The past few years I've gotten more interested in / involved with politics, and have volunteered in the past two major elections (2004 and 2006). Nothing impressive or exciting, just the grunt work of knocking on doors, phone bank, sorting flyers, glamorous tasks like that. I've enjoyed it and plan to volunteer again this year.
The one thing I didn't find worthwhile was going door to door on election day itself. Not to put too fine a point on it, both times it has felt like a total, 100% wasted effort. I'd be happy to pound the pavement for twelve hours if it accomplished something -- even the tiniest impact would be worth it. But I'm not interested in spending all day wasting my time and annoying people. As heinous as cold calling can be, I still felt much better about the time I spent doing phone bank in the week before the election. (I guess I don't mind annoying people if it accomplishes at least something!)
So, no more knocking on doors on election day for me. Instead I had planned on volunteering for Election Protection. I talked to their poll monitors at a couple of precincts in 2004, and it seemed like meaningful work. Also a good friend of mine volunteered for their legal hotline in 2004 and spoke highly of the experience. However, I just went to their website to volunteer today. And if I read their site correctly, this year they're only sending poll monitors to a few "high risk" counties in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. As a non-lawyer I (obviously) can't volunteer for the legal hotline. So Election Protection is out, I guess. Too bad; it would have been great to do something to help democracy on election day.
I had also thought about applying to be a poll worker, but in Durham County all poll workers have to be recommended by one of the two major parties. I'm an independent and I doubt either party would recommend me. Besides, the poll workers were appointed last August so I missed the deadline anyway.
I'm kind of at a loss here. Anyone have any suggestions for election day volunteering?
Actually the county boards of elections are generally pretty desperate for poll workers. I used to do it myself until I became ineligible by taking on a party title. I thought it was fun and meaningful work. I put the Durham SBOE FAQ on the topic in my URL. Just contact the county BoE and they will set you up. This is true for most NC counties.
That this process is controlled by the Democrat and Republican parties is one of the points of our lawsuit, which as a hearing on 1/30 in Wake County Superior Court.
Oh! I read on that page that "Precinct election officials, one chief judge and two judges per precinct, are recommended by the two major political parties and appointed by the Durham County Board of Elections. Appointments for two-year terms are made in August of odd-numbered years" and I thought that meant I had missed the deadline.
I'll call them. Thanks!