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The 2008 McCain/Obama is a historical election. It was as many people said "a time for change". Not only would this election be remarkable because of the candidates (1st female Vice-President and 1st black President), but also because of the amount of people who would get involved in this election as far as voting.
Working the polls is something is not any type of knowledge which can be read about. The only way to really understand is to experience. There are many people who should not be voting, as well as those who are going out of their reach to vote. Election day is not only special because people can choose, but because just about any United States Resident that is over the age of 18 is eligible to vote.
For most, the day would begin as usual. This meant, setting up all the tables, unpacking the ballots, machines, and other variou supplies that each precinct was given. Tables were filled, signs were posted, poll were tags were handed out, and finally the doors were opened and the flag was put up: "The polls are now open". For some voters, this was just what they needed to hear as they grew impatient standing in line. The first person came in to vote, filled out his ballot, verified the ballot box was empty and then submitted his ballot. The first person to vote at any precinct is usually one who is eager to vote, and in this case was also in a very good mood. The next few voters followed, one who thought it would be funny to shout about how she should be able to keep the "cheap $1 pen" which she had used to fill out her ballot. Due to the way in which the woman spoke, this did not come off as a joke. Similar "acting skills" seemed to be observed at other various times of the day, though these random intervals were not acting, but sheer stupidity; or moments that gave reason as to how remarkable this particular election was. People of all ages came out this very November 4th. From a young student who had just turned 18 years old days before, all the way to an elderly woman at the age of 97. Two women, one a student asking to make sure she had correctly filled out her ballot, and the second, an elderly woman asking her daughter to read aloud the paper ballot. Though very different in age, and abilities, the two women shared something that could easily be observed throughout most of this very day. There was a great sense of pride that was shared, each recognized that as Americans they had the opportunity to voice their opinion.
Unfortunately not everybody shared this sense of pride, and ultimately had no clue as to what they were doing, but for some reason did know something big was happening. One 58 year old woman, was for the first time in her life voting. For others this was not the first time, but just an election they were anxious about. Regardless, this particular group of people was for the most part, not very well informed on what the issues. Some less knowledgeable than others, but all candidates at this particular precinct seemed to have it together pretty well. The day went on. For the poll workers this included greeting people, and then signing them in. Once voters were signed in, they moved on to the next table where students working the polls handed out ballots and voting cards. Activating the electronic voting card was very quick, and required little effort. On the other hand, the paper ballots were just as easy, but a bit more time consuming. The solution to this was to take out one pack of 25 ballots, and to tear both pages of the ballot off, fold the tab which voters would later take home, and then lay each ballot atop each other and slightly off set so they could be pulled from bottom to top easily, while still maintaining numerical order. Not streamlined the handing out of ballots, but it also allowed the students to assist voters who had any questions about filling out the ballot or obtaining a new ballot after they skipped the instructions.
It also allowed the student poll works to help voters understand what a provisional vote was, and how to cast a provisional vote. This meant explaining that it is of equal value to a regular ballot, and asking each person that they have filled out the envelop they put their ballot in before slipping it into the blue ballot bag. In one case it even meant reading each line on the envelope to a woman who had left her reading glasses at home. It was an easy job, but just a bit annoying due to the uniform process of explaining the same thing over and over for every person who had a provisional vote.
Eventually it was time for lunch, the polls remained open, but at this precinct did not flood in with those using their lunch break to vote. Each poll worker took their lunch, and the day continued, and eventually turned to night. Finally, at night people filled the room, breaking the dead silence, and pushing ballot numbers just under 1,000. One by one, each voter slowly came in and cast their vote. Most by paper ballot, some electronically, but all by 8. Counting the ballots did not take long, but was not all there was to do. The last thing was to pack everything up, and finally put the yellow ties back on the Sequoia AVC Edge Voting Machines.
Working the polls is something is not any type of knowledge which can be read about. The only way to really understand is to experience. There are many people who should not be voting, as well as those who are going out of their reach to vote. Election day is not only special because people can choose, but because just about any United States Resident that is over the age of 18 is eligible to vote.
For most, the day would begin as usual. This meant, setting up all the tables, unpacking the ballots, machines, and other variou supplies that each precinct was given. Tables were filled, signs were posted, poll were tags were handed out, and finally the doors were opened and the flag was put up: "The polls are now open". For some voters, this was just what they needed to hear as they grew impatient standing in line. The first person came in to vote, filled out his ballot, verified the ballot box was empty and then submitted his ballot. The first person to vote at any precinct is usually one who is eager to vote, and in this case was also in a very good mood. The next few voters followed, one who thought it would be funny to shout about how she should be able to keep the "cheap $1 pen" which she had used to fill out her ballot. Due to the way in which the woman spoke, this did not come off as a joke. Similar "acting skills" seemed to be observed at other various times of the day, though these random intervals were not acting, but sheer stupidity; or moments that gave reason as to how remarkable this particular election was. People of all ages came out this very November 4th. From a young student who had just turned 18 years old days before, all the way to an elderly woman at the age of 97. Two women, one a student asking to make sure she had correctly filled out her ballot, and the second, an elderly woman asking her daughter to read aloud the paper ballot. Though very different in age, and abilities, the two women shared something that could easily be observed throughout most of this very day. There was a great sense of pride that was shared, each recognized that as Americans they had the opportunity to voice their opinion.
Unfortunately not everybody shared this sense of pride, and ultimately had no clue as to what they were doing, but for some reason did know something big was happening. One 58 year old woman, was for the first time in her life voting. For others this was not the first time, but just an election they were anxious about. Regardless, this particular group of people was for the most part, not very well informed on what the issues. Some less knowledgeable than others, but all candidates at this particular precinct seemed to have it together pretty well. The day went on. For the poll workers this included greeting people, and then signing them in. Once voters were signed in, they moved on to the next table where students working the polls handed out ballots and voting cards. Activating the electronic voting card was very quick, and required little effort. On the other hand, the paper ballots were just as easy, but a bit more time consuming. The solution to this was to take out one pack of 25 ballots, and to tear both pages of the ballot off, fold the tab which voters would later take home, and then lay each ballot atop each other and slightly off set so they could be pulled from bottom to top easily, while still maintaining numerical order. Not streamlined the handing out of ballots, but it also allowed the students to assist voters who had any questions about filling out the ballot or obtaining a new ballot after they skipped the instructions.
It also allowed the student poll works to help voters understand what a provisional vote was, and how to cast a provisional vote. This meant explaining that it is of equal value to a regular ballot, and asking each person that they have filled out the envelop they put their ballot in before slipping it into the blue ballot bag. In one case it even meant reading each line on the envelope to a woman who had left her reading glasses at home. It was an easy job, but just a bit annoying due to the uniform process of explaining the same thing over and over for every person who had a provisional vote.
Eventually it was time for lunch, the polls remained open, but at this precinct did not flood in with those using their lunch break to vote. Each poll worker took their lunch, and the day continued, and eventually turned to night. Finally, at night people filled the room, breaking the dead silence, and pushing ballot numbers just under 1,000. One by one, each voter slowly came in and cast their vote. Most by paper ballot, some electronically, but all by 8. Counting the ballots did not take long, but was not all there was to do. The last thing was to pack everything up, and finally put the yellow ties back on the Sequoia AVC Edge Voting Machines.
5,5,5
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