Oh Heck, Why Not More Election Stories

Well, I can't face opening the blinds or turning on the television so I was thinking I would share more stories from my poll worker perspective. 

My state likes to change the rules every election to try to stack the deck so we always have a mandatory training before each election. This year's training focused on confrontation at the polls and we had a video of situations that explained that everyone was allowed to vote no matter what and we should not confront them. 

We also have a handout that said that although previously no election related clothing was to be permitted, this election we were merely to ask people to cover the offending words and if they didn't, just let them vote anyway. In the past we had them vote curbside if they refused to remove clothing or hats. 

Then our secretary of state issued a statement about a week ago saying pretty much anything would go and there would be no confrontations about apparel. 

And then over the weekend he issued a statement that they could wear clothing with words but not with the name of the candidate.  

So basically, the official statement was anything goes. 

The other thing that was stressed was that we do not call law enforcement for violations. The only reason to call law enforcement was if we were in "immediate imminent danger". 

So when my personal law enforcement officer stopped by for lunch today, I asked him if he was aware of a resident who gathered a crowd around him at my polling place and was discussing how he sits on his front porch with a gun and is going to shot anyone who steps off the sidewalk onto his property (there was more but that part was enough for me).  I didn't expect him to be arrested, but wanted to know if local authorities were aware of the gentleman.  He asked why I didn't call during the incident. I told him that I was not allowed to call unless it was Immediate Imminent Danger and I wasn't on his lawn. 

Later in the day another worker mentioned what he said at the registration table and my counterpart asked who we were talking about.  I said, well the guy who was wearing stuff and talking about shooting everyone. That startled some voters at our station but I assured them that he was in during the morning and they were safe. 

I also had someone stand in front of me and accuse me of declaring my town a sanctuary city which confused me for a while since our county did declare ourselves a sanctuary county for guns years ago and that we are immune from any gun laws our state or federal government passes. I couldn't believe we were on the same side against this. He kept yelling and finally told me our city had built 600 free apartments for illegal aliens. Luckily he had a long profane speech he had to give before depositing his ballot and did not require me to reply. 

We also had a couple who gave a speech (or performance or something - we really need a stage in front of the crowds) about someone who supposedly broke into their house and how the husband pistol whipped him.  (It turns out he was drunk and went to the wrong house which had an unlocked door). 

This story was particularly fun because after telling it he wanted to make sure everyone knew he has a loaded gun by his bed and ran to the kitchen with it but didn't want to kill him so he beat him with it. But in retrospect he should have shot him since he carries a loaded gun at all times and is allowed to use it. He doesn't want anyone to think he isn't afraid to shoot someone. 

Some in the audience started mumbling about damn Mexicans and he also had to say, and he prefaced it by saying "it pains me to say this" but the guy was a white guy born right here in America. My counterpart at the table was mumbling about it later and told someone it was one of those Mexican guys. 

What does this have to do with voting or elections? I have no idea. I guess our code of conduct and theme is "hey, let's have a free for all".  

I was particularly proud of my normally mouthy self that I just sat all day with my mouth closed or at least with no sound coming out of it.  I think I was just in disbelief.  

I sent my leftover soup and brownies with my daughter today to feed the teachers in her pod.  I then spent the day at a friends where I held a Shutterfly photo book class for grammas who want to make scrapbooks for high school grandchildren.  

The eyes are fading a little. Still not sure about the nose. The doctor's office called me twice to change the time but not the date of my appointment next week.  

If this is our last election ever, I certainly won't ever forget it.