I got paid!

I finally received my pay from working the Advanced Election.  I trained for a Deputy Returning Officer, but actually worked as a Poll Clerk.  I got paid for training and stand by as a DRO but when I worked as a Poll Clerk, I was paid that wage.  For everyone who is interested in this big bucks job:

Pay for Deputy Returning Officer:             $18.11 per hour
Pay for Poll Clerk                                      $16.50 per hour

Those Elections Canada jobs are not the least or most pay.  There is no provision for overtime after eight hours, as is the case in this province.  I got the flat rate for my 14 hour days.

Net pay for 2 - 14 hour full days and 1 part day 7 hours:  $688.10

They took off a small amount for income tax and employment insurance.  I believe when Cheryl files my taxes I get my employment insurance back as I'm over 65, but maybe not.  For $11.84, I won't lose any sleep.

I didn't do it for the money and I will say I enjoyed the job.  While exhausting, it was a great experience to see people exercising their right to vote.  We met so many people who voted for the first time.  Some were new immigrants and we congratulated them.  Some first time voters were in their middle years and sounded like they were born here.  We didn't judge anyone out right, but I wondered what the hell they did in all the other elections!   My favorite was the middle aged lady who loudly asked "why isn't Andrew Sheer on the ballot".  She didn't have an accent and again, was she born and schooled here?  We signed an oath and I kept my rude comments in my head.  My colleague did an excellent job of explaining our Canadian Election system.

I wish they would lower the voting age to 16.  If children can drive at 16, they should be able to vote.  Social Studies classes should encourage teenagers to vote.  I'm sure if they started voting in their teens and understood how important it is, they would continue to vote for the rest of their life.

I've always voted.  Sometimes I hold my nose, other times I am happy with the candidate.  When Jody was close by, we would go to the all-candidates meetings.  I wanted to go to one this time, but no one was interested and three of them I was already busy.

I admire anyone who runs for politics.  It's isn't an easy job.  Yes, they get a good pension, but they give up a lot in their personal life.