Mountain Musings: On Elections

Mountain Musings – A guest column by Dottie Simmons who lives in eastern Humboldt County describes life at her rural homestead:

I believe in democracy. Defined in the New Oxford American Dictionary as: ‘ A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives’. And I believe that what makes democracy work best is participation, particularly through voting. To that end I have been a poll worker for many elections.

Originally I got involved because there was a need. As with all other volunteer based events the hardest part is finding volunteers. Many of the outlier polls in our very rural area had closed for lack of same. It was a time commitment to training and setting up and one very, very long day; a personal commitment to precision and integrity and working together. I also wanted to know how it all works. If you really want to learn how something is done, the best way to really get an understanding is to actually get involved in doing it, and this is no exception.

It was amazing the year Bernie Sanders was on the primary ticket. So many volunteers showed up to work the March Primary! People who wanted to see for themselves how secure and fair the process is. And they were not disappointed. There are so many levels of security and a tight chain of custody from you through the ballot counting process it’s amazing.

Many rural communities lost their in-person polls over the years so we’ve really appreciated the option of mail-in ballots. My husband and I sit and debate each and every candidate and issue as we vote at home. It is a ritual for us, and an honored tradition in our house. Those close to us also know that voting is their ticket to complain about government in our presence. Sort of ‘put up or shut up’… apathy doesn’t cut it here.

Mail-in ballots also took the edge off of dealing with the heavy Covid years. Hard to want to volunteer in a closed space with the general public, especially for the elder retirees who make up a lot of the volunteer force, when there is an elevated risk to your health. And, as it did with so many things, Covid gave impetus to changes in the ways in which we process our elections, especially in spread out rural locales.

First of all, every registered voter now gets a mail in ballot. We like tracking ours via BallotTrax.com. We signed up and know when our ballot is in the mail so we know when to expect it in our mailbox. It also tells us after we mail it that it is in the hands of the Postal Service, arrived at the elections office, and when it’s been counted. Nice to be able to track it every step of the way when you choose to just drop it in the mail or a drop box.

Other changes this election include early voting centers in Fortuna and Arcata where you can vote in person starting 10 days before Election Day. Seven additional in person polls open on Saturday, March 2 through election day around the county, and 3 more on Election Day itself in Hoopa, Ferndale and Garberville.  Of course anyone can vote in person starting a whole month ahead at the County Elections Office or drop off your sealed and signed mail in ballot at one of seven drop boxes located around the county from Redway to Willow Creek.

While I will am sad our tiny Bridgeville Poll will be no longer, voting being a social event in our little outlying community, I will be working at the Voting Center in Fortuna. No longer volunteers with these changes in location and hours, election workers are now temporary County employees and get paid a wage. I can’t complain about that! And I look forward to doing my part in helping everyone get out and get his or her vote counted.

And I must confess I do have one special pleasure in doing it aside from all that – it is forbidden to talk politics at the poll! It is the only safe haven from the onslaught on that most political of days!