Poll Watching in Mississippi for the 2020 Election

 

What was it like being a poll watcher in Columbus MS in 2020? Overall, incredibly inspiring.

A month before the election, we signed up to be volunteer poll watchers in Columbus Mississippi. We received a 52-page manual and had two hours of training via ZOOM. Stacey Abrams opened the training with a pep talk on Democracy, fair elections free of voter suppression, and a hopeful message for the future.

The closer I came to election day, the more anxious I became. Mississippi is one of the states that doesn't allow early voting (the others are Connecticut, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, and South Carolina), so lines were expected to be long. The other reason I felt anxious was that Mississippi is an open carry state. Given all the protests, some of which turned violent leading up the election, I wasn't all that excited about being around people who might feel it necessary to bring a gun with them as they exercised their right to vote.

I watched the news from some early voting states. They showed "Trump Trains" blocking freeways and roads, and Proud Boys and others intimidating and bullying voters.  I hoped we wouldn't encounter those folks on election day in Columbus. Part of our duties were to help ensure that everyone who wanted to vote was able to vote free from intimidation, so I was hoping for no political drama.

The polling site we were assigned to was a gymnasium in a middle-class neighborhood. Picture a basketball court where Zumba and Yoga classes are held. There were four check-in tables with three poll workers, all woman, at each table. Two poll managers, also women, kept things running smoothly. They were cool, calm, and collected. Three gentlemen and one woman manned the doors and directed voters to check-in. Voters were then shown to one of twelve machines along the back wall of the gym. "Stop the Spread" decals were spaced six feet apart on the floor beginning at the free throw line. And, since this was voting in the time of Covid, everyone wore masks. We brought cookies and water for the poll workers. But the poll manager, Lavonne, told me later, "We sure do appreciate y'all bringing cookies. But most of us are diabetic so we can't eat them.  We'll pass them out to voters though, so we sure do thank you."

The total number of poll workers at the precinct was twenty-one, around half were White, and half Black. Ninety-five percent of voters were Black. Most were women; a few brought their children along to watch the process and to get an I VOTED! sticker on the way out. There were quite a few handicapped or disabled voters. Every one of them came unaccompanied.  It was excruciating watching them make their way unassisted with canes, or walkers, slowly towards the check-in tables. We were not allowed to approach voters, unless they were 200 feel away from the building, but we were surprised that the staff didn't offer to help, or that even other voters didn't offer assistance. One reason might have been Covid. People were doing a good job of keeping to themselves and staying six feet apart. I was moved that these folks showed up to vote, even though it was quite a hard thing for them to do physically.

Most voters were dressed in casual Coronavirus clothing. Some wore pearls. Mississippi is a state as Red as they come. But that day, for whatever reason, it felt Blue. I can't explain why it felt that way. It wasn't just the pearls. People seemed proud, not angry or fearful. 

We watched a little over 1000 people vote. Everyone, every single voter, every single poll worker, was polite, patient, and mask-wearing. They all seemed to have "Gettin' 'er done" attitudes.

One of our duties was to take a walk outside regularly to check for "voter suppression" or the like, but peace and quiet reigned the day. One neighbor had signs in his yard proclaiming, “The End is  Nigh!” but other than that, there were no political signs anywhere.

While the machines were in almost constant use, there was hardly ever a line to vote at our polling site. Most folk took around five minutes to complete their ballot. Other than a tick for the office of President, Mississippians had three big initiatives to decide; Compassionate healthcare with access to medical marijuana, eliminating the Jim Crow electoral vote requirement in their Constitution that was designed to prevent African Americans from being elected statewide, and a new state flag. All three passed.

I can't adequately describe how good being a fly on the wall of Democracy in Columbus Mississippi felt on November 3, 2020. All voting sites should be run so well. I expect that all over the country, they were. Whoever wins, I feel better about the future of our country after meeting such considerate, conscious, kind Americans.

 November 3, 2020

 

UPDATE: 

Here's part of the letter I received the next day from Mississippi Voter Protection:

Dear Teresa,

Because of your efforts, we were able to make sure polling locations opened on time, voter intimidation at the polls was kept to a minimum, and people’s votes counted, among many other things.

You were part of a historic effort in Mississippi to protect the vote. We had more poll watchers observing yesterday than we have ever had in Mississippi’s history, and because of this, we were able to provide support to hundreds of precincts across the state. Again, we extend our deepest gratitude for your service, and we will move forward to continue the fight in Mississippi.