If you are able, consider volunteering as a poll watcher

[mcar]

this election cycle.

I just got trained yesterday - did it in 2020, but we FL Democrats think it's going to be vital this cycle.

Each party is allotted one "watcher" per polling precinct each election. Our job is to sit, observe and report to a boiler room of lawyers if we see anything untoward. Like, for example, a person being turned away because their current address isn't the same as on their voter registration (different states have different laws). In that case, in FL, the person should be able to change their address right then and there with proof of the change. At the very least, they should be able to cast a provisional ballot and then straighten it out after the election.

In 2020, both early voting and the GE, I had no Republican counterpart in my precinct. It's a Red county so they knew TFG was going to take it.

This time, the Rs are recruiting poll watchers like crazy. We need to be present to counter the crazy.

It's a long, boring shift, usually. But, it gave me a new respect for these hard-working poll workers, most of whom are retirees. We all saw what happened to 2 of them, via the J6 hearings. The ones I encountered were professional, well-trained, and friendly - and they love voters.

[Chainfire]

1. My wife and I voted shortly before noon on Friday, the first day of early voting in my county in Fl.

Watching that polling place would have been very boring. Nobody was in front of us to vote and nobody was behind us to vote. The poll workers said that it had been dead all day. In fact I suggested to them that I go through several times so that they could stay in practice...they declined.

The whole team looked like the Maytag repairman. (is my age showing yet?)

[mcar]

4. We're shooting more for the GE

Yeah, I dropped off our VBM ballots at the closest early voting site today. The people were delighted to see me.

It was morning so church wasn't out yet. I hope they got more business as the day went on.

Election day 2020 I did a full 12 hour shift at a precinct. Aside from the aforementioned being impressed by the workers, it was deadly dull. I walked around the precinct a lot because I couldn't sit there all day.

[MerryHolidays]

2. I HIGHLY recommend you consider this suggestion

Last edited Sun Aug 14, 2022, 07:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Like mcar, I've done some stints as a poll watcher. It is absolutely critical that someone from the D side be at every poll station that will be active for the November elections. This includes Election Day, AS WELL AS every day of early voting.

Do NOT underestimate the importance of this. The Rs will try all sorts of things like challenging voter registration, intimidation (especially in the parking lots), etc. Their goal is to SUPPRESS votes, and our goal is to let every vote count.

Please do this. A boring day is fine! That's what you want. However, ALL sorts of games are being played by the Rs, and if we are not there to watch, things will go badly for us. I cannot be more direct.

[mcar]

5. A boring daymis just what we want

and we can survive one! Thanks Merry.

[SunSeeker]

3. K & R