I love what Bobby Kennedy, Palast and Randi are doing but I have to say please..please...PLEASE don't treat your poll worker as the enemy.

I've worked and will be working the polls again this year. I'm a democrat. My goal when I work is to make sure NO one knows my political affiliation and that EVERYONE get to vote.

I can't tell you many times people have said rude things to me, treated me like I was the enemy and in general acted like I'm actively trying to steal their vote.

As a poll worker I'm bound to uphold the law. I've been a judge and an inspector. I'll be an inspector again this year.

I HATE the voter ID law in IN. In those situation where I have to enforce it, I give the voters information on ALL their options so that they don't have to do a provisional ballot (and they haven't yet...knock on wood).

I dread challengers this year. I don't want to do provisional ballots, but if there is a challenges that what I'll have to do. That's why I'm urging everyone to please do early voting or make sure your registration is correct!

Remember...though...I am and other poll workers ARE NOT THE ENEMY!

I got involved in working the polls because of the travesty of the 2000 election. I got involved so I could be a check and a balance. I got involved so that I could make a positive difference.

-Sr

Thanks for posting this.

I, too, am a pollworker. This is going to be my first time, and I'm not sure what to expect. I was inspired by Randi and Greg Palast to sign on as a pollworker, and I'd encourage others to do it as well. In most places, there is still time to sign up. We need you!

Don't worry, you will get the respect you deserve.

I don't think they are trying to say that. I think they are just trying to say some of the laws are messed up. I put in a request to be a poll worker and if they can't hire me for that than I'm going to do poll watching for Obama. This election is too important not to help on election day. I sincerely hope more people sign up to watch the polls and what not on election day because they are right, it is extremely important to have people working there on election day. I think they should declare election day a national holiday.

EDIT: I don't think people really view poll workers as the enemy either. I think they just get frustrated with the whole thing in general. I mean I've polled people on the telephone for Obama and I always have to sort of separate myself from the process in a way and remind myself that it's nothing personal if people get annoyed that I'm calling them. I remember plenty of times when I've gotten annoyed at people calling me to ask for help and it had nothing to do with the person or the cause, it was just because I view telephone calls as a nuisance in general.

Oh I agree. Some of the laws are very messed up. As I said. I'm against IN photo ID law, but when I take an oath on election day to be an inspector; i take an oath to uphold the law.

I've shared the story before on this board about the elderly African American gentleman with an out of state license during the primaries. It broke my heart to have to tell him to go to the BMV and get an IN issued ID or cast a provisional ballot. When he left without voting I thought that that would be my last year working the polls. I was too sick. I thought that I had become part of what I hated.

I literally cried with joy when he came back later with his brand new ID and voted. I told him how touched I was to see him back. I really wanted to kiss and hug him! LOL Instead I personally gave him the "I voted" sticker.

A close friend pointed out to me when I shared this story that perhaps this is why I need to stay working the polls. See when I had to tell that gentleman his ID didn't qualify under state law...I gave him information on ALL his options. I also told him the BMV would give him a state ID for free for voting. I also advised him if he decided to go get an ID to call them first and find out what documentation they needed a head of time so he would be sure to have what he needed.

My friend pointed out that perhaps others wouldn't have taken the time to do that. I know the Rep. judge I was working with that day (my first "bad" experience working with the opposite party during and election) wouldn't have.

Anyway...but like I said...I've also been treated rudely by others who seem to think I am the enemy. I am not.

And for those thinking about working the polls..don't think...DO! It's one of the best things you can do to feel like you doing something positive to help secure the vote on election day.

Well now doesn't that sound a little ominous? LOL

Good for you Easily and Sylvarose!! I'm phonebanking as I usually do.

Phonebanking is very helpful butters!!!

(change into butter voice)

Even b-better than, than watchin' porn for the first time, ALWAYS A LIBERAL G-GUY?

I'll keep that in mind, Several of my friends are going to be pollworkers. I am not because I've decied to take people to the polls who can't / won't drive but who also don't want to vote early / absentee. I'll be nice to the pollworkers EVEN THOUGH when we lived where we used to in the boonies and had to vote in a mormon church, the pollwatchers were consistently RUDE and demeaning to us, once even booting us out and saying "you're not allowed to vote - you're not on the paperwork". It's almost as if they saw us coming and said to themselves "here comes THAT ONE and THAT ONE".

We live in a bigger city now so I shall give the pollworkers the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks for volunteering to drive! Years ago I had a broken foot and couldn't drive. A volunteer drove me to the polls. So I know what a valuable service that is.

I'm also sorry for your past experience with poll workers. *shake head*

Another example of why it's so important to get new "blood" into the system. To get new people who are passionate about helping people to vote; not about keeping people from voting.

sr

I guess I've been lucky, I've always had a good experience with my poll workers, wherever I've lived. When I lived in Oregon, I was kinda sad to see it go to mail-in voting, because I was always so emotionally moved whenever I went to vote.......the flags in the foyer, the cute little old ladies who were there, year after year, checking names and handing out ballots. Several times I left with a tear in my eye. Damn, I don't cry that much, but democracy! It's worth crying over, especially when it's threatened.

Now that I'm a cute little old lady, living in another state, I'm carrying on the tradition. And I really appreciate hearing about your experiences, Sylvarose - you're a real inspiration to me.

Aw shucks. Thanks.

sr

LOL

I'm a poll worker. Our locals are really trustworthy. But, at the end of the day, what happens 'over the wire' is anyone's guess. We use scanners...with tabulators.

But it's a Dem state, so we're off 'their critical list'. However, I still would recommend paper ballots across the country.

Don't be lazy...don't be automated...COUNT BY HAND.