Working at the Polls on Election Day

Having just served on an election board, I would like to share two interesting experiences:

There is an elderly lady in our neighborhood, an enduring legend who just might be the oldest voter in our city. An impressive 105 years of age, she is alert, with adequate eyesight and hearing, has a twinkling personality, very few wrinkles, still lives in her own home and was able to walk up the long driveway to our polling place.

And another: Two young men came by to vote, one of them totally sightless, yet he was able to sign the registry book on the line and in the allotted space after I positioned his hand. I suggested our supervisor help him vote but he said, “No, I want you to guide me. Trust me on this.” He knew every one of the issues by number or with a brief cue. I positioned his hand with stylus over each choice and he did the rest. He made his presidential selection the last, taking those few extra moments to finally decide.

In my many years of serving on the board, I think of those voters who have failed to appear out of apathy and am disappointed, but then look at these two with immense pride, admiration and respect.

MARY E. HARRIS

West Los Angeles

* Now that politicians know who won, and people have chosen who they want to run the government for the next few years: All this was made possible by a certain group of people who don’t get the recognition they deserve, precinct officers. They supervise each precinct and hand the voters their ballot cards.

The county registrar-recorder’s office is in charge of providing the ballots, materials and precinct officers. Precinct officers are at the polls for 13 hours. Yet the county registrar-recorder’s office pays them less than the minimum wage. For working the entire day, precinct officers earn a total of $45.

RICK TARANGO

Montebello

* This election was my first time to vote. I had the chance to vote four years ago but I chose not to for the sole reason that most people who were born in this country don’t see the value of voting. This time I decided that I want to make a difference. I’m bothered by the very low turnout of voters--the majority decided not to vote!

Let’s make election day a holiday--once every four years. That would take a lot of excuses away. What’s wrong with having a barbecue party on election day like we do the 4th of July; aren’t they equally important days? This is not the solution to the whole problem but it could bring voting numbers up.

JUN B. ALFONSO

Buena Park