There's so much to say I end up being paralyzed (my hands at least). So in search of a coherent topic, I spent yesterday as a Poll Worker for the Georgia Primary Election. I really didn't do it to find a topic, or for the money--but the 14-1/2 hours I spent at 2nd Baptist Church in Waycross turned out to be a very educational experience.
I learned two major things: 1) People really put forth a lot of effort to vote! There were 599 votes cast at that precinct yesterday, and among them were people with a variety of physical handicaps: hearing and vision impaired, people in wheelchairs and with walkers, many types of leg braces and canes, and pretty much everything else you could think of, as well as families with infants and small children. That means that a caregiver has to help the person get in and out of a vehicle, then assist them getting in the polling place and usually with the voting process itself(the caregiver must attest that the voter needs their assistance). In addition, the voting districts had changed since last year, so a number of people presenting here had to be re-directed to another site. The large number of voters might have to do with the district or with people feeling that our voting process has been impaired--not sure of that. I do know the overwhelming majority of those voters were on the Republican ballot.
2) If our Democracy is to rescued from the constant barrage of threats occurring every day, it will be led by a brave and tireless contingent of Black women. Of the 7 workers on duty yesterday, 5 were Black women. I mostly sat back and watched them juggle the many tasks involved in conducting a very accountable election. Our GOP Poll Watcher (white male) found no fault with any of it and got along very well with the whole crew. And we all bowed to our 5 fearless leaders. (The other white worker was a teenage boy).
I also have to give a LOT of credit to the Ware County Election Supervisor, Carlos Nelson. He runs a tight ship and doesn't miss a step of the process.
Personally, I still fear for our Democracy. But I feel extremely positive about the soldiers on the front line.
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