By Marni Rubin
LWVSSMC Student Outreach Lead

This March, I worked as a Vote Center Representative (VCR) in the days before the Primary election. VCR is the job formerly known as Poll Worker. I had never worked at a Vote Center before. My overall impression? I loved it! Many things surprised me about it. Here are a few:

Surprise #1: I became an Elections “fan girl”! On my first day of training at the Elections Office, I got to go “behind the glass windows.” I was oddly thrilled to be a part of the “behind the scenes” work, doing a civic duty and participating in democracy.

Surprise #2: A VCR requires a lot of training. Voter centers use a lot of technology. From voting tablets to printers capable of printing replacement ballots, each Vote Center used multiple kinds of technology, and reps had to learn them all. It wasn’t difficult, even for us non-techies, but it required numerous in-person and online training hours.

Surprise #3: San Mateo County has a HUGE investment in enabling people to vote. The technology, materials, and availability of Vote Centers (45!) means that everyone has many ways to cast their ballot. Those with disabilities, needing language assistance from all areas of the county, needing a replacement ballot, or with any problem or issue voting or registering can vote at a Vote Center for many days before the Election. This is all in addition to Vote by Mail and Ballot Drop Boxes. Convenient!

Surprise #4: So many people thought our VCR team was all-volunteer. While many of us were volunteers, 5 of us were paid Election staff. We appreciated it when people thanked us for volunteering and our service. But I wanted to tell people that there are paid positions, including for students. And that they, too, can apply to be a VCR!

Surprise #5: One of the quirkiest experiences was the opening and closing of the poll. At the start of our first day, our lead representative told us it was time to inform the public we were “open for business.” I laughingly joked that we should “go old school” and say, “Hear ye, hear ye! The polls are open!” As it turns out, that’s exactly what we needed to say to open the poll officially! It felt like we were in an earlier century or perhaps a version of Hamilton. Surprisingly, I felt connected to the traditions and importance of what people have voted for centuries.

So, hear ye, hear ye! I would highly encourage people, including students, to apply to become a VCR for November’s election. I found it inspiring to participate in democracy, do a civic duty, meet great people, see neighbors, and make some money.