Working the polls for this election was an eye-opening experience. So much of politics has become polarized due to constant provocative ads, so I was expecting the worst. However, when I arrived at 5:45 am, everything was neutral. Even though all of my coworkers were something like 3 or more times my age, politics never got in the way, except when we needed to find someone of the opposite party to assist a voter. Throughout the day, I worked at the check-in station, as a greeter, and as an assistant for provisioning ballots.
The crazy part about the experience was the crowds. From 6:30 to 3:00, the line was anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour long to vote. As a first-time worker, I thought this turnout was a little above average, but this year’s advertising and my location’s proximity to the retirement home meant that, comparatively, it was packed to anything that my coworkers had experienced. After the post-work resurgence, the polls were basically dead for the rest of the day, and I finished my day at 8:35 pm.
This was definitely an interesting experience for me. It’s fun seeing all of the community around voting, and the whole day shift definitely made for a memorable experience that I’ll remember. Will I do this again next year? Maybe, depending on what classes I have in college on that day.