MY EXPERIENCE WORKING ON ELECTION DAY

 I worked the Ontario Election in February as the Vote Tabulator. I had to train on the machine.

My main concern would be that I might jam the machine. I didn't.

Processed 938 people in my Polling Station 5.

I wrote down some thoughts about the day.

Mostly positive- some people complained about the parking at McConaghy Centre. Had been a snowy  morning and there were snowbanks from the previous snowfall. So it was tight.

Comments- why not online, all those ballots and you are killing trees, many people in a hurry, lots of people seem a little nervous. some asked if the box where the votes were going was a shredder, some worried about how they had their ballot in the folder for the tabulator- I would say voting is the most important thing, one lady did not know who to vote for- I have seen her previously and she may have early stages of dementia.

Three very angry negative people stand out- one young woman claimed Trump showed Canada everything that was wrong with our country as Trudeau had ruined Canada, one man brought his wife to vote but she stated it is not a democracy as her husband made her come- I said you can't complain about the government if you do not vote but the worst guy was a man in his late 40s, 50s, Eastern European complaining that Trudeau ruined the country with Trans, LGBT, and Canada should become the 51st state as his parents live in America and they are fine there- he was just very vile and so negative and anti everything. 

There were three young first time voters which I congratulated them for it. 2 husbands forced their wives to come but in a positive way. Elderly couples. The lady that was the first to be tabulated liked the idea she was the first. 

Couples. People in their 20s. Workers on their lunch break or after work. 

I saw some people that I knew- a doc from the hospital, community acquaintances, the mayor, a Kerr neighbour, a friend;s dad, OR nurse.

Surprising how many last minute people came between 8 and 9 before the polls closed.

I had to take the tabulator back to the Elections Office. Waited there for about 20 minutes before it was my turn to go. Got home after 1100 pm. 15 hour day but I did it.

A couple of weeks later the pay came to my account. $566.83. So some money to use for some bills.

Would I do it again? Probably. I did apply for the Federal Election for April 28 so  I will see if I get called.

It was an experience and good to get out of my comfort zone.

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