The actual election process

By Ron Sukenik
Bonners Ferry

As the dust settles on this year’s Election, I want to take a moment to discuss it. Not the campaign, not who won or who lost or who was running, but the actual election process here in Boundary County.

I have no doubt that preparation for the elections began shortly after the last primary was over. There is a team of hardworking county employees led by Clerk Glenda Poston and her election clerk Cheri Grainger. They are supported by several staff in her office, and a few county maintenance men doing a great set up and tear down.

Beyond the county employees, there is a large group of mostly women of our community who volunteer their time to make an election happen.

While I have seen and even participated in small doses parts of the process over my 25 years as a County employee, and as a voter walking in to the fairgrounds building to vote. I never paid close enough attention to all of the hard working women doing their jobs at the various positions at the precincts. We each walk in, greet our friends waiting in line, get our ballot, vote and go on with our day, hoping for the results we want.

On November 5 I had the civic honor of volunteering to actually work at the polls. With three precincts running out of one building, it is a busy place. Many of the almost 30 poll workers there arrived at 7a.m. to begin what would be a 12- to 14-hour day of standing on concrete or sitting on cold metal folding chairs.

I have no doudt the same was happening in at least three other precincts around the county. You start at the greeters at the doors at the “Where do I go booth” locating your name to help you get to the correct precinct, or to the “I need to register booth”. Then you go on to your precinct to get verified, handed a ballot, into the voting area, then to the tabulating machine, and a final verification of your vote.

This process runs very smooth, like a well oiled machine. Really, this is no surprise to many of us who have seen these same volunteers for many years, and I do mean many. We are talking 10, 20, 30 … and I am assuming the longest of the many and she claims it is her last … Donna Irons completing her 54th year.

We take for granted the stress on the body and mind that these volunteers go through. I however, never will take it for granted again. As a side note, we had a variety of folks attend as “poll watchers/challengers” as is allowed by law. I found them all to be respectful of the process, impressed with the work and professionalism of the operation, and satisfied with the integrity of the entire operation. Several indicated that they would be interested in being an actual poll worker.

We had a variety of newcomers to Boundary County who expressed their amazement as to how smooth things go here compared to where they came from. We also had many “first time voters” who were met with cheers and applause from the poll workers as their completion of their civic duty was announced.

While I woke up tired and a little sore after my first 14 hours on the floor, I did so with a smile on my face for having the honor of serving with these fantastic people, and look forward to doing so again.