SIVACRACY.NET: Melissa Summers Was a Poll Worker Yesterday

Or as she characterized it: Today I volunteered at the kid's school in the position of "Person Who Asks, "Are you here to vote?" And Then Points Toward The Stairs." Here is an excerpt from her account:

"Hi! Are you here to vote?"

Unpleasant Voter: "Oh, are you here to direct people to the polls?"

"Yes I am!" [Smile.]

Unpleasant Voter: "What they really need is someone directing people to the entrance of the building because it's hard to find."

"Ha! That's so funny!" [But thinking: "Are you fucking kidding me? You can't find the fucking entrance of a building? The big stone facade didn't tip you off? The big sign saying, "Vote Here" with an arrow pointing toward the door didn't tip you off? You're going to vote right now? Seriously?"]

I would have guessed she lives in South Caroline like me, but in fact she was working a polling place in her home state of Michigan. In what I am sure is an extraordinary coincidence, today she is quoted in a fairly stupid NYT article about Mothers Who Drink During Playdates where she is a voice of reason. Her wonderful blog is called Suburban Bliss where the header features a "Momtini" and there is even a link to a Momtini Cafe Press store:

Comments

Ok I have to chime in and let you know that I understand where that "unpleasant voter" was coming from. I missed early voting, and had to vote on Tuesday. I called my county board of elections to confirm my voting place on Tuesday morning and was given an address for a firehouse on the main street near my apartment complex. I did not think it would be a big deal to go there since mapquest said it was less than two miles away. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain on Tuesday in North Carolina and I forgot that some addresses are not actually on the street that they are supposed to be on. The firehouse was not on the main street. It was on a side street about 100 yards from the main street, and almost completely hidden by trees. I drove past the side street three times looking for it, in the rain, not seeing the signs that said "vote here." Once I finally found it, the entrance to the polling place was so out of the way it took three people to direct me to it. I was so frustrated by the time I got there I swore at the nice polling people who were directing me...and I have been a poll worker for previous elections so I know what a thankless job it is. Still, sometimes it is incredibly hard to find the entrance to that polling place, and in my case I agree...the signs need to be bigger.

Posted by: Nani | November 10, 2006 10:50 AM

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