As I did in 2006, tomorrow I'll be a paid pollworker in Mercer County, NJ. This is a great job, because:
a) huge karma and good citizenship points
b) $200
c) impossible to fret in the course of the day, because I'll be too damn busy.
However, it does come with a downside: getting up at 4AM so I can be at the polling place by 5:15AM, and not getting home until 9:30PM at the earliest. So I'm going to pack up my stuff today, so I can roll out of bed and out the door in the minimum amount of time.
Here's my packing list:
posted so I can keep track, to help out those of you who are working the polls for the first time, and to look for suggestions from more experienced pollworkers.
- clear packing-type tape, to hang signs and waterproof them if necessary.
- Sharpie or other sign-making pen
- blank paper
- a handful of working black pens
- a red pen
- water bottles
- tea bags
- fully-charged cell phone and charger
- roll of paper towels
- bandaids and antibiotic ointment
- box of tissues
- antiseptic hand wipes? or hand cleaner?
- favorite medicine for stress headaches
- COMFORTABLE SHOES
- NSAIDs to prevent knee & back aches (may not be necessary if you're under 35)
- daily meds
- food if you don't like doughnuts, bagels, and pizza -- people generally bring food by in the course of the day
- thermos of coffee
UPDATED:
- chair pad
- non-partisan clothing
Updated again:
- leftover Halloween candy
- Hand cream
and again:
- Womanly supplies (doesn't matter what the schedule is supposed to be)
- Layered clothing, including rain slicker
- roll of toilet paper
- Scissors
I'll add to this as I think of things or as you make suggestions.