Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, for The Charlotte News
For Elizabeth Langfeldt, working at the polls ended up being much more rewarding than she anticipated.
Langfeldt, one of Charlotte’s justices of the peace, volunteered for the primaries in August. Civic involvement is important to Langfeldt, but what stood out to her were the people who came to cast ballots.
“Living in a small town and having the ability to really know your neighbors and recognize all your friends come through the doors to participate in the democratic process was just a really cool experience,” she said.
On Nov. 3, Langfeldt will be one of several election workers on hand to greet voters who come to cast their ballots at Charlotte Town Hall. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., these poll workers will check names against the voter rolls and even register people to vote. But for many, the job comes with the bonus of community connection.
Lee Krohn, a selectboard member as well as a dedicated voter, has also found the polls to be a friendly and welcoming environment.
“People are just happy to see you,” said Krohn, describing how the poll workers either recognize you or ask you for your name.
“In this day and age where it’s hard to get volunteers for so many things, it’s wonderful that people step up and help the process go smoothly in a friendly, helpful manner,” he said.
Some people have been stepping up for many years. Longtime poll worker, current planning commission and former selectboard member, Carrie Spear, who previously owned Spear’s Corner Store in East Charlotte, has volunteered on and off for 20 years. She said she’s kept coming back because of her love for Charlotte.
“What makes it special is you get to see volunteers and other poll workers that you don’t see very often throughout the year,” Spear said. “That’s really nice, to be able to sit with your neighbor.”
Spear says throughout the years, she’s learned more about the lives of her neighbors, like discovering who was married. She said she would sometimes recognize one member of a couple without realizing who their spouse was.
“It wasn’t until doing that or going to church I could see who was with who,” she said.
For Chea Waters Evans, a justice of the peace and state representative, volunteering at the polls is an important act of public service. She has lived in Charlotte for 14 years and has volunteered about 10 times, sitting out when her own name is on the ballot, including this year.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve really believed in public service and volunteering,” Evans said, adding that she’s noticed many Charlotters share the same ethos.
Evans encourages others to sign up to work at the polls, particularly younger people.
“It’s so fun. You get to see your neighbors when they come in. It’s amazing to be sitting there at the table and be like, ‘I know so many more people in this town than I thought I did,’” she said. “It’s just a few hours of the day, and it’s really gratifying.”
The election workers try to make voters feel welcome at the polls. When Langfeldt volunteered in August, she thought about how it can be difficult to recall voters’ names in the moment — and how voters may appreciate a visual cue to remember hers.
“At the last minute, I was walking out the door, it was like 6:30 in the morning, and I thought to myself, ‘Gosh wouldn’t it be nice if we all had nametags on,’” she said.
She took the idea back to her fellow election workers, who all got on board.
“I think the community really appreciated it,” she said.