I worked at the polling place yesterday [View all]

It was close to my house. I had to be there at 5:30 a.m. The Voting Location Manager (VLM) was already there and most of us showed up right around 5:30. We worked steadily to get the polling place set up, and the machines online. Ohio is using Poll Pad, which scans the driver's license (or other acceptable state photo ID) brings up the person. If we get a match, we ask the person to state their name and address, and then ask them to verify the the info on the Poll Pad screen is correct and sign the screen if it is. The Poll Pad is mounted on a frame that allows you to flip it from your view to their view and back. After they sign it, you compare the signature with one on file, then print a ballot slip for them to take to the Freedom Voting machine to scan, to get the touch screen ballot, and vote. After the person votes the machine prints their choices and they take it to the ballot box. The ballot goes into a feeder and the slip they got goes into a bag on the front of the machine.
Ohio state law requires that a Dem and an R witness opening the machines, any assistance to a voter, and closing the machines. So all of the polling places have at least 2 Dems and 2 Rs. We had 6 people. We were supposed to have 9, but 3 people couldn't make it. We managed. Unfortunately, it was a very light turnout. It was good practice for me, because I will probably work the general election in Nov. I took all of the training seriously, I worked with Rs to ensure a free and fair election. I worked for my candidate prior to yesterday. Yesterday, I worked for democracy. I think we all did.

It was a long day. I woke up at 4 a.m. and got home at 8:45 p.m. The manager put us in touch with each other via text group and we decided to have pot luck. Since 3 people didn't show up, it was kind of slim pickings, but we had enough.

I wanted to describe the day. If anyone has considered being a poll worker, please go for it. I felt like I did something that pushed back against the thugs trying to ruin the election process in the U.S.. In Ohio, the 'observers' have to be given authority by the board of elections, and have to have certification to show. People can't hang around the polling place for an indefinitie time. The people who led our in-person training last week said that because this was one race, no issues, that we wouldn't have 'obsevers' but we should be prepared for a different atmosphere in Nov. Even so, I look forward to the next chance I get to work the polls.