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[Aqizzar]

On Thursday, I got a letter from my campus's University Democrats about volunteering for election day duties.  I sent an email saying I'm up for whatever.  I got a call within ten minutes telling me when and where to get the information and "training".  On Saturday, I bargained my way into a closed-entry office tower to join a half-dozen DMV rejects and sit around a laptop, conference calling with a harried young legal staffer (full of spunk and moxie), to get the big briefing.

Apparently, I was drafted to do "poll-watching" tomorrow.  Namely, standing around polling locations in my county, legal obligated not to talk to anyone except the resident election judge, carefully observing for voter intimidation, malfunctioning machines, inaccurate official information, and electioneering within 100 feet of the door.  And, as a official representative of the Bill White for Texas campaign, keeping my Republican counterpart honest, and elbowing him out of the way as necessary.

This is the ground floor, the big game, where the rubber meets the road, and every other hack gamesmanship cliche.  I'll report my experiences, and if anyone's got a question about American democracy at the human level, ask away.

[Aklyon]

sounds boring, but interesting.

[Fayrik]

sounds boring, but interesting.

Like, all of politics?

I personally can't wait to hear what you have to say... But by the way you've built things up, I'm now expecting to hear about some minor drama going on!

[ILikePie]

You can't talk to anyone? I'd go mad.

[Eagle_eye]

Sure you can't influence the polls a little? 

I don't think I can survive another election cycle of perry's thought police our wonderful supreme leader.

[Aqizzar]

You can't talk to anyone? I'd go mad.

I can't talk to any voters or staff, except the judge, and I have to address all concerns to him in the form of a question (yes, Jeopardy rules are inscribed into election law).  I can call the home office to make reports, provided the judge doesn't respond.  However, I may not be able to actually the leave building to make phonecalls (if necessary), pending the judge's attitude.  Phone breaks or not, I basically have to stay inside for at least five consecutive hours or... well, it's not really clear what the consequences are, except that I wouldn't be allowed back into the building.

Oh, did I mention that I have to report to the campaign office for my location at 6AM?  And that I don't get home from work until like 4AM?  This is going to be a blast.

Any registered voters in Dallas county who haven't voted yet, come out and say hello if you want, even if I probably won't be able to verbally respond.  I'll be the guy with the cold stare, the bags under his eyes, and the clipboard covered in fake notes who never leaves the building.

[Earthquake Damage]

I have to address all concerns to him in the form of a question (yes, Jeopardy rules are inscribed into election law).

I'd love to hear the flimsy justification for this.

[Leafsnail]

Sounds... odd.  Does it turn into a sortof mime-off between you and the Republican one?

[Aqizzar]

Pretty much.  It's like being a vizier, I have to frame everything I say to the judge as a passive-voice clarification of standing law.  I am not an election official, I'm a representative of a political party, and the election commission is very keen about keeping all election-swinging activity outside the 100-foot radius of the door.  That includes making it in any way obvious what I'm a representative of, or saying anything to the official staff that could be interpreted as a command or appeal.

At least, provided the particular on-site judge is enough of a dick to worry about phrasing.  Hopefully he'll be a little more cool than that.  The thing that I found most interesting about my briefing was the intimation that Dallas county has no indication of funny business.  Suggesting there are counties with such.  I'm not sure which scenario I should hope for.

[Nonsapient]

I had no idea you were in Texas. 

Edit: I always pegged you as a yankee.

[Nilocy]

How did midterms come about? I can't help but wonder if its a massive waste of time for the president and his officials to be campaigning while only in office for 2 years. Doesn't he have better things to do like... run the country?

[Aqizzar]

How did midterms come about? I can't help but wonder if its a massive waste of time for the president and his officials to be campaigning while only in office for 2 years.

Uh... What exactly is the question?  I'm pretty sure I can answer it, but if you're asking why there's elections besides for the President, well, that's gonna take a while.  If you're asking why the President and such are involved in the campaigning, it's because the President is more famous and visible than any Congressman could ever be, and the Congress goes out of session around election time anyway.

[Zai]

How did midterms come about? I can't help but wonder if its a massive waste of time for the president and his officials to be campaigning while only in office for 2 years. Doesn't he have better things to do like... run the country?

He doesn't have to campaign, as the president isn't up for re-election except for every 4 years. The president isn't campaigning for himself; he's "campaigning" for the people he supports that are up for (re-)election.

[IronyOwl]

How did midterms come about? I can't help but wonder if its a massive waste of time for the president and his officials to be campaigning while only in office for 2 years. Doesn't he have better things to do like... run the country?

He doesn't have to campaign, as the president isn't up for re-election except for every 4 years. The president isn't campaigning for himself; he's "campaigning" for the people he supports that are up for (re-)election.

Which is relevant because he has trouble getting anything done if the right people aren't elected. And because they're his buddies.


Anyway Aqizzar, I will be very disappointed if you don't abuse the strict but unimaginative rules to mime the hell out of anyone thinking about voting the way you don't want them voting.

[Zangi]

How did midterms come about? I can't help but wonder if its a massive waste of time for the president and his officials to be campaigning while only in office for 2 years. Doesn't he have better things to do like... run the country?

He doesn't have to campaign, as the president isn't up for re-election except for every 4 years. The president isn't campaigning for himself; he's "campaigning" for the people he supports that are up for (re-)election.

Which is relevant because he has trouble getting anything done if the right people aren't elected. And because they're his buddies.

Sitting duck politics?  I suppose Obama doesn't want his duck to be any lamer then it already is.