“Poll working has always been a positive experience for me.” - Two vets share their stories from Wisconsin

Vet the Vote was very busy last fall for the midterm elections, and we plan to be busy in 2024, as well, once the Presidential Primary season kicks off. But, did you know that we have work ongoing in many states throughout 2023? 

There are state-level elections and special elections in more than half a dozen states. For example, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi are holding elections for governor and other state-level offices. New Jersey and Virginia have state legislature or assembly elections. There are special elections for the U.S. House in Virginia and Rhode Island, and there are state supreme court elections in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

While not all of these elections will make national headlines, they are very important for the states in which they occur. It’s our job at Vet the Vote to make sure that the polls have a deep bench of available military veterans and their family members who are willing to volunteer to support the democratic process. 

Thanks to our partners at Veterans for Political Innovation, we recently had a chance to speak with two poll workers from Wisconsin. Mark is a veteran of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, and Brian served in the U.S. Air Force. They volunteered as poll workers during the 2022 midterm elections. Here are some highlights from our conversation.

VtV: Why did you choose to volunteer as a poll worker? 

Mark: My mother-in-law was a poll worker for years and years. I had always thought of it as something gray-haired people do. Now that I have become a gray-haired person, I decided to do it. I was also angry when I saw that poll workers were being attacked and intimidated, So I volunteered, because I figured they wouldn’t intimidate me. 

Brian: When COVID hit in 2020, our village clerk sent out an email saying that a lot of our poll workers are elderly and at risk, and so we need more volunteers. I decided to volunteer. 

VtV: What did you do as a poll worker?

Mark: I volunteered for one set of primaries and one set of general elections in my small town. In the primary,I  read statements to each voter about how the partisan primary and that voters can’t mix voting across the parties. For the general, I handed out ballots, monitored voting machines, helped out when a machine rejected a ballot, and logged when there was an issue.

Brian: I have done the sign-ins and ballot curing. After the sign-in process, voters come with the ballot, and we sign and witness it. I also helped with closing the polling place, ensuring we’re auditing all the ballots, and verifying that ballots line up with the counts. 

VtV: What was the process to become a pollworker and the volunteer time commitment?

Mark: I signed up through the Democratic Party, even though I am not a democrat and never have been. I was worried they were gonna screw it up, so I decided to help where I could. The clerk split the day in half for most of us, so it was only a six or seven hour shift. 

Brian: It was not hard at all. There was onsite training with the county clerk. She was very knowledgeable, and she tested us a few times. You can volunteer for a half day. I’ve done both full and half days. Across Wisconsin, many jurisdictions offer half-day shifts. The election chiefs typically work the whole day, as do the clerks. 

VtV:  Did you enjoy being a poll worker? 

Mark: I did! It goes back to why I volunteered. I really like the process of going to the polls, and I like the concept of seeing people walking into the polls, standing in line, doing their civic duty, not trying to rabble rouse. They go pull the lever whichever way they want, and then they go about their day. And while there are many other ways voting can be done now, I still love going in and pulling the lever. 

Brian: Absolutely, it’s great. You meet a lot of people, it's a fun day, people are excited to come in and vote. Poll working has always been a positive experience for me.

VtV: Did you have any negative experiences as a poll worker?

Brian: I never experienced anything negative. We’ve had some poll watchers, but they were always polite and respectful. Everyone has been friendly and positive.. A lot of people who work the polls are elderly women, and they said that they felt reassured having veterans there working alongside them. 

Mark: When I was an observer, there were some people wearing partisan paraphernalia who caused a stir. The poll workers were very firm in explaining to them  that they were required to remove any political markings. The people groused about it, but they ultimately followed the rules. That demonstrated another important job of the poll worker, to keep the polling place non-partisan.

VtV: What did you learn about the electoral process as a result of working the polls?

Mark: I was impressed by the amount of care that’s taken to ensure that things are done right. People were meticulous in their tasks. There was a chain of custody, and all requirements were met for security. There was a sense of patriotism. This process was a great example of what we’re supposed to be doing. Some of us work the polls, some of us come in and vote. It gave me a sense of hope for the country.

Brian: The biggest thing I’ve learned was that poll workers are not partisan at all. I have no idea what the political leanings were of the people I volunteered with.. They were all super concerned about making sure the process was fair and above board. They were patient, dedicated, and  if something doesn’t match, we’d recount the whole thing. I  have yet to meet someone who didn’t fit that characterization.

VtV:  Do you plan to volunteer as a poll worker again? 

Mark: Yep, I plan to volunteer for the spring elections.

Brian: For sure. I’ve already filled out the forms for the primaries and spring elections. 

If there are elections happening in 2023 in your state and you’d love to volunteer as a poll worker, find out how at www.VetThe.Vote.