Dispatches from a Voting Machine Operator (During the Most Historic Election of All Time)
I spent all day today working at the polls as a machine operator in a small town in Pennsylvania. This entailed getting up at 4:00 am and working all day, most of it on my feet, until polls closed, votes were tallied, and our polling place was cleaned up at 9:00 pm.
Aside from the record turnout (our polling place had over 80%), the thing I most noticed was the almost festive atmosphere. People were happy to be there. Even with long waits throughout the day, no one grumbled. In fact, when the lines were moving briskly, people were surprised as they’d prepared themselves for long waits.
There were so many people: young people voting for the first time, people who hadn’t voted in years, people who arrived in wheelchairs, people who were legally blind, people with all kinds of physical disabilities, people with babies, people with young children. They came. Even though it rained. They came. People of every race and creed and color. They came to cast their vote for a new America. As I saw each face, I felt such love. It is the most connected that I have ever felt with my fellow human beings.
There are so many memorable interactions, but one of them was especially inspiring. An elderly African American man with a cane shuffled up to my machine and confided that he hadn’t voted since Kennedy and asked if I could help him. He had never voted on an electronic voting machine before. I gave him the usual tutorial: Democratic candidates down the first column, Republican candidates in the second column, followed by Independents, Libertarians, and Write-In options. Straight Party across the top. He listened patiently to my spiel and then with his voice quavering, his eyes steady, and his voice full of purpose said, “I’m only making one vote. One vote for Barack Obama.” He situated himself inside the booth and closed the curtains. Soon, I heard the sound indicating that his vote had been cast and saw him part the curtains to the election booth. He walked out shakily, gripping his cane tightly with each movement forward. There were tears in his eyes but he walked a great deal taller than he did before he cast that vote.
After closing the polls and going home, I watched the election results coming in with my family. Of course, I had no idea what was happening all day because there are no TVs or radios in polling places. Shortly after I tuned in, I saw Obama win Ohio, my native state. Obama won Ohio! Red Ohio. Voted for George Bush two times Ohio. This could really be possible. This might really happen this time. This dream, my dream, our dream, the world’s dream might really come true.
At 11:00, the polls closed in the western states. MSNBC called it: Obama has won the Presidency of the United States. Wait. Did they really say that? OBAMA HAS WON THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Oh my God. This is for real! The great sea of people on TV who gathered in Illinois started clapping and screaming and laughing and hugging and waving and weeping. THIS IS FOR REAL!
And then I started sobbing: huge, great, heavy, loud, animal sobs. I cried for the nightmare that was the last eight years. I cried for how alone and powerless I’ve felt. I cried for how much I wanted this. I cried for how hard we all fought for this. I cried for Obama and his family. I cried for his grandmother not being able to witness her grandson make history. I cried for our country moving beyond race to vote for hope and unity and change. I cried for all of the hurt and disappointment and pain that was now over. OVER. Over.
My tears are still flowing, but they’re happy ones. Everything else is nowover.
I’ve never felt more proud to be an American.
Comments
You know, Michelle, that quote almost lost Obama the election. haha
I just hope we keep our commitment strong. I wish I thought it would be easy but I don't. We have huge challenges ahead of us. We've chosen this man to lead us, which will mean making hard decisions. He's not going to be able to please all the people all the time. There will be compromises and sacrifices. We should be prepared for that.
But today I believe Americans can do what needs to be done to rebuild our country on its ideals. I believe Obama has the potential to be a great President. We all should come together, no matter how we voted, and support him -- as the real job begins.
This post has it all--Faith (Hi Faith--nice comment), Hope and Love.
rated and cried again this morning
rijaxn - It struck me as so distasteful the way that Michelle Obama was criticized (more like crucified) for saying that. I think we should all say it, unapologetically. This is a great time to be an American.
Faith - I agree with what you've written. Obama's victory is a great success but the hard work is only now beginning. I believe that if anyone can unite this country once again, and lead us in doing what needs to be done to get things back on track, it is Obama. It feels so good to wake up hopeful again, doesn't it?
Relieved right along with you. Feeling clean and good and new and happy and hopeful and nervous and excited and emotional and strangely CALM. It's over. It's all right.
Now the work begins! Let's get together for coffee soon. Time to create a Montco OS club or something!
Lisa - Here we are, in the middle of the PA Republican Bible Belt and still, victory. It's just so amazing. I would love to get together for coffee. A Montco OS group - Yippee! Count me in.
Be in touch soon about the other thing. Cannot wait! A little Montco celebration. There are more of us. Wonder how to invite them all, haha!
P.S. THANK you for volunteering. We went to separate polls, but I respect and admire your effort.
Thank you for giving voice to all of us who cried tears of joy and relief last night.
Remarkable, isn't it, that half of us in agreement makes us so happy? Here's hoping that the other half will come around to their leader's final gracious and sincere desire to step up, together, to address the sobering issues of our day.
Our President Elect asks us to dry those tears and gird for the battle, against raging poverty, economic overreaching, health care and education failures, and to do so in Union with our fellow Americans, all of them.
Michelle Obama is my first Lady. Hope is the watchword of the day.
Frodo has destroyed the Ring, the Black Tower has crumbled, and Gondor has a King worthy of rule.
Let's get to work.
Diana - Joy and relief certainly sums up the feelings of the day, don't they?
Robin Joan - Sorry to be adding to the tears. They won't stop for me either, but at least they are happy ones.
The Wood Elf - Thank you so much for eloquent and poetic comment. In fact, your comment comparing this victory to Frodo destroying the Ring will stay with me forever. Yes, let's get to work!
Amy - Thank you! I'll bet that you have a ton of inspiring stories from your classroom witnessing this historic event. You're at the perfect vantage point to appreciate this victory from so many perspectives.
Robin McCants - Thank you so much for such a beautiful comment. Imagine the change that will come when all of us pull together. The future looks bright for the first time in a long, long time.
Gary - Your comment really touched me. I think we've all had lots of tears in common today! Thank you so much.
Thanks for putting it so eloquently. My cold of the last few days dulled my senses, but your experiences made it feel real for me.
The hell we've gone through in these last 8 years has made it possible for us to finally enter a new age. Does anyone not believe that we had to walk through fire to get to the point where race was no longer an issue?
I truly believe that no human growth takes place in an atmosphere of comfort. We need to be pushed to the edge, threatened with falling, before the risk to grow is worth it. If this is what has allowed this moment to happen, then I am oddly grateful to George Bush for all of his epic failures. They make this victory that much sweeter.
It's not just joy I feel. It's that and something far bigger than that at the same time. Hard to put words to it, but you did a great job of that, Lisa. Well done.
Sharon - What a great idea to take a picture of the ballot! I can see us talking about this moment in history the way that people talk about when Kennedy was elected and in office. You'll have an incredible memento to help you remember it always.