I haven’t been able to put as much time in with the Obama campaign as I was with the Kerry campaign four years ago, but I’ve done what I could. I knew that on election day, with so very much riding on the outcome, I couldn’t just sit home and bite my nails, so I volunteered to be what they call a "line manager".
Anticipating record turnout, the Obama campaign here in Ohio recruited volunteers to stand outside polling places. Our primary job was to pass out sample ballots to people waiting to vote, because the ballot is rather long and complicated. These are non-partisan replicas of the actual ballot, so people could consider the issues, mark their votes in line and take them in with them, and then just transfer the votes onto the voting screen, hopefully reducing the time it takes to actually vote. Our secondary job was to answer basic questions, encourage, entertain and otherwise keep people in line.
I was assigned the afternoon shift and, anticipating people getting off work, coming straight to the polls and then standing, hungry and tired, in line, I brought water, apples, bananas, cookies, pretzles and a few newspapers and magazines, as well as folding chairs in case someone older or disabled was unable to stand.
Fortunately, the long lines were all in the morning. While there was a steady stream of voters all afternoon, no one had to wait more than about 15 minutes to vote at my assigned location, which was independence High School on the far east side. I was not the only person doing a shift there. In addition to another line manager, the Obama team assigned a lawyer to each polling place. At my location it was Barbara and her husband Mike, who left Mass. 3 weeks ago to come to Columbus and try to turn Ohio blue. There were also two fellows from the local union hall there to pass out some voting info and 2 people paid by their employer to pass out info on my voters should reject the payday lending law on the ballot. We all became fast friends, joking and laughing and sgaring stories about our kids, etc. even though, in the case of the payday lending folks, we were on opposite sides of the issue.
Because the lines were so short I didn’t need all the food I had brought, but it seemed to be well appreciated. Several mothers showed up with tired young children in tow. They welcomed the fruit and water to keep the kids occupied while they voted. A few people asked how much we were charging for the food.
"Free" we told them. "We don’t want anyone to be hungry while they vote." They seemd to find this a novel but pleasant concept.
One gentleman took a banana on his way back to his car after voting. "Go Obama!" he said to us. We were told to wear nothing political at all, and to say nothing political: we were there to help facilitate voting and to report problems, not to sway voters.
"What makes you think we’re from the Obama campaign?" I asked.
"Hell, McCain people don’t be giving away no bananas!" he said, and we laughed.
"Obama ’08!" Barbara called to him.
The only problem that cropped up was a young man, there to vote for the first time, who was turned away because the poll workers said he didn’t have the right kind of identification. He came out and spoke to Barbara, who advised him, and he went home and got his mother. She marched in with him, slapped down the papers she brought and informed the poll worker, "You know, not all people are priveledged to have a driver’s license!" The man was allowed to vote with no further questions.
By 7:00 things grew very quiet and we were checking our watches for the polls to close and our shifts to end. (The union guys had been there since 6:30 am) With about 5 minutes to go and our supplies loaded into the cars, headlights turned into the school parking lot.
"Hurry up" we called as the people got out of their car. "It’s almost time to close." And then another car turned in, and another.
At 7:28 two women working inside the polls came out and began to remove the "VOTE HERE" signs and arrows along the walkway. Just then another car pulled in and 4 people got out.
"Run!" we said. "It’s almost time to close!"
"They’re too late" one of the women said. "We’re closed."
"No you’re not. It’s not 7:30" we argued.
"Yes it is" they protested. The would be voters stopped, confused.
Mike stood and held up his cell phone. "My clock time is set from a satellite" he informed the women solemnly, "And they have two- no, one and one half minutes to get inside the doors, and you have to let them vote."
The tableau was frozen for an instant. "Go!" we shouted. "Run!" and the voters sprinted up the walk while the tired poll workers shook their heads. I know how they felt- it had been a long, long day for them. But this is democracy we’re talking about!
Another car pulled in. Mike checked his cell clock. "About 15 seconds" he muttered.
"Go! Run! GO!" we all shouted as soon as the car door opened, jumping up and down. Taking us at our word, the final voter of the night streaked to the school entrance. A few seconds after he disappeared inside we heard the sound of the door being locked.
"Well, that’s 5 extra votes we got accomplished" Barbara said.
"Six, counting the kid they turned away. " I reminded them.
"Six votes. I’m good with that" Mike said, and we all hugged and said goodbye. More instant friends: a good day.
I got in the van and headed up the highway in the dark, feeling a strange mix of emotions. It was all over: nothing more to be done. Every poll was closed and Ohio, for good or ill, was "in the can". I turned on my ipod and started listening to a song I recently downloaded by John Legend, called "If you’re Out There". About halfway through the song came the lyrics,
I was looking for a song to sing,
I searched for a leader, but the leader was me.
We were looking for the world to change
We can be heros, just go on and say….
and I just started to weep.
Honestly, I don’t think I had let myself really contemplate the implications for the country, and for my children, of a McCain/Palin victory. But now that there was no time left, now that it was finished, it came rushing in- all the anxiety for the future, but also thoughts of all the wonderful people I have met recently, and the amazing spirit that has surrounded this campign and everyone involved in it. I just don’t want to see that end!
So it was all too much for a minute there. Then the song came to an end, and the next song started… and I wiped my eyes, and smiled, and then laughed. And I started the John Legend song again, and cried again, but smiled too and sang along triumphantly:
If you’re out there… if you’re out there… tomorrow’s starting now!
Tracy Meisky is a poet, writer, singer, songwriter and all-around boat rocker from way back. Feel free to look around, but if you break it, you bought it.