people using canes and walkers and treated with great care and respect by everyone.
There were no political divides that day. There were only Americans, supporting our Democracy in a free and fair election. I’ll definitely volunteer again.
