Since I've gotten involved in the whole voting process, the week before every election, I question my life choices. Why did I agree to repeatedly get up at 4:30 a.m., spend 14 hours at the local community center where the central HVAC is on the fritz, and deal with people. Though this election was no exception, this time I am glad I'll be getting a paycheck come December.
The State of Texas held early voting for the past two weeks. Perhaps this election was covered in the local media? If so, I haven't seen any postcards, signs, billboards, or advertisements in real life or on a screen talking about what voters need to know. However, word is getting out.
Where I worked the past few days has been steady. Most voters were wonderful. Several thanked us for what we are doing. Given there are four elections next year and Bowie County is already cajoling folks to come on board and work, these words of affirmation help my soul.
We've also had our fair share of Karens. There was the woman who complained she had to "walk too far" because the city community center happened to be holding pickleball and a health fair at the same time she came into vote. When she didn't get the response she was looking for, she informed me she would be talking to the city councilman about this issue. Hopefully the thought bubble above my head didn't match my face.
Another woman was so downright nasty to our Presiding Judge when the technology picked that moment to run slow--as if it were his fault! "What's taking so long?" "Are you really this incompetent?" He handled it better than I would have. I am not Southern. I don't have a "bless your heart" chambered for those occasions.
And then there was the Karen who called the election office turning in one of the clerks (I'm pretty sure it was me) for asking her to re-sign for her ballot. She had a common name and her signature did not match at all. Maybe it's just me, but I would want someone to check my signature if I'm voting--especially if I have a common name--to make sure my ballot isn't given to another. What if I came in then and found out I'd already voted and was denied a ballot because it went to someone else? This has happened and it is why we check signatures! You know, voter integrity.
This weekend, I'm catching up on everything I haven't done in the past two days because Tuesday is election day. Monday is set up the voting equipment day.
