Let Us Now Praise The Unsung Heroes/Heroines of The Voting Booths

Caught up in the recent dizzying crossfire of emails flying in an out concerning potential voter fraud, mishaps and "mismanagement", I happened to forward one, without thinking, to a friend of mine, the Town Clerk ( for the past 10 1/2 years) of Nantucket Massachusetts, Catherine Flanagan Stover.

In my 24/7 nail-biting terror that the election will be snatched and stolen from Obama, Catherine reminded me that there are many people, committed and dedicated, who work exceedingly hard on Election Day and the time running up to it, people with the best intentions, real integrity and honor.

My nails are bitten to the quick and my Election Day angst will not recede until Obama is declared the winner today, but Catherine's words are, I think, worth noting. It's an interesting perspective on the election that most of us don't get to see:

"People have NO IDEA what happens in an election, and they're always looking for a conclusion to jump to.

"Speaking for the 500+ New England City and Town Clerks that I know personally, this sort of message is an insult. Every one of us bends over backwards to serve our voters. My office happens to be open from seven in the morning (before regular hours) so that workers may absentee vote.

"There are many test-runs of equipment, review of voting lists and double and triple checks of laws, returned ballots, and signatures.

"Every clerk I know has brain cells to spare, and guards against any manner of foolishness or hijinks that anyone could possibly think up.

"People never question the validity and security of their debit cards, and rarely does a store clerk ask for ID, even though the back of the credit card may say, 'Ask for ID.' Your vote, your ballot, your polling place are ten times more secure than your shopping cart. Clerks hover protectively over the process and agonize over how to help people more than you could possibly imagine.

"A pox upon all those who insist otherwise. It has been our experience that any problems that anyone may experience are due to their own negligence or lack of compliance with their state's election laws.

"In the month leading up to this election, we've only had one person admit that THEY were in the wrong. I wanted to allow them to vote ANYWAY because to have someone so honest was such a breath of fresh air. Sadly, I could not."

"I am almighty weary of this kind of crap.

"It's unkind, insulting, and untrue.

Catherine Flanagan Stover
Town Clerk
Nantucket, Massachusetts"

Read more Election Day Liveblogs, Reaction and Analysis from HuffPost Bloggers

Comments

[tvrmx]

Yeahbut!... That's New England! Where all them Eastern Elitists blue states is!

[Skua]

In addition to the town clerks, let's not forget the, how many? hundreds of thousands? election judges, poll watchers, and other volunteers who will be sitting there all day without pay, most of whom are probably doing their best to follow the rules, and who would have whistled up more machines, voting locations, and paper ballots if they had the power to do so. If you haven't yet voted today, then when you do, please remember to say "Thank you!"

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

As you are getting ready to or waitng to vote please call your family and Freinds to make sure they are voting today!

I saw this earlier:

Rosa sat down so that Martin could walk. Martin walked so that Barack could Run. Barack ran so that our children can fly!

Yes We Can!

[cheapslut]

Always double check your ballots, and be sure that you dont press the cast-vote button before you have made your choices.

[cheapslut]

I would like to relay a true story that occurred this morning at my local voting center. A rather large voice boomed out from behind the booth curtain, "That's one for McCain!" As the man exited the booth. he tripped over his own feet, and fell on the floor. A very nice female senior citizen, who was standing behind me exclaimed with a smile, "And that's just what's going to happen to him, you ________ son of a _______ !!!" I've never felt so patriotic, right, and supportive of a candidate. Now, all I can hope, as do we all, is that Barack will also walk the walk. But first, let's just win, baby!!!

[fibbius]

My mother works for an Elections Office in Florida, and all I can say is AMEN. She works fifteen hour days through the election season and she works HARD. Catherine's right - people really don't understand the behind-the-scenes voting process. Unsung heroes, indeed!

[ksmagenta]

The unsung heroes of our sacred democratic process are the poll workers. They are true patriots, in every sense of the word, who put in extremely long hours for very low pay.

[obamagramma]

Instead of biting my nails on the sidelines, I decided to work as a pollworker for my county. Other people I know volunteered for legal protection projects.

I am extremely impressed by the sacred respect AMERICANS have for the voting process. There is a strong desire for integrity of the process on BOTH / ALL sides.

Now I'm off to be a pollworker !

[PattyElle]

Thank you! I appreciate your words "sacred respect AMERICANS have for the voting process".... I am sorry that from the stealing of the 2000 & 2004 elections that we as voters haven't received the same reciprocation of "sacred respect" by our system. This is such a disgrace. I am ashamed, embarrassed, disgusted and irate!!!!!! At the Dems too. They could have been getting this together over the 8 years since Gore's win was stolen!

McCain/Rove Will Try To Steal the Election with Voting Machine Fraud in Swing States -Republican I/T voter machine computer guru Michael Connell testified yesterday! Rove tried to stop the subpoena, but the judge had the grit to forge ahead. Finally somebody is standing up to these Republicans CROOKS! It's not just the Presidential election we should be concerned about them rigging. It's the Senate & House races in every state as well!!!!

http://www.truthout.org/110308R

Watch this important piece of information:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/3/on_eve_of_election_day_is

[Noworries2008]

gracious winners and losers please.

[PDinCA]

I admire and commend your dedication, patriotism, and faith in the system, but a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.