Ready to fall over, but happy.
Nov. 8th, 2006 12:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moominmuppetI'm so exhausted and achy from yesterday's Election Protection work that I wish I had today off for recuperation. Unfortunately, that couldn't be less true. Work (with two people called off), then patient-instructing, then my folks are arriving. Oy. (Edit: and Bec is now taking my part-time housemate to the ER, and I can't do anything useful about that. Argh.)
However, I'm very pleased with both how the elections went (in terms of fewer irregularities), and how the elections went (in terms of results). Although we had some problems in Cuyahoga that resulted in a number of precincts staying open until 9pm to make up for late starts, overall it was much smoother than the May elections here, and definitely smoother than 2004. Here's EP's list of complaints/problems for this election in Ohio.
I didn't personally have any problems voting, although I'm displeased about the total lack of privacy in the local setups. I got up at 6am and once I'd done some housework and gone to vote, I headed out to my EP precinct location, on E. 126th (other side of town, so it took about an hour on RTA). I was there from about 10am until 7:30pm, and it rained off and on throughout the day. Years of experience escorting stood me in good stead, though, and I came thoroughly prepared, so I was as comfy as possible all day. Lots of munchies of all sorts, Bec's camp chair, plastic trash bags to keep supplies/backpack dry, and more layers than seem necessary for the temperature. Although the person before me had a few issues to report, nothing went wrong during my shift, so I mostly just handed out hundreds of Voter's Bill of Rights papers, and checked in with folks to be sure they hadn't had any issues. The hardest part, as I expected, was being sure to keep my big mouth shut. I believe deeply in the need for non-partisan observation of elections and I agreed theoretically with everything about not broadcasting our personal views while working for a non-partisan group (I had to doublecheck my bag and my reading material before heading out -- no pins, no books like "The Republican War on Science", etc). However, it's always something of a battle for me to keep quiet when anyone so much as hints at wanting my opinion on anything, as I'm sure anyone who knows me can attest. So I think that was one of the most psychologically tiring aspects, really. That was also reminiscent of escorting, although in this case I couldn't have those conversations with anyone, I wasn't just refusing to engage with a particular group (our escorting agreement is that we don't engage with the antis, which can be quite an exercise in self-control). Also, I found it very weird to be approaching cars in this situation. It's so ingrained in me that people getting out of a car may be seriously fearful or angry, and believe I'm about to harass them, that it's hard to overcome that and remember I'm in a different situation, and that these people are not generally upset, stressed, and having horrible things screamed at them. Very strange.
Also, it brought up some odd issues about dealing with the folks who were out on the sidewalk with me, handing out literature for various campaigns. We all sort of bonded in that way you do when dropped with five other random people for 10 hours of standing around together (most of them didn't know each other either; they'd been hired for the day by different campaigns). But I found that avoiding political discussion also left me feeling very closeted when random homophobic remarks were made (almost entirely from one woman, who was prone to saying all sorts of offensive stuff in general). Do I get into the discussion here or not? What about the other things she says that I disagree with? Is it possible to have those conversations on election day without it being political? I ended up deciding not, but it's not a solution I was thrilled with. I'm curious whether others have run into similar situations, and how they handled them.
And that's all I can think of for the moment. I'm falling-over tired, though, so I may come up with something more when I'm more alert.
Celebration moment: South Dakota abortion ban went down! Blackwell went down!
Also, I'm really interested that the chance of repubs maintaining control of the Senate may rest on a recount in VA, which apparently doesn't use the optional paper-reel ballot recorders on their electronic machines. I really hope this wakes up more of the country to recount issues surrounding elections without paper trails. Maybe if people learn that it's as often in their best interest as the other guy's, there'll be more motivation to improve the system.
However, I'm very pleased with both how the elections went (in terms of fewer irregularities), and how the elections went (in terms of results). Although we had some problems in Cuyahoga that resulted in a number of precincts staying open until 9pm to make up for late starts, overall it was much smoother than the May elections here, and definitely smoother than 2004. Here's EP's list of complaints/problems for this election in Ohio.
