Not all that big a deal, but Susan and I were volunteer greeters at Ward 5 in Keene, New Hampshire, during the primary election. It was simple enough. Stand a the door, greet people when they come in (not at all like "Welcome to WalMart), and then ask if they were registered in Ward 5 and to check that they had a photo ID with them, all with the goal to keep the lines moving.
Most of the old timers had been voting there for years and they were in and out in about a minute and a half. Others, though, who had forgotten their ID or had moved since the last election and hadn't changed their place to vote, or those who needed to register that day, got shunted off to one of six people who were processing registrations.
And for the most part it went smoothly. We were on duty from around 10:45 until 2 pm. Around 11 there was a burst of young people, most of whom needed to register. Then another bunch came. They were coming in vans, probably college students who didn't have cars. And they kept coming. At one point there were over 20 people in line, waiting to register, some of them for the first time.
It was an easy job, helping people through the process. Most seemed in good humor. There were a few grumps, as there always are, but it's a massive effort to see that everyone who wants to vote gets to do so. It's a very civil process, at least in any elections I've either voted in or helped staff.
So this is not about the result but the process. The process and our participation is important.
Besides, win or lose, my vote is my license to bitch.
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