Diary of a Poll Sitter

Props to the poll sitters out there. I've been keeping an eye on the Eastside and Lower Valley polling places. I love to go to them because they are so intense and all the fun stuff happens there.

Some are paid to be out there. But it isn't a lot. Most are just family, friends, and supporters of the candidates. Either way, being out there can be taxing. People pass the time by talking with the other workers. But every once in a while, the competitive nature of the campaign flares up and there are some spats that break out.

The valley, as usual, is the hot bed for this type of stuff although it happens every where. I think I've figured out a general trend in terms of the culprits.

Not all the time of course, but most of the time, when there is a flare up - it involves family members. Paid poll workers and volunteers are there to support their candidate but in general they aren't as passionate about the candidate as family.

Family has skin in the game.

And when you have some skin in the game, well lets just say you are more likely to throw some elbows when you are going up for a rebound. So all the confrontations that I have seen so far have involved family members. That same passion that makes them, generally speaking, the best poll sitters because they will stay longer and be more enthusiastic than the other poll sitters, is also the passion that often can get them in to some trouble.

The vast majority of the time out here at the polls (I'm at one right now), has been pretty peaceful and the volunteers are really cool with each other. In the valley, (Carolina, Pavo Real, Fabens) the candidates are all pretty cool with each other. But there is still some palpable bad blood between people.

At Carolina there was a couple of dust-ups an cops have cruised the parking lot a couple of times. My homie Jay Desai, who is a pretty big guy and looks intimidating as hell, is actually pretty good at calming things down. He's really mellow for a guy who looks like a bouncer.

Turn out has been higher than expected, but there are still long periods of absolutely nothing happening. Lets see what week two brings...

A quick side note for the elections department. Customer service training for the election people would be beneficial. A few of them are pretty rude. Its not necessary for them to have a confrontational relationship with the poll sitters. Elections workers have a job to do, poll sitters have a job to do.

And straighten out the restroom situation in Fabens. They should be allowed to use the restroom.