Now's the time to volunteer as a poll worker!

[theHandpuppet]

There are a lot of important races coming up this year, folks, so now's the time to sign up as a poll worker for your local precincts. My partner and I signed up this past weekend and I just wanted to remind everyone to volunteer NOW. Don't let the GOP minions be the only ones overseeing the vote.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

[liberal N proud]

1. There are also many important primaries this spring.

If not as a poll worker everyone should be helping with a campaign somewhere, some how.
There are doors to be knocked on and phone calls to make.
If those of us who care for this republic don't stand up and take her back from the devil, who will?

[Surya Gayatri]

2. YES!! YES!! YES!!

We need eyes in the field to watch these bastards' every move--every

attempt to rig, steal or hijack must be yelled from the rooftops. SG

edit K & R

[0007]

3. Was disqualified because I was not bilingual - my fluency

was pretty bad in spanish.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Then do the door-to-door thing,

or volunteer to drive voters to the polls if you can. See post # 1! SG

[0007]

5. I've been extremely active in the party and after your here

for a while you'll know. Thank you!

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Meant no disrespect, & have no doubt re

your commitment to the party--it's just that your post sounded sort of

hopeless! (In fact, I was taken aback that anybody could be refused poll

duty for not speaking fluent Spanish!)

The suggestion was generally intended for anybody reading the thread.

SG ;)

[Wilms]

7. K&R n/t

[Catchawave]

8. Great Reminder 2006, 2006!

Thanks Handy Puppet :hi:

[theHandpuppet]

9. We'll especially need these volunteers...

... in areas where we KNOW the vote has been compromised in previous elections.

DEMS in Florida and Ohio, are you signing up?

[LittleWoman]

10. Working at the polls is a great experience!

In Ohio for at least the 16 or years I have been a poll worker it is a requirement that there be an equal number of Democrats and Republicans at each precinct. Even lunch breaks need to be timed so that there is at least one person from each party present at all times.

If you are going to work at the polls you need to leave your political preferences at home. We are not supposed to even bring a newspaper to read during the slow times because of the potential political content. Voters are not allowed to wear buttons, tee-shirts etc supporting a particular candidate or issue and there is no campaigning allowed within 100 feet of the polling place.

If your goal is a fair and honest election by all means volunteer to work at the polls. It is a long day and it is not for the faint of heart. Lately in Ohio it has been quite the ordeal because you have to treat all the voters with courtesy and respect even those you know are going to vote for the worst possible candidates. If you are very partisan, you might find it better to work for the issues and candidates which are important to you and work to get out all the votes you can. I have been fortunate over the years to work with good people from both parties who are all committed to making sure people are able to vote. During the election last fall I finally got stuck with a real lemon--I consider it a testament to my self control that I was able to work with her from 6 am to 8pm without losing my temper or causing her physical harm. I got through the afternoon by thinking of the big drink I was going to have when I got home.

In the spring of 2004 we had an observer from the Republican party, the son of a state Supreme Court justice who asked a lot of questions and seemed to me to be focused on the voting procedures and the procedure for challenging voters. After the election I told a number of Democrats at the county level what I had observed and what I thought it meant. I suspect others did the same because the Republican plan to challenge voters got out and the Democrats in our area had their own challengers and observers in some of the most vulnerable precincts. Little did I know what was really planned--among other things to short-change largely Democratic precincts voting machines.

There are many ways to work for fair elections and good candidates--find the one that works for you and get out there and get to work!

[LincolnMcGrath]

11. K & R Get involved

Take over if you have to.