Witnessing the voting process

Your View
Published: November 13, 2008

As a poll worker in Manassas, I was able to witness first hand the process of voting from the other side of the table.

It was a wonderfully tiring and inspiring experience. We had an unusually large number of first time voters, many young but surprisingly many older voters as well. 

It was a racially diverse crowd.  One older, non-English speaking father, visibly moved by the moment, was led in by his young daughter to assist him in voting for the first time. Another, blind, came
assisted by a friend. 

Neighbors brought in neighbors. Priests brought in parishioners. A mother came unassisted with four children under the age of 5 and patiently waited her turn.

We had 2,134 voters, no provisional ballots, three curbside voters and only one discrepancy between the poll books and the machines, and that was explained by a poll worker error in counting the voters.
The poll chief and her assistants exhibited extraordinary care in following the procedures set by the election board. Everyone was respectful and vigilant in protecting the ballot as well as the voter.

My experience years ago on a jury gave me the same sense of what a privilege it is to be an American and how important our institutions are to preserving our shared freedoms.

SUSAN BRUNS

Manassas