Confessions of a Poll Worker
This fall I, like millions of other Americans, felt the need to help with this historic election. I observed the polls in Nevada, and I was a poll worker here in LA. What I saw, during each and every day of voting, was nothing short of inspiring.
Despite what the president says, our democracy is alive and well, borne on by the collective effort of more than a million poll workers, observers, and election officials. Donald Trump’s suggestion that those of us working the election failed to hold a fair contest is, frankly, disrespectful and insulting.
We all took an oath to uphold the constitution, and everyone I met at every stage of the process was sincerely dedicated to the ideals of our democracy.
The idea that every American deserves the right to vote, regardless of their politics. The idea that no one should be intimidated, or made to feel less than, for having a different political opinion. The idea that this is a country by the people, for the people. The idea that we, collectively, chart our course into the future. That does not mean that we will always make the right choices, or steer the right path, but it does mean that we are, together, the masters of our own fate. Those ideas are what inspired the founding of our great country, and I saw those ideas alive and well, day after day, embodied in the hard work, dedication, and integrity of every last person working as part of the electoral process.
All kinds of people volunteered to participate. And despite their different backgrounds and political leanings, every single one approached the election with one goal — to make sure our election was fair, by the book, and non-partisan.
In Las Vegas I met Juan, a retiree who works just at one time every year — election time, as a way to stay socially active and help our democracy. Steven was a former taxi driver who’d never worked an election before, but felt compelled this year when he heard the COVID pandemic might create a shortage of poll workers. Jan was an election observer for the Republican party who had been observing elections for years. She, and I got along fine, agreed that the polling place we were observing was doing a great job.
In LA I met Javier, a software engineer who had chosen to take vacation days from his regular job just to help out and make sure the election was fair and accurate. Lilly was normally an employee of the city of LA, but during her short time as a poll worker she showed up every morning with suggestions about how we could make the voting process smoother and more organized so no one would have to wait in line to exercise their right to vote. Meliza, the manager at our polling place, has worked elections for years, and brought an incredible attitude to every morning meeting to help keep us smiling and ready to help every person who came in, regardless of their politics.
I came into the election afraid that our democracy was in danger. Even before the results came in, I left inspired by the collective belief in our ideals that I saw in each and every observer, poll worker, and election official. I only hope that Donald Trump can learn to do the same, and respect the collective will of the American people.
Our nation is far from perfect, but through our elections, we the people are the masters of our own fate.
