Washblog

Our county as well as all the political parties have a responsibility to step up, sign up poll workers, and make sure that our communities remain involved in our elections.

I've been asking local bloggers, such Goldy at Horse's Ass, to also put out the call for citizens to become poll workers. Please encourage your favorite blogger to help spread the word. Thanks.

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I was a poll worker for the first time last year. It was great fun. The locals brought us cookies. Our inspector had kiddie ballots and crayons.

Watching civic activities gets me all mushy and patriotic. Helping people vote as a poll worker is one of the best things I've done these last few years.

I'm fortunate that I have a sympathetic boss who allows me to take time off of work. It's a very long day. And by the end, you'll be definitely ready for bed. But it's a happy tired.

But I'm telling you, as an election integrity activists in the making, I learned more about our elections systems in a day than I did in a year of reading. Some things you just have to learn by doing.

This year they signed me up as a poll inspector. It's a bit more responsibility. Last year, we had poll site, absentee, provisional, and challenge ballots. Oh my. This year we're adding virtual ballots (on the touch screen). Keeping everything straight will take some effort. There's all sorts of rules and procedures for maintaining the integrity and security of the ballots. It's very important work.

Now, more than ever, it's important for as many people as possible to step up, take responsibility for our democracry, and help to make sure our elections are fair, open, and verifiable.

Thanks for listening.