Democracy == A Long Day
Sep. 20th, 2008 08:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kateelliottDuring the spring presidential season, Hawaii Democratic Party holds a caucus (in February this year).
By State Law, however, the primary election is always six weeks before the general. Today was our primary election (no presidential race voting in the primary; that's done in the caucus). Twin A and I were poll workers. We verified voter names and handed out ballots, for 13 hours (plus additional time for setup and take down).
A few observations:
It's a really really long day. You arrive at 530 am, polls are open from 7 am to 6 pm, and you leave about 7 pm. The primary is always held on a Saturday, and the general election is a state (and, I believe, a city and county) holiday, which includes schools, colleges, and the university.
One thing this leads to is an interesting break down of poll workers. We had 12 at our precinct: 1 retired guy, 5 middled aged sorts (40s/50s), 2 college students, and 4 high school students (you have to be 16 or older to work at the polls). While it is technically volunteer work, there is a stipend. I like having young people working at polls. A lot. I also like the concept of the general election being a holiday.
Turnout was poor, perhaps 30%. I expect this to be much much higher for the general election.
So my thought for the day is this:
People who make it a business to try to suppress voter turnout and put obstacles in the way of people voting really truly thoroughly anger me. Indeed, they disgust me. Those actions have nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with power.
If you are an American citizen, please vote.
There is still time to register for the general election.
Now I'm going to walk the dog.
By State Law, however, the primary election is always six weeks before the general. Today was our primary election (no presidential race voting in the primary; that's done in the caucus). Twin A and I were poll workers. We verified voter names and handed out ballots, for 13 hours (plus additional time for setup and take down).
A few observations:
It's a really really long day. You arrive at 530 am, polls are open from 7 am to 6 pm, and you leave about 7 pm. The primary is always held on a Saturday, and the general election is a state (and, I believe, a city and county) holiday, which includes schools, colleges, and the university.
One thing this leads to is an interesting break down of poll workers. We had 12 at our precinct: 1 retired guy, 5 middled aged sorts (40s/50s), 2 college students, and 4 high school students (you have to be 16 or older to work at the polls). While it is technically volunteer work, there is a stipend. I like having young people working at polls. A lot. I also like the concept of the general election being a holiday.
Turnout was poor, perhaps 30%. I expect this to be much much higher for the general election.
So my thought for the day is this:
People who make it a business to try to suppress voter turnout and put obstacles in the way of people voting really truly thoroughly anger me. Indeed, they disgust me. Those actions have nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with power.
If you are an American citizen, please vote.
There is still time to register for the general election.
Now I'm going to walk the dog.