As the primary winds down, as it dawns on the MSM that Obama is our nominee, as we turn to the hard work of beating McSame in November, let us not forget HOW we are going to beat McSame. We are going to beat McSame by registering new voters, GOTV drives, donating time and money and more.
But let us also not forget the less visible and well known need of working the polls on election day! This is a critical and often overlooked effort in making sure votes are counted and voting is executed well.
I became a pollworker in the 2006 election and what I experienced was truly frightening.
Follow me on the flip......
Perhaps my experience was unusual, but I doubt it. Among my fellow pollworkers were mostly elderly women in their 70s and 80s, bless their curly white haired heads. They were nearly LOST because voting has changed so much. They lacked computer experience and most shockingly, for a university town displayed a great disdain for young people. They didn't like the way the dressed or spoke. Although I live in a predominantly caucasian town, I would venture that most harbor some degree of racism as well.
We can do our level best on all the aspects of GOTV and campaigning, but unless our polls are functioning well, we are sunk.
PLEASE consider becoming a pollworker for 2008!
For more on my experience as a poll worker, please see my diary from 2006 here