First Time Presidential Election Poll Worker? Here Are a Few Things You Should Know

I have worked as a poll worker in the past, several different times, and it is a wonderful opportunity to serve in your own community. Yes, you do make a little bit of cash, which is great, because it's at a perfect time, due to higher heating bills coming up, as well as Christmas being right around the corner. The last Presidential Election, between Bush and Kerry, was an extremely busy time. So busy, in fact, we, the poll workers, never got a chance to eat our meals. It was my first Presidential Election that I worked in, but the other poll workers who had worked in several Presidential election polls said it was the busiest one they had ever witnessed. Even they were as unprepared as I was. I predict this coming election will be just as busy, and maybe more so, even with so many people voting early.

With this being the case, you are going to want to bring healthy (and not-so-healthy comfort food) snacks to keep your energy levels, as well as your alertness, up. Don't bring food items that take a lot of preparation, such as heating up. In the past, I have been able to take an electric crock pot to heat up chili, but in the last Presidential Election, it never made it out of the refrigerator. The key is to prepare for very little time for you. There are no breaks from this essential job, so in order to be able to eat something, and take care of yourself, you have to know what to bring and what will just get left sitting there, probably all day. The key is to bring things that you can nibble on, as you find time, without it growing cold and icky when you get busy helping a voter with something.

So, if you bring chips, bring napkins to be used as impromptu plates, if you bring a couple of 2-liter bottles of soda, bring some disposable cups, and so forth. Some suggestions, like above, would be chips and soda, but also on my list would be, under the heading of what it would need in paper products, are:

Would need napkins

* prepackaged cookies (less work to fix them up yourself),

* a loaf of bread and some prepackaged cold cuts (hopefully with some condiment packages),

* a can of nuts,

* a couple of bags of mini donuts,

* a jar of olives, pickles, etc,

* fruit and veggies, already washed,

* cheese, already diced up.

Would need cups

* bottled juice, and

* drink mixes (please bring spoons to stir with).

No paper products needed

* a half case of soda in cans,

* prepackaged sandwiches, available in many gas stations,

* a large pizza delivered to the precinct (request napkins be sent, though), and

* other food delivery, such as grinders, sandwiches, or sub sandwiches.

Not being able to eat all day due to being so busy can be very taxing on a person, so the simple gesture of bringing snacks or meals with you goes a long way. Your stomach will greatly appreciate your effort.

Some Other Areas You Should Know About

You most likely will not control your precinct's temperature, so it is best to bring clothes that you can layer, and add or remove as the temperature and your activity levels dictate. Wear clothing that is comfortable, including your shoes. This is not a beauty pageant, by any means, or a runway where you must model your Sunday best. Wear what you would wear on a lazy day off. Even sweats are appropriate to work in an election, just don't wear your sloppiest, holeyest outfit, because Halloween is over on Election Day. Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in, and that you don't mind if they get a spill on them, because due to people moving around in your area, tables can get bumped by accident, and so forth.

Expect to get at least a slight headache, so bring some pain reliever. Some precincts don't have good lighting, have bad sound proofing and echo very badly, there are children crying at times (especially when lines are long and parents haven't come at a good time for their child), and it can be a long day. Any one of these can bring on a headache, so it's best to be prepared for one, just in case.

Always go to the precinct before Election Day. Always! This is not something that you should blow off. Your precinct's Inspector will contact you regarding when the precinct's workers will meet prior to Election Day. If you can't meet at the time suggested by the Inspector, say so. If you find out later that you can't make it as planned, call and let the Inspector know as soon as possible. He or she might be able to meet you there at a different time in order to get you familiar with the precinct's building. Also, attend the training session, even if you have been a poll worker in the past. Each year, there are changes made, both to procedure and machines, and attending will keep you informed of these changes.

Just in case there is a lull, take something to do. Good things would be a bit of crocheting, a sketchbook, a notebook to write in, a crossword puzzle or word find book, Christmas cards or envelopes to give you an early start, and so on. I doubt you will be able to spend any time with these items this election, but it never hurts to pack it in your day bag.

Other things that should go in your day bag include tissues, cough drops, any medications you will need during the day, feminine products for women, a list of numbers to be contacted in case something would happen to you, and anything else you feel will make your day go more smoothly.

Good luck to you this Election Day. There are at least a few of us out here who know there would be no Election Day without people like you, who take the time to perform this vital and essential service for us, the public, and for America.