Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Post election thoughts...

Yesterday I was honored to work the polls in my small town. I set my alarm for 4:00 a.m. and honestly wonder to myself why I do this!

I made a small pot of coffee, showered, dressed and was out the door by 5:00. It was a beautiful morning with a sky full of stars and just a few cars lumbering out on the road.

My poll location was a small church in the country. Usually I work the town polls, but not this year. There were five of us gathered, a couple of folks I knew, the other two I did not.

It didn't take long for us to become friends. We worked together getting everything ready, read the oath to each other and opened the door promptly at 6:00. 

I must say it was a bit of a slow day. Perhaps because it was the primary without a huge national election...perhaps because the sun was shining and that alone is a rare phenomenon here or perhaps lack of interest.

We kept each other company by talking, sharing food, reading magazines, welcoming voters, and taking strolls up and down the hallways.

By 6:00 in the evening, our inspector, Tracy, went out to announce the closing of the polls and we locked the door. We spent another hour making sure the numbers all matched, the forms all filled out, and everything placed in the proper envelopes with seals.

As I worked as a judge, I followed Tracy to the court house with our totes and books and we were checked out by the clerk. The court house was buzzing with local folks and Mike, my editor, and Jim from WLKI.

I spent the rest of the evening with friends at McCool's tavern in town where we hashed out the day.

I am proud to be a participant in this system as well as a voter. I only hope we can garner more votes in the fall election.

Why don't Americans vote? I guess that is a topic for another time. 

Hopefully you were among the voters. Thank you for that.

Until tomorrow.

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