I didn't personally have any problems voting, although I'm displeased about the total lack of privacy in the local setups. I got up at 6am and once I'd done some housework and gone to vote, I headed out to my EP precinct location, on E. 126th (other side of town, so it took about an hour on RTA). I was there from about 10am until 7:30pm, and it rained off and on throughout the day. Years of experience escorting stood me in good stead, though, and I came thoroughly prepared, so I was as comfy as possible all day. Lots of munchies of all sorts, Bec's camp chair, plastic trash bags to keep supplies/backpack dry, and more layers than seem necessary for the temperature. Although the person before me had a few issues to report, nothing went wrong during my shift, so I mostly just handed out hundreds of Voter's Bill of Rights papers, and checked in with folks to be sure they hadn't had any issues. The hardest part, as I expected, was being sure to keep my big mouth shut. I believe deeply in the need for non-partisan observation of elections and I agreed theoretically with everything about not broadcasting our personal views while working for a non-partisan group (I had to doublecheck my bag and my reading material before heading out -- no pins, no books like "The Republican War on Science", etc). However, it's always something of a battle for me to keep quiet when anyone so much as hints at wanting my opinion on anything, as I'm sure anyone who knows me can attest. So I think that was one of the most psychologically tiring aspects, really. That was also reminiscent of escorting, although in this case I couldn't have those conversations with anyone, I wasn't just refusing to engage with a particular group (our escorting agreement is that we don't engage with the antis, which can be quite an exercise in self-control). Also, I found it very weird to be approaching cars in this situation. It's so ingrained in me that people getting out of a car may be seriously fearful or angry, and believe I'm about to harass them, that it's hard to overcome that and remember I'm in a different situation, and that these people are not generally upset, stressed, and having horrible things screamed at them. Very strange.
Also, it brought up some odd issues about dealing with the folks who were out on the sidewalk with me, handing out literature for various campaigns. We all sort of bonded in that way you do when dropped with five other random people for 10 hours of standing around together (most of them didn't know each other either; they'd been hired for the day by different campaigns). But I found that avoiding political discussion also left me feeling very closeted when random homophobic remarks were made (almost entirely from one woman, who was prone to saying all sorts of offensive stuff in general). Do I get into the discussion here or not? What about the other things she says that I disagree with? Is it possible to have those conversations on election day without it being political? I ended up deciding not, but it's not a solution I was thrilled with. I'm curious whether others have run into similar situations, and how they handled them.
And that's all I can think of for the moment. I'm falling-over tired, though, so I may come up with something more when I'm more alert.
Celebration moment: South Dakota abortion ban went down! Blackwell went down!
Also, I'm really interested that the chance of repubs maintaining control of the Senate may rest on a recount in VA, which apparently doesn't use the optional paper-reel ballot recorders on their electronic machines. I really hope this wakes up more of the country to recount issues surrounding elections without paper trails. Maybe if people learn that it's as often in their best interest as the other guy's, there'll be more motivation to improve the system.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-08 05:39 pm (UTC)I hate to even say this but I kind of hope that the Senate ends in a tie. I think that two years of having Cheney (who is even less popular than Bush or congress) in the limelight as the deciding vote will further the national displeasure with the GOP... Also, it just seems like it would be really funny.
Non-partisan election work
Date: 2006-11-08 06:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 03:24 am (UTC)Where I voted, there was a total lack of privacy. The room was really tiny and one of the other wards was extremely busy. The line kept forming right along my row of voting machines. Despite the best efforts of poll workers, the people in line just did not get it.
Next year, I'm voting absentee.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 03:29 am (UTC)Can't say I have been in this situation, but IMHO someone who is loudly stating opinions in a rude way without being asked and especially in a political situation is trying to stir the shit pot. They want a reaction from someone so they can start something. So much as saying nothing didn't feel desirable this is one situation where that was probably the right choice.