Thinking about Elections

“BEING A POLL WORKER IS NOT MY THING,” you say. “I’ve never done it. I’d rather do something else to support elections.”

Here are some non-standard reasons to be a poll worker:

+ You want competent honest people running the polls. Sign up and be one of the competent honest poll workers. You’ll be making sure the elections are run properly and fairly.

+ You are distressed by all the disinformation about elections. By volunteering to work the polls you’ll be trained to know EXACTLY how elections are conducted, about the safeguards in place, e.g., what prevents people from voting multiple times, etc. You’ll be able to counter disinformation with facts backed by hands-on experience. When you’re a poll worker you’ll learn more about conducting elections than you ever will by reading about them.

“Maybe I’d rather be a poll watcher to watch for problems at the polls*,” you say.

If you really want to detect problems at the polls, start by being a poll worker. By learning the election process and rules hands-on, you’ll be better qualified to be a poll watcher. Personally, I’ve encountered poll watchers who clearly had little training if any and did not know the law. They caused hot tempers and confusion that wasted everybody’s time. Don’t risk being one of them. Start by being a poll worker.

You can sign up to be a poll worker with your county’s election office. Google it or find it for any state through this link.

https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote

*Partisan observers, often called “poll watchers,” are typically in polling places and tabulation centers. They are concerned with protecting the interests of candidates, parties, and advocates of ballot issues.