Melrose Poll Workers Ensure an Accurate Vote Count
By Patrick DeVivo
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
Clamoring over the legitimacy of election results is not just a recent phenomenon. Partisan bickering over the legitimacy of elections has existed throughout the history of the republic. On a subject so personal and so vital to our democracy, it is natural for concerns to be easily stirred up by allegations of mishandled ballots, faulty machines, and similar issues. Fortunately, in Melrose, residents can be confident that the people and processes are in place to produce accurate results this year in what promises to be one of the highest-turnout elections in a generation.
Melrose is a city of approximately 22,000 registered voters. With just over a week until election day, nearly half of that number of ballots had been submitted in person at city hall or by mail. Since the start of early in-person voting on October 20th, a dedicated group of election workers has been meticulously sorting, time stamping, scanning, tabulating, and reconciling this load of votes. Before election day, the group will perform an “advanced removal,” which is a simulated tabulation of the ballots to ensure systems are operational for election day on November 5th.
On Election Day, teams of poll workers, one for each of the city’s fourteen precincts, will be fully prepared to manage the turnout. Poll workers will perform one of three roles on election day. The role that voters are most familiar with is the inspector. These are the people, usually two for each precinct, who greet voters, verify their names and addresses with the city’s records, and provide each voter with a ballot. This process was once all manual, but tablets called Poll Pads have introduced efficiency into this part of the voting process. Inspectors are the front line of each election team and address any immediate confusion or questions when voters first arrive.
A role that voters may not be aware of is that of clerk. Clerks are problem solvers who track down answers to questions and resolve information discrepancies throughout election day. The one clerk assigned to each precinct also compiles the record of the day, which documents all the issues (spoiled ballots, duplicate ballots, etc.) that arose during the election day and how the issues were addressed.
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
The third role is that of warden. Like the clerk, there is one warden per precinct. Wardens are usually the most experienced poll workers. They oversee the flow of voters throughout the day and provide support to the clerks and inspectors. It is usually a warden who instructs each voter on how to submit their completed ballot into the vote tabulator and ensures the ballot is correctly recorded.
Poll workers are recruited throughout the year, especially in the weeks leading up to national, state, and local elections. New workers are provided rigorous training on safe, efficient vote processing and are usually trained to be inspectors first before experience allows them to move into the clerk or warden roles. Each role requires the ability to perform detailed precise work while simultaneously providing welcoming service and instruction to voters.
Teamwork is a necessity for poll workers on election day. Expectations are that workers will cover for each other and assist as needed during the ebbs and flows of the day. It’s this sense of civic-minded connection to a community that has brought Joe Tully back to assist with Melrose elections since 2018. Tully says he feels bad when he hears of the accusations and conflicts that take place at polls across the country. He recalls only a handful of times over the years when there has been anything resembling a confrontation at the Melrose polls. Difficult conversations sometimes ensue when a voter is asked to remove a display - a shirt or hat, for example - that shows support for a specific candidate or cause. Tully admits to one frustration: “People write in names like Mickey Mouse, or Donald Duck on their ballot. They don’t realize that we still must manually process these ballots just like all the legitimate ballots. After a 14-hour day at the polls, that can be frustrating.”
Sharon Macone, one of the senior poll workers, picked up on this theme of voters not always respecting the non-partisan voting process and not always appreciating how much work goes into being a poll worker. She reminds voters to: “Bring your manners, patience, and an ID if you need it.” But the work is clearly a labor of love for Sharon, and she never ceases to be impressed by the non-partisan professionalism of her fellow poll workers.
Another senior poll worker, Kathy Vines, says she first became interested in the job because she believes in the vital importance of free and fair elections. She admits to being moved every time she sees the excitement and pride in the face of someone – a new citizen or a young person, for example – who is voting for the first time. These are the moments that sustain her and keep her coming back for each next election.
If you appreciate such moments and are interested in becoming a poll worker, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 782-979-4113.
Follow Us: