Michele Valdez’s column, “Waking up Dead”, describes how I felt after serving as election judge in the Primary elections!

It’s the duty of the election judge to set up, and conduct the election and make sure procedures are followed using every possible sign, form and envelope to direct, inform and account with a safety back up of paperwork; for the voter and their ballot. The Texas legislature voted to not pay election workers for training, but good souls come through every election to make sure our fellow citizens of both parties have the opportunity to vote.

On their own time, the election judge picks up a 20 lb bag containing the sign-in book the clerk flips through hurriedly to find your name, and has noted with 2 stamps who had voted in the last week of early voting in the same book, sometimes within 24 hrs of election day.

Tarrant County Election workers deliver to each polling location; two metal lockers large enough to transport a killer whale; with contents as precious! Each of those lockers contain 2 electronic devices protected in foam cases and with numbered seals.  Election workers must have access to the polling place at 6 am, no later, as it takes a full hour to setup, take the oath and “open the polls” at 7 a.m.

It’s a 17 hour day of civic duty. The hope remains that who ever wins the election, will wake up every day ready to serve the common good.