But my sojourn as a poll worker is finished for another little while. Over the past 10-day period I served as a precinct clerk on four different occasions, three of them in county-wide early-voting locations (Georgia instituted early voting about a decade ago). Very long days they were, too. I thought being away from home so much might affect my posting -- hence the admonition last week to “Watch this space” -- but I still managed to get a couple of posts in there.
Not bad for someone who will turn 71 shortly.
Turnout was rather light in our state. To be specific, only about 800,000 Georgians voted in this election, which was billed as a Presidential Preference Primary. By contrast, nearly four million Georgians voted in the 2008 Presidential Election. In the precinct where I worked, only around 900 stalwart and dedicated voters showed up yesterday out of 3,900 registered. Some may have participated in the early voting last week, but still....
Our next election takes place in July, when we pick sheriffs, mayors, members of school boards, representatives to both houses of the State legislature, and a representative to the U.S. Congress. I don’t believe Georgia has a U.S. Senate race this year (Senators serve 6-year terms). Then it will be on to more fun in November.
In other news, Mrs. RWP and I saw our granddaughter in a middle-school production of Mulan that easily rivaled some college-level productions I’ve seen for costuming, set decoration, and singing and acting talent. Few things can beat the 12- to 14-year-old crowd for sheer enthusiasm and exuberance.
Speaking of college, March Madness is upon us in the collegiate basketball world. Only time will tell who will be in the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, and the Final Four. My non-U.S. readers are probably scratching their heads.
Even more important, the new baseball season is upon us with annual spring training games currently being played in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. If spring comes, can opening day be far behind? With such posts as this one and this one and this one, Reamus continues to be our go-to guy on the subject of baseball.
Speaking of sheer enthusiasm and exuberance and Grapefruit Leagues and Cactus Leagues and Opening Days, I leave you with one of the greats:
And as always, dear reader, I remain somewhat incoherently yours.
To quote Yogi Berra again, I just want to thank everyone who made this day necessary.
"My non-U.S. readers are probably scratching their heads."
ReplyDeleteScratching yes - but not my head dude!
You were a poll watcher! That's what you were doing that took you away from us?
ReplyDelete"A visitor from Portland, Oregon
ReplyDeleteviewed "rhymeswithplague: Super Wednesday" 2 mins ago"
I am NOT from Portland, and, Pudding, we're scratching over here too. We have an infestation of politicians.
Y.P. and Snowbrush, I do not care to know what or where or why you are scratching. Be advised to keep details of your personal hygiene (or lack thereof) and other habits, intimate and otherwise, to yourselves.
ReplyDeleteAnd Snowbrush, I most definitely was not a poll watcher! I was a precinct clerk, trained and paid by the county to set up the equipment necessary to vote, assist the citizens of the county in the process of computerized, touch-screen voting, and making sure the information they entered into the touch-screen voting machines was duly recorded and conveyed to the proper authorities in a timely and secure manner. Poll watchers, on the other hand, just stand around and try to find fault with everything.
i for the life of me can't figure out where mutt r{ruff} really went wrong<><>,.no, i am not personnally enamored with him, but really folks, isn't he really the only choice????? re: pubs like ann,,,the small lizard newt took georgia
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you are aware of it or not but here in Oz it is compulsory to vote in all elections. If you don't vote then you receive a fine ---- think it might be $100.You line up to get your ballot and have your name crossed off the roll. I've been hoping we would introduce computerised voting but we seem to be stuck with the old paper method still.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Putz, forgetting politics for the moment, I guess Mitt is okay, but he seems to be trying too hard to seem like "one of the common people" when he so obviously has very little in common with most of them. Evidence: His comment about his wife's two Cadillacs and his comment that he didn't have any friends who were fans of NASCAR races, but some owned the teams (I'm paraphrasing). A little too in over his head with the meat and potatoes crowd, he reminds me a great deal of George Herbert Walker Bush ("Old 41") because both seem to picture themselves more as monarchs than presidents -- "divine right of kings" and all that.
ReplyDeleteHelsie, I was shocked to learn that very fact -- about voting being compulsory in Australia -- a couple of days ago. Seemed straight out of the old Soviet-bloc nations. Of course, they had only one name on the ballot in those days. I trust that you have a choice of candidates. Freedom to me -- I'm going out on a limb here -- is the freedom to vote and the freedom not to vote and the freedom to tell people they shouldn't complain if they don't vote and the freedom to ignore them and complain anyway.
I probably should know the answer to this, but exactly who covers the cost of these pre-election elections? Is it the state (the government I mean) or is it the party?
ReplyDeleteAnd what would happen if there were three, four, five or six other political parties. Would they have to hold primaries too?
Shooting Parrots, excellent questions! I shall answer them in my next post.
ReplyDeleteYes RYP there is plenty of choice on the ballot paper so no problems with our freedom there. I think that as we never had to fight to get a vote people perhaps were a little "she'll be right mate" and needed to be "encouraged" to get involved!
ReplyDeleteI have never met anyone who was actually fined for not voting so don't know if we are a very law abiding lot or it is just I move in a law abiding circle of friends. Anyway nobody complains and the schools and other charities make lots of money selling raffle tickets and lamingtons at the polling booths (usually schools ) and neighbours have a catch up and friendly chat as they line up!
Cheers
Oh, that's me Helsie if you didn't realise RYP
ReplyDeleteHelsie/Helen (and Ro), goodness gracious, no, I didn't realize you are one and the same person! Also, there is a YP and there is an RWP (moi), but as far as I know there is not an RYP in these parts.
ReplyDelete