What 15 Hours at a Polling Place Taught Me About Democracy
What 15 Hours at a Polling Place Taught Me About Democracy
When I joined the staff at A More Perfect Union this year, one of the first things I did was fill out a poll worker application. Our organization offers paid time off for election administration, and I wanted to take advantage of it. I had no idea it would become one of the most meaningful experiences of my year, or that it would genuinely restore my faith in our democratic process.
Here's what happened.
I arrived at a hotel ballroom-turned-polling-place at 5:15 a.m. to find it already buzzing with activity. Over the next 15 hours, I worked alongside three seasoned poll workers, including Laraine: a woman in her late seventies who was clearly the leader of our crew, full of life stories and strong opinions, and someone I would never have crossed paths with otherwise. We spent the day checking in voters, answering questions, and helping people cast their ballots, all while building a genuine connection across very different life experiences.
We even solved a small mystery when we discovered an extra ballot in our machine. Careful detective work revealed a voter from the neighboring precinct had accidentally fed their ballot into ours. We documented it clearly so administrators would have a full record at tabulation. When we closed at 8 p.m., Laraine thanked me and said she hoped we would be paired together again.
What I took away.
Our precinct had 1,499 eligible voters. Only 131 came in, a turnout rate below 10%. While primaries always see lower participation than general elections, that number gave me pause. But what gave me hope was who showed up: adults bringing their children to witness democracy in action; people of every race, religion, and background, determined to make their voices heard.
I also walked away with profound respect for the meticulous precision and intentionality behind our election design. Every piece of equipment was sealed and color-coded. Spoiled ballots had their own dedicated folder. Provisional ballots followed a specific process. There was a clear, considered answer to every possible scenario. As someone who believes democracy is worth protecting, I found that witnessing that infrastructure up close changed me.
This is where you come in.
It takes more than 1,000,000 poll workers to power approximately 117,000 polling locations across 3,000+ counties in this country. Without enough nonpartisan, paid poll workers, our elections simply cannot function.
Here’s how you can help:
Sign up to be a poll worker: Use our dedicated link to find and sign up for poll worker opportunities in your county: powerthepolls.com/jewishdemocracy
Serve as a poll chaplain: Poll chaplains help create calm, supportive environments at polling places during high-stress moments, reducing tension and strengthening community trust.
Provide legal support to local election officials: Access to pro bono legal support helps protect election officials, uphold the rule of law, and ensure elections are administered fairly, securely, and in accordance with democratic processes.
Build relationships with local election officials: Strong relationships between communities and election officials help build trust, improve communication, and strengthen local democratic infrastructure.
Be a trusted messenger: People are more likely to engage with accurate information when it comes from someone they know and trust. Help counter confusion, build confidence, and encourage participation.
People sometimes complain about a dysfunctional democracy, and yes, there is room for improvement. But I believe that if more people had the chance to experience what it looks like to administer an election from the inside, there would be far more faith in the process. My faith has been restored. I hope yours will be too.
