I grew up in a political household. We discussed legislation around the dinner table the way most families chat about school projects. So when I heard there was a need for Republican Poll Watchers in Denver County I was glad to help uphold the integrity of the process.
My training had included key things to look for. I was to call problems to the attention of the supervising judge and could remain only at her discretion. During the work day I was not to speak to anyone else, especially a voter. Unfortunately, she remained busy filling out provisional ballots, which made raising concerns awkward.
As an 18-year resident of Colorado, I have voted consistently in my home county. The process is carefully followed and by the book. All the rules apply to everyone all the time. Exceptions are made within the bounds of protocol and limits are enforced courteously.
As a Poll Watcher, my job included closely observing the check-in process. Someone asked me what I was doing as I looked over her work from about 4′ away. I explained. Almost immediately someone informed me I was not to talk to anyone. Within minutes the supervising judge told me I couldn’t stand within 6′ of check-in. It was necessary to show instructions to the contrary. Then the tables were promptly rearranged such that the only way to closely observe the check-in process was to stand in the way of the incoming voters. It would appear overbearing, but could be done.
The Democratic Poll Watcher was very nice and explained early that she “took the other view since she was from Cuba, where people couldn’t vote.” Her initial expectation–that I somehow didn’t want people to vote–could not have been more wrong. It was gratifying that she seemed to eventually recognize that my concern was for the integrity of the process.
In fact, to their credit, as events unfolded the other Poll Workers seemed to notice who I was separately from their expectations. A couple of gentlemen spoke kindly about social niceties and tried to include me, but I did not feel free to answer.
The sad part was the continued acceptance by some of rhetoric that implied that Republicans would not value the process and each individual voter’s rights. This was made clear in conversations when voters were not in the room, conversations which I could not avoid hearing and could not enter.
The previous edition of this post didn’t communicate what I’d hoped it would. I came home on election night grieved because the people I met were very nice and very committed to helping people and yet were so horribly mistaken about who I was–who so many of us are and what we believe–that they felt a need to minimize my ability to do my job as an observer.
Kinderways is dedicated to the thoughtful pursuit of truth, to the consideration of great ideas. Timeliness is key for news and discussing current events but an enemy to writers attempting to speak of difficult things. “Sleeping on it” is my favorite rule for avoiding miscommunication in print. I hope readers will “listen gently”, because timeliness will often make “sleeping on it” hard to do.
What a curious perspective. You seemed to assume everyone else in the room was liberal. What made you think that? It seems to me like you creating the Culture Gap. If you were not supposed to speak with anyone, why were you introducing yourself? The election workers who knew you were a Poll Watcher probably ignored you because those were the rules. Why do you perceive that as attitude?
I don’t know that everyone else in the room was liberal; there were some people who didn’t converse, or who kept conversation carefully neutral. Culture Gap here refers to different expectations and how they impact us all. While I was not to converse with co-workers or voters, I have been in numerous polling places and workers typically knew one anothers’ names. I introduced myself before voting began and gave brief, friendly replies to questions. One difficulty describing this type of situation is that over 70% of communication is non-verbal. Another is that it takes so long to establish context for various actions.
I could have chosen an easier place to start, huh?
Thanks for the comment!
Most of the other poll workers were black
and did not accept you because you were white?
Probably more that you were new.
It would probably be better to work at a
less active poll for a local issue before you jump into a presidential one.
Smoke some legal marijuana.
You can do that now.
Sorry i have to ask:
Did you observe violations at the polling place?
You have only stated they shunned you for reasons you don’t understand.
You have mentioned it might be your party affiliation.
Of course in a polling place that should not matter.
Many poll volunteers live locally and do it every year for many elections.
They might know each other. I’m sure your service was appreciated.
You changed your original post and effectively changed the topic. That makes things hard to follow. Please do not do that.
I must apologize for the changes, and that I do not have a back-up copy. I thought I had kept one!
It would be difficult, even in person, to discuss that day and all I saw. Print is not a simple medium for complicated events subject to interpretation. About 70% of communication is non-verbal.
Yes, editing and redacting parts of the original post seems unfair since we can’t edit our replies.
You can’t just cut and paste, but are welcome to send a correction/revision; this is especially true this time, since my revision could impact the way your comment looks. Assuming it is appropriate, I’ll do my best to replace/revise per your instructions. I wish I’d thought of that sooner! Kinderways is about fair play!
I too am curious about reesie’s question. did you observe any voting irregularities?