It Was Almost Like Voting Twice!

A few minutes ago, I got home, wet and bedraggled.  And feeling really good.

For the past few presidential elections, I’ve voted early and volunteered to work for my candidate in a nearby state.  In 2004, I found myself driving little old ladies to the polls in Bucks County, Pennsylvania – thanks to the navigation system in my fancy real estate car!  This year, it was in a much closer battleground state, doing whatever was needed at Barrett Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia.  I volunteered with an old friend and former neighbor, Maureen Wilmot, who was here on business from her home in California.

It was pretty uneventful.  By the time Maureen and I arrived, the early morning mob scene had thinned out, and there were more poll watchers than there were voters!  We were asked to make sample ballots available to voters who wanted them and to be available if anyone needed any kind of help.

The elderly, for example, could vote from their car if they were unable to negotiate the steps into the school, and we might have to run inside to grab one of the poll workers to bring out a ballot.  If things got congested in the parking lot, we were ready to help direct traffic.  We were to just stay alert for anyone with a problem.  And then, I saw a chance to really help somebody.

Sonika Das was a first time voter.  She had been sent to Barrett from another polling place.  Then she learned that she actually needed to be at yet another voting venue a couple of miles away.  Her mom (and driver) needed to get to work.  Sonika looked a little distraught, realizing she would not be able to get there. and I said, “Get in my car.  I’ll take you!”

So she hopped in, and off we went.

“You didn’t even ask me who I’m voting for,” she said.

I told her it didn’t matter.  This was her first vote, and she’d remember it for a long time.  I just wanted those memories to be happy ones.

Then, when we reached St. Anne’s church, I got out of the car and told her to let me know if there was any problem at all.  There was a slight glitch, and it was worked out by one of the on-site attorneys who made sure she was properly registered and cleared the way for her to get a ballot.

Then Sonika voted – for the first time!

The other funny thing that happened was that, while Sonika was voting, I ran into a client who is a reporter for a Japanese radio network, and she happened to be at St. Anne’s looking for voters to interview – so Sonika got to be interviewed for a radio broadcast that will be heard on the other side of the world!

When you get to be my age, you can feel pretty jaded about politics and our elected representatives.  Meeting Sonika Das, excited and idealistic,  was one of those wonderful little gifts from the Universe!  And I am really grateful.

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