My first experience as poll worker (or elections officer) was in 2012, when I volunteered to get a little extra credit for my AP Government class. As a 17-year-old, I expected to feel out of place spending hours helping adults get ready to engage in a process I couldn't yet participate in. But the day ended up being full of positives, enough so to bring me back to the polling stations (albeit, a new one, as I've since moved across the country) for the 2020 presidential election.
Volunteers put their own feelings aside to help anyone and everyone fulfill their civic duty, and there's something really hopeful in that, for everyone involved.
I woke up at 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 3, ready to devote a good chunk of my day — and my energy — to getting the members of my county ready to vote. I met up with a group of volunteers I'd never met before in a community center gymnasium, prepared to bond with them over our 16 hours together. We put our phones away, promised to refrain from speaking about politics, and pledged an oath to uphold the voting laws to the best of our ability.
The day was full of highs and lows. Significant early voter turnout and mail-in ballots meant my precinct saw a smaller crowd than previously anticipated, but there was no lack of excitement — in both good and bad ways. I learned a lot from my time as a 2020 election officer. I've summed the pros and cons ahead, in case you feel inclined to volunteer someday:
I felt a duty to step forward for this election. My experience eight years ago taught me that our polling places are usually buoyed up by elderly volunteers, who couldn't afford to expose themselves during today's coronavirus pandemic. I understand it's an immense privilege that my company provided the day off for its employees, so I could participate in this way.
It certainly wasn't a perfect experience — no Aaron Sorkin movie will be made about the day I saved democracy — but I walked away with an education. I learned about my community, developed greater appreciation for the dedication of strangers, and went home a little brighter than if I had buried my head in social media and poll projections all day. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who has the ability, time, and energy to invest. Will I see you at the polls next election? I sure hope so.