While others display their punditry and regurgitate their opinions concerning the recent presidential primaries, I (and others) presented a more oblivious civic duty by being a poll worker. (My second time.) The pay is low, the hours long but one gets to briefly observe, listen and answer questions from people who still believe their vote matters.
Poll workers repeatedly are warned not to engage in political discussions with voters or among themselves. Most all obey such a direction and I have seen a poll worker fired when not conforming to a supervisors warnings to simply "shut up" in trying to justify their violation of the duties of their position. That doesn't mean we are programed to tune out all matter of public policy for the sake of efficiency, it means a partisan take on an issue, and particularly on a candidate, is forbidden.
Still, opinions among poll workers happen within the boundaries of a supervisor's direction outside of earshot of potential voters. I had one supervising clerk let a discussion over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) continue by saying, "It's been only a hundred years [since women were able to vote]. We are women, we're not the voting police."
In another example, a well-paid, educated medical equipment salesmen, who was a second-time poll worker, brought up a discussion about being against vaccines. His position struck some fellow workers as incredulous because of his scientific background. He was measured in his passion but still angry that he was booted of X (formerly Twitter) because of it. I wondered if his two grown boys had been vaccinated.
Most poll workers are moderate in their views. The majority are women, most at or near social security age, many former teachers, business owners or one-time executive types give their time. A minority have a blue-collar background. Those not retired seem to find ways to accommodate a steady outside job as fixability helps maintain a supply of poll workers. They can see their kids and grandkids go to war and they stand for the flag. Politicians are scrutinized closely.
My job was to operate a computer terminal that links to a large data base to check a potential voter's resignation status, valid address and compare a signature to what's been recorded. I am not an automounter or part of an evolving scenario based on Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Rather, like all of my fellow poll workers, I'm patriotic though it rubs very hard against my cynicism that the development of humanity's progress beyond political manipulation will not outpace eventual extinction. But one can try.
My state only conducted a Republican Presidential Primary, "Why?" was a question some asked themselves, and who pays? [An email to the Florida. Secretary of State asking about the cost and if the state pays remains unanswered at this writing.] There were long stretches where no one came to vote. The final turnout of registered voters was only 20 percent. The only Democrats voting only had municipal elections on their ballot.
Despite the low turnout, some voters commented on the process. Obvious Trump supporters had questions about the voter verification process, The word "fraud" was heard at times. A few Black voters knowing they had municipal offices to vote on voiced some objections. The verification of one's signature was a touchy subject. "You don't want someone like me voting," said one man in a loud voice. A woman, commenting on a request to redo her signature leaned close in toward the poll worker and said, "It's me, can't you see that?" pointing to her face. In both cases the poll worker remained calm and the voter got a ballot.
In the end, Trump got 81.2% of the Republican vote, Nicki Haley 13.9% and Gov. Ron DeSantis 3.7%. In the Presidential Primary of 2020, Trump received 93.7 of the vote. The turnout was 30%. Many news outlets declared it "a blow" to Trump considering nearly 20% did not vote for him and the turnout was dismal.
In 1932, Hitler and his Nazi party only won 43.9% of the vote. He was dictator the following year and began a plan for World War II. Vicktor Orban, Trump's example of a "strong leader" and one of his "very fine people" has been in power over Hungary’s institutions and media since 2010. He has become a poster child for would be autocrats.
Millions of voters could determine if the upcoming 2024 election could be my last as a poll worker.
Bravo, Bruce. My neighbor, mother of two young kids, works at our poll every election. I've found that, along with DMVs and post offices, polling places are my favorite places to be. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've achieved or lost, what kind of money you make or house you live in, everyone in these places gets treated the same. It turns out that, at least with polling places and post offices, these are place where the community meets--either in solidarity or in misery (especially at the DMV). Such places are not to be sniffed at. They are important and the people who make them function are integral to the health and well-being of the community. It gives me some comfort that you are one of the people who makes the polling place work. Let's hope you find it worthy after the upcoming elections. If you don't, I will certainly re-examine its worth to me as well.