working on the poll

When I applied to work at the election poll last week for June 6th, I didn't know that I would have to work all day, from 7 to 8 pm. I thought I might be assigned a portion of the shift.

I've signed up for training tomorrow at 1 pm in Fremont, CA.

And today, I got a mail. I have the position of the "Judge" and I must arrive at the polling station in Pleasanton, CA at 6 am, through 9:30 pm.

Chewbacca's "Argh, ahh, arrr, arrr, arrgh" translates as "It is too early. I'm not sure I can commit to losing 18 hours of my day (from getting up at 4 am to going back home at 10 pm) staying awake to deal with potentially hundreds of voters that might make my life unpleasant."

I don't think I'm a "people person." Seeing that I will do this for one day ($7.18 an hour to my reckoning), I can appreciate the hard and thankless task that the poll workers have to do to protect the integrity of an election. Inspectors of the Hanging Chads, I feel for you.

I only hope I don't have to explain voting in Spanish, or Cantonese.

I hope they will make November 7th a federal or state holiday so people will be encouraged to vote. Cuz, come on, who doesn't want a day off in the middle of the workweek?!

This election is in California and, along with some local measures put on the ballot, will focus on primary, choosing the candidate to lead the Democrats against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. I don't plan to vote in the primary, though I'm itching for Westly to win.

I hope I didn't break any law in doing that. I think I'm forbidden from pressuring the voters on election day at the polling booth, so we'll see.

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