My Problem with Election Day

Today is Election Day and I hope everyone voted. I vote, I’ve volunteered to canvass and phone bank for candidates over the years. One thing I loathe about Election Day is poll standing. For those who don’t know the term, it refers to the people who stand outside polling places waving signs and saying, Vote for Whoever! I loathe this for a few reasons. One, simply because I am an emotionally reserved, quiet New Englander who doesn’t see the need for such over the top behavior. Another reason – and I say this as one who has been it in the past – is that it feels like an attack on all the work we’ve done to reach out and educate the public over the previous weeks and months. All that time spent knocking on doors and making phones and talking about candidates and issues with people is something that I enjoy. But then here I stand yelling and waving and being the human equivalent of an internet pop up ad – and it actually makes a difference. All that time and effort spent talking with people and appealing to them on multiple levels and being an annoying billboard will actually change minds and votes and there’s something about that which hurts. My default is not optimism, but talking with people is something I enjoy, something I do think makes an impact. Election Day just brings me back to my cynical self. Really the only part I like is chatting with other poll standers. But at least it didn’t rain today.