The election process is where we apply heat and pressure to candidates in hopes of forging the tools of democracy. We hope for Excalibur but we often get a spork. That is not the fault of the smiths who wield the hammer, but the poor raw material with which we start. Part of that process is Election Day itself and the many people behind the scenes that help voters exercise their franchise. Those people are the pollworkers and election officials who make it happen.
I had the opportunity to observe my local election supervisor’s
operation this Election Day. I arrived, bleary eyed, at 6 a.m. to find the office hopping, with phone bank operators talking to precinct
clerks, more clerks picking up their gear for the day and outriders being
dispatched to open the unexpectedly locked door at one precinct. The leadership of the office patrols among the
work stations, like sharks in a reef, looking for problems to savage, er,
solve. As the clock creeps toward 7
a.m. and the opening of the polls, the buzz of intensity increases. At 6:45, the last precinct reports “ready to
go” and the electronic tote board turns completely green.
There is a small cheer, but not a release of tension. It was akin to being in a military tactical
operation center before an attack kicks off in training.
As a former soldier and former election official, I have been in both
and the feeling of anticipation is the same, but, on the whole, I prefer
elections!
At precisely 7:00 a. m., the leader of the phone bank
announces that the polls are open and the operators immediately begin fielding
calls. The questions are about voters’
eligibility (wrong address, listed as voted absentee, etc.). At another station, supervisors field
questions about technology, poll watchers and exit poll takers. Everything is handled in a subdued, confident
manner that reflects the training and the leadership provided. The day is off to a good start, but it is a long way to go until the polls close at 7:00 p.m.
The people in the election support center are about 80%
seasonal workers. Many have been doing
this for several years and they love the sense of service that this work brings. Each polling place has about 5-8 pollworkers,
depending on the precinct population.
That is an additional 2500 seasonal helpers (but perennial patriots) who
are making democracy happen. For the full
timers in the office, they do what they do because they have a sense of how
important this is to their community.
As county employees they are not highly paid nor highly
appreciated. If they do their job
perfectly, no one will notice.
This is the essence of what our republic represents. The elections that we regular folks complain
about are administered by our fellow citizens who care deeply about getting it
right. They want the process to run
smoothly, in accordance with the law and to produce a reliable outcome. These are the unsung heroes of our democratic
process and they are in your neighborhood.
Thank them for their service.
Dan Nolan
