The Election and other news

Readers of this blog, both of you, know that I worked the polls in Chicago for 20 years. By mistake I signed up to do the same here in Michigan. (I thought I was registering to vote.) After the last major presidential election poll workers and officials have come under attack and increased scrutiny. Listen, no system is perfect—that’s how America planned it. We have juries made up of one’s peers, same goes for the folks sitting at the tables at your local polling precinct. Human error is inherit, but that doesn’t mean the system is rigged.

I worked an eighteen hour-day and tried my best to make sure everyone was welcome and the process went smoothly.

We saw sooo many people. Close to 500 voted—this in addition to those who voted absentee. I was also impressed by the diversity of the electorate. Voters of all backgrounds, age ranges (several first-time voters), and those differently able (a few wheelchairs etc). If anything, it buoys my belief that things do work. That we’re all doing our job to keep the ship called Democracy afloat.

Now that being said, Michigan had a big night. We never really know until it’s all over. Leaving the polling place that night bone-tired on my bike in the dark, I thought: I’ll have to accept the results no matter what. I realized it could go any which way.

Our neighbor, a lady next door that we’ve NEVER met, who keeps to herself, who, we heard from the owner when we bought, was a bit grouchy. Okay. To each their own. Well, I saw her yesterday come out of the house and get into her car. She pulled out of her driveway and pulled up next to me holding Jack while out walking. She rolled down her window and said, The election is over.

This, this the first exchange we’ve ever had! I thought she might be complaining about our yard signs for/against proposals on the ballot.

Then she smiled. Michigan had a big night.

I smiled in return. Yes, Michigan was a good girl, I answered.

That was it and she drove off. I sighed in contentment. Things are working. We will get along—at least in that moment.