Local Government Elections - An Inside Look

 Copyright 2006 Al Arnold

Over the past 25 years, I have observed and participated in local government from a variety of angles. From humble beginnings as a local political cartoonist, through a local elected official career, and now a Local Government Affairs Director for a large trade association.

To add to that local government/politics resume, I applied two years ago to become an election official. I wanted to work at the polls on election day. I wanted to know what it feels like, to have the responsibility of administering the most sacred of our rights, the right to vote. It is an awesome responsibility. Think about it. Those local citizens who work at the polls, make our whole system work. From electing a Coroner to the President, that is where the action is. I wanted to be there!

I recently received my work assignments for an election being held Tuesday, February 21. This should be a rather large turnout. There is a local school district bonding project on the ballot. Those always bring out the people!

I have worked only one previous election. It was a Primary election, but a very, very sparsely voted election. It was so slow, I was sent home three hours early. This will be different. This will be a full day.

My first assignment will be the distributor of the ballots. After the voter has "clearly stated their name" and been checked off the voter list, I will be affixing my initials to the ballot and handing it to them. I will be making sure they have no questions before entering the voting booth. While I expect a fairly large turnout, and a steady stream of voters, I will be positioned at the end of the registration table with enough room for someone to stand next to me and exchange in some small talk.

Then in the afternoon, I will be rotated out into the hallway and become the "Host." I will be sitting at a table, answering questions, directing voters to the correct sign-up table and talking to the voters.

All the while I will be doing these jobs, I will also be observing. Observing my other poll workers. Observing the voters. Watching ... Listening ... Learning. I'm looking forward to it!

I compare all of local government to a reality television series. When watching a reality show on television you need to know the rules and the players of the game, before you get the most enjoyment out of the show. Same goes in local politics. You have to know the rules, and you have to know the players. Including the voters. It is all part of the reality series.

Might as well have a little fun when doing one of the most important jobs in our county, right?

I encourage anyone and everyone to find out how they can become an election poll worker in their area. That is, if you have what it takes to administer the most sacred of our rights.

About the author:

Al Arnold,Your Local Government Pontificator, is the author of Moving Mountains and Molehills Local Politics 101. http://WWW.LocalPolitics101.US

 Al Arnold

More Articles 

Government Buying And Selling On The Internet - Christina DeMers
Global Insight, a leading economic and financial forecasting company, (formerly DRI-WEFA), states that all levels of government (federal, state, and local) should see steady increases in the purchases of goods and services through the year 2009. ...

Get Government out of Schools & Businesses - Shirley deLong
BONDS, TAXES, LIES AND MORE LIES. IT'S TIME FOR REFORM! We, the Taxpayers, are more than fed-up with all the above and we are not going to take it anymore. It looks as though we are going to have to stop all Elections until we can get the State of...

US Government Recognizes 'They Slew The Dreamer' - Gary Revel
A friend just brought it to the attention of Gary Revel today that the United States Government has indeed recognized his conclusion of a conspiracy in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The House of Representatives and the Senate of the...

Google Floats Like A Butterfly : Government Stings Like A Bee - James Trivolette
For seven months we have waited and listened for what our office is dubbing the “Digital Patriot’s Act”. The wait is about over before we really get a taste of what will come of the tribulations of Google. The Government made known to Google over...

FHA Home Loan Information - Buying A Home With Help From The Government - Carrie Reeder
The federal government wants to help you buy a home. They see it as a way to improve the economy, provide a stable tax base, and help grow communities. To encourage homeownership, the federal government backs loans for those who might have trouble...

Is The Internet Censored? - J Schipper
When most people think about Internet censorship, the usual suspects immediately come to mind : Communist China and repressive Islamic countries. Unfortunately, Westerners have an embarrassment all their own : Australia's net censorship law,...

Your Government at Work: Gitmo Torture and Beyond - Scott C Smith
The American Civil Liberties Union has undertaken the task of obtaining declassified documentation of prisoner abuse in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Gitmo). The documents were obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request (the...

Buying Dirt Cheap Cars From Government Car Auctions - Tim Lee
It is becoming harder and harder for people to find affordable prices for new or even "pre-owned" vehicles. The cost of extras continues to rise, and even basic models can set an average person back for several years. If you are interested in...

General Motors, US Government joins forces to Boost Hydrogen Storage - Jenny McLane
General Motors (GM) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Sandia National Laboratories have joined forces to create, design and test a new and advanced method for storing hydrogen based on metal hydrides. The success of this project is important in...

How To Find Government Grants - Amber Lowery
Each year, the federal government gives out over 150 billion dollars in Government funded grant programs to businesses and individuals. These grants are provided to assist businesses in growing and providing jobs, and to help individuals raise...

Treating Its Citizens as Enemy--A Bad Policy for Any Government - Diana Kirk
In the New York Times story Criminal Inquiry Opens Into Spying Leak , Trent Duffy, spokesman for President Bush in Crawford, Texas, read the following from a prepared statement: "The leaking of classified information is a serious...

Government Benefits – Bringing Up A Family - Benedict Rohan
There’s a wide range of government benefits to support you as you bring up your family if you’re on a low income and need assistance. This is a brief guide to some of the key benefits that you may be eligible to receive. Child benefit – almost...