I just worked the Canadian Election!

Before the Canadian election was called, I thought I would apply to work election day.  We had a choice to work the day of the election or four days at the advance election.  I have lots of time so I applied for the advance poll.

They called and during my interview she said I was suitable for a Deputy Returning Officer.  Sounds like a great title, but it's the person who sits at the poll table, takes your identity and makes sure you are in the right place and eligible to vote.  The training was three hours and I learned a lot!  I didn't realize all the different situations you get.  They gave us a very detailed training manual that we had to take home and study before election day.  The trainer told us the advance poll was four consecutive days during Thanksgiving weekend.  The polls are open from 9 to 9 and you need to be there one hour before and one our after, 14 hours, four days in a row.  When I got home I decided that was just too much for this old girl and called and told them, thank you, but no thank you.

Andrew from Elections Canada called and asked if I would be a spare in case someone got sick.  I would go into the office at 7:45 am and wait until 10:45 am to see if I was needed.  I agreed.  On Friday I went in with ten other "spares" and we had a nice three hour chat session.  Eight of them took vacation time from their regular job to make extra money.  Two of us were retired.  I went to the supervisor and said "put me at the bottom of the list".  These people had full time jobs and were struggling to make ends meet!

They took two people Friday and Saturday two more were missing from our 7:45 session.  At 8 am they came and took Davinder, a wonderful guy!   At 10:45 we left and Cec and I went to White Spot for a wonderful shrimp sandwich.  Right after lunch I got a call, you are needed right away at Salish Secondary, the brand new French Immersion high school in Clayton Heights, as a poll clerk.  I didn't train as a poll clerk.  The Poll Clerk, checks the list of electors, writes out the electors name!

When I arrived I had to hide as the person I was replacing was being fired!  There were lineups at the polls and I was working with Jesse a young real estate agent from Abbotsford.  At the end of the night when the supervisor Natasha came to check everything with Jesse and they started to argue.  I got out of the way and he wasn't happy.  I could see is was very tired and he had no idea why they let Laurie go.

Saturday morning I got there and Jessica, a massage therapist was there to replace Jesse!  She was trained as a Supervisor but they got all the training so she was pretty confident.  She had a wonderful personality and really fit into the DRO role well.

We worked two long 14 hour days!  The lineups rarely stopped.  You don't get to leave your post unless you have to use the rest room and a supervisor fills in, so you don't take long.  Cheryl graciously brought me salads and Starbucks for both days that I ate whenever our line cleared.  I just wanted something light and Save-On foods has wonderful take out salads.  The only other thing I ate was a few almonds and a power bar.  I had other food but there wasn't time.  Best news ever, all that sitting, my weight is down!

Working the election was a wonderful experience.  I am exhausted but the feeling of watching people use there right to vote is awesome.  Everyone we talked to was nice.  We had many first time voters.  We had blind and deaf people.  A lot of people brought young children and would explain to them how important voting is.  Jessica would move the box so the child could put the ballot in the box.  When there were two children, I'd say "pick you favorite child", they would laugh and most of the time both children would put the ballot in together.

If you haven't voted yet, make sure you cast your ballot.   One of my friends said the news said 25% more people voted in this advance poll than in the last Federal Election.  I voted on Friday and while I don't like any of the leaders, I hope we get a minority government.  They are the ones that get the most done and are accountable.   Now for some rest!