Off-topic: Think ahead!

Today I’m doing my training for Election Day. I’ll be working at the polls again, but I’ve gotten a last-minute promotion (one of the regular workers bailed out) so I have a lot to learn about procedures and working the machines.

I’m worried about doing a good job, but I’m not worried about having my vote stolen, because I live in Melrose, Massachusetts. We vote by marking a piece of paper, which is tallied in a machine; it’s easy, reliable, and checkable, and I don’t understand why everybody doesn’t do it. And our Clerk of Elections, Dottie Maguire, works hard to make sure everyone is registered and all the paperwork is in order. You’re less likely to get turned away from the polls for a stupid reason here than anywhere else on earth.

For the millions of people who don’t live in Melrose, however, I suggest you take a few steps today to make sure you can vote next week. Every year there are stories of people who are turned away from the polls or have their votes stolen in some way. (Don’t believe me? Check here and here for updates on election issues.) A bit of advance work can prevent a lot of hassles.

First of all, check out Vote411.org, which is sponsored by the reliably nonpartisan League of Women Voters.* Click on your state for more information.

Here are three things to do now, before Election Day:

1. Check that you are registered, especially if you recently registered or moved, or if you haven’t voted in the last couple of elections. Vote411 has links to secretaries of state, who can direct you to your local elections office. In some states, you can check your status online. If there’s any doubt, clear it up now.

2. Check to see if you need to bring ID, and if so, what sort.

3. Make sure you know where to vote and how to get there.

If you get any surprises, like finding out you have to bring photo ID or that all the polling places have changed, consider writing a letter to your local paper to let others know the news.

Here’s some Election Day advice from the LWV and the Women Donors Network:

1. Plan on voting during off hours—usually between 10 and 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.—when the polls won’t be as crowded.

2. Check with relatives and neighbors and see if anyone needs a ride to the polls.

3. If you get to the polls and find that your name is not on the list, get a ballot anyway. The poll workers will guide you through the process.

4. If your voting machine doesn’t work properly, get an emergency paper ballot—not a provisional ballot.

5. If you have any problems, ask the poll workers for help! We’re mostly friendly and helpful types—it’s not the sort of job you do for the big money or the easy hours. If workers are unhelpful, get names and complain to the local Election Office or the Secretary of State.

6. Don’t be discouraged by long lines. Stay and vote. If you think the polls are going to be busy, clear your schedule and bring a book. Then when your candidate sweeps into office, you can get him or her working on election reform!

The League has a handy-dandy card, “5 Things You Need to Know on Election Day,” that summarizes most of this. You can download it from their website.

And don’t miss this opportunity to vote. Melrose has 18,000 registered voters, but a few years ago we had a mayoral election that was decided on a single vote. Next week, that could be you!

*Full disclosure: I’m a member of the board of directors of my local League. And I wrote our nonpartisanship policy. So there.

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Comments

  1. Great tips Brigid. And I appreciate the notes about contacting the paper if things are amiss. The tip about the emergency ballot is very very important also. Provisional ballot laws vary from state to state (why hasn’t congress ever agreed to make voting something federal and uniform… and constitutional) so sometimes those prov ballots are not even counted until after results are in.