Saturday, October 31, 2020

Election Poll Worker Chronicles: Background and Day 1

In order to follow in the footsteps of my parents who have both served this country through by being in the army, I decided to serve this country by signing up to work as a election poll worker. 

As someone who has voted in Kings County before, I thought that election poll workers jobs are easier since everything seemed so effortless whenever me and Den go to vote. I was so wrong and I was totally blown away by the amount of information poll workers have to learn prior to election day. 

Before committing to be a poll worker for this election, I had to be available to work a total of 4 days in order to meet the needs of those doing early voting before election day on November 3rd. Earlier this month, I had to attend a mandatory training and at this training, I was given a 91 page handbook full of information on the different types of voting, how the various election machines work as well as how to open and close the election polls. 

Poll Worker Handbook 

In preparation for working at the election polls, I purchased a mask with a message meant to inspire voters who come to my polling location.
Me wearing inspiring voting facemask

Today was the first day of working the election polls and I will admit, I didn't know what to expect. Would my fellow poll workers be friendly? We we get along well? Would voters be respectful? Before  arriving at the polling location, I said a prayer and hoped for the best, viewing this as a learning opportunity and planning be a good team member.
 
Day 1 Working the Election Polls

Poll workers are also referred to as a election board and consists of one election inspector and eleven election clerks. The election inspector is responsible for making sure that everything runs smoothly at the polling location. Luckily for us, for the first two days, we have an employees from the elections department to assist with any complicated questions or situations that occur.

All poll workers are required to arrive at the polling location thirty minutes before the polls officially open to the public. During this time, we turn the electronic (aka touchscreen) voting machines on, turn the on the ballot by demand (aka paper option) laptop and printer, and set up signs inside and outside the polling location so the public knows where to vote. After this process is complete, the clerks what area they want to work at: the registration entry table, the print by demand table, the voting direction area or the exit table.

Polling Location Set Up

Polls officially opened to the public at 9am and for the first day, we had a steady stream of people coming in the vote. It was encouraging to see so many people coming out to vote as well as the amount of people who thanks us poll workers for being there working.  

Monday, October 26, 2020

Staycation Vacation and Reading Challenge Update

 Since I work as a digital service librarian for a rural library system, I've been working  non-stop since the library's building closed in late March. In order to give myself I work reset, I decided to take a week-long vacation last week. Due to COVID-19, we decided to not travel too far and instead spent most of our time at home or taking short day trips.

On the first day of my staycation vacation, hubby and I dropped off our mail in absentee ballots to our nearby election ballot box. After, that, I went home and uploaded my race events to the new racemob running website. 





On the third day of my staycation, hubby and I took a day trip to Salinas to try the new plant-based unchicken sandwich which is being tested at select Jack in the Box restaurants. The sandwich comes in classic and spicy flavors and is topped with non vegan mayo, lettuce and tomato. I ordered the classic unchicken sandwich without the mayo while hubby ordered the spicy unchicken sandwich with mayo, lettuce and tomato.

Unchicken Sandwiches on Drive Thru Menu

Spicy Unchicken Sandwich

Classic Unchicken Sandwich

After leaving Jack in the Box, we decided to drive to Moss Landing State Wildlife Area where we enjoyed eating fried artichoke hearts from the Giant Artichoke Restaurant in Castroville.
Moss Landing State Wildlife Area

Moss Landing State Wildlife Area

Fried Artichoke Hearts from Castroville

Lastly, while enjoying a week vacation, I was able to finish three books for the two reading challenges that I'm currently doing which are the 2020 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge (40/52) and the 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge (39/50.) All in all, my weeklong staycation vacation was just what I needed to get a much needed professional reset before heading back to work as we begin our new contact-free library pickup services on Monday, October 26.


Book for 52 Books in 52 Week Reading Challenge


Book for Popsugar Reading Challenge

Book for 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge



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