Carol Anne Costa: Primaries, Process, and Poll Workers

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Carol Anne Costa, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

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Before the primary season begins, maybe we should take a good hard look at the polling process.

As Rhode Island gears up for what promises to be a bruising primary season for both political parties (quickly followed by a knockdown drag out general election) is it time to really review the process at the polls? I think so, and here's why.

While many of our Secretaries of State have over time moved to make the voting process more user friendly, and have better used technology to open up the process, it remains an old model and much more can be done to make elections better on many levels. To me, many of the changes are window dressing that is not consequential reform of the process, nor of Its timing or its underpaid and under-trained (through no fault of the workers or local canvassers) poll workers. Another issue is the bewildering mix of governance over the actual election process likely caused by the division of authority split between the Secretary of State and the Board of Elections. These are all issues which require a closer look.

We stand poised, in advance of selecting our next Governor and statewide officers, to make thoughtful changes that will encourage participation and reduce bottlenecks and long held polling problems. These changes must begin with the support of the General Assembly the Secretary of State, Board of Elections and the full engagement of the citizenry. The time is now. If we can move briskly in one session to voter ID, we can similarly move toward addressing the changing lifestyles of the new American voters as well as better training and compensating poll workers.

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'Til Tuesday…

How many of you have thought to yourselves after walking out of a polling place, can’t we do better? I suspect many. As spelled out in RIGL 17-15-1, the Primary date is selected by statute set by the RI General Assembly, which reads: "Date of primaries. – A primary election for the nomination of candidates for each political party shall be held in each voting district in the manner provided in this chapter on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September in each even numbered year."

The same logic applies to the general election as well. Why Tuesday, you ask. Its origins are in the 1840s and had much to do with travel time via horse and buggy and Sabbath days. I am confident we can move past our marriage to Tuesday. Okay, we don’t have to get a divorce, but maybe an amicable separation. It is unfortunate so much that governs voting is frankly past it shelf date. Reform other than voter ID must be considered. 

Who's in charge?

Macro-election oversight should too be part of this reform movement. The fragmented approach to holding an election in Lil' Rhody is muddied and confusing. Ask any Canvasser (and yes, I have). The elections oversight is a bewildering mix of rules, procedures, and traditions derived from both the Board of Elections and the Secretary of State (who I am told don’t always sing from the same hymn book). The advice from the trenches: put one entity in charge and cut out the second-guessing and delayed responses to the people who have run the polls. At the end of the day it befalls the local canvassers to get the job done, but as currently constructed the march to the results is often painful.

And oh, those poor poll workers. They must sit through a training class that is usually inconvenient and truly boring (I have suffered it personally). Have we not heard of webinars and webcasts? The people who eventually serve as poll staffers do all of this in order to endure an incredibility long day (often in excess of 12 hours), for a measly pay and a sandwich, if they're lucky. We can and should do better. Consolidate the governing duties, give them modern tools, make training convenient and clear, craft a less arduous path, and maybe more folks will want to serve.

In a perfect world, poll workers are supposed to be a true bi-partisan contingent. Take it from this Chair—appointing at the local level is not easy, as folks are not that interested. When they have obligations and families, 12 hour days are just not that attractive. This has a terrible impact within polling places. Could streamlined governance, better pay, better training, better use of technology at the polls, and more voter opportunities improve the existing system, while at the same time take some pressure off the local canvassers? I think so and you may totally disagree, but we should at least talk about it. 

We have cars now…

Since most of us have access to public transportation and autos for easy mobility around town, maybe it is time to rethink Tuesdays. For example, I took a peek at a typical Tuesday in September via the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL). The schedules are chock full, and varsity and junior varsity sports are in full swing, The RILL manages 8 brackets of fall Rhode Island boy’s and girl’s sports in some cases each having 3 divisions. Which mean games, matches, and practices are going on in every corner of Rhode Island. Translation: parents—aka voters—are scurrying around to bring and fetch kids from fields, courts, and pitches, and then they must make dinner and do housework all on top of the day-to-day grind. Ask yourself where getting to the polls to vote falls on that list.

My point is this: why not shift to a hybrid of early voting and weekend voting? In one simple measure cities and towns can open select polling places the weekend before the designated Tuesday. Wait times would diminish, voter turnout would increase, and canvassers would have more time to create a tiered system of poll workers. It is my view that just as in the 1840s when voting dates were set pursuant to the needs of the community, perhaps what old can become new again. Look at the community and find better methods to fit its needs.

The General Assembly is trying

Representative Chris Blazejewski (D-Providence) put forth legislation the last General Assembly session to move some of these initiatives forward. I hope he reintroduces the bill in the upcoming session, in advance of the next election cycle. Reforms such as these would clearly meet the changing schedules and needs of the new American family.

I know the purists are rolling their eyes right about now, and for sure calling me names. Thinking something like, “You crazy liberal, why voting should be easier? If you want to vote, register and make the time.” Roll your eyes all you so desire, but the fact remains if we can finally get an amicable separation from Tuesday it is a step forward. The benefits will include better access for working people and families, more professional poll workers, and less hectic procedures. Perhaps it will cure our obsession with the superficial issues (campaign buttons and measuring tapes) and more deeply consider the substantive concerns.

 

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Carol Costa is a public relations and community outreach specialist; she has experience in both the public and private sectors. She is the Chairwoman of the Scituate Democratic Town Committee and has extensive community affairs and public relations experience. She previously served in the Rhode Island Judiciary for nearly 17 years. Carol also enjoyed a successful development stint at the Diocese of Providence as Associate Director for Catholic Education and is currently a public housing manager. Her work has been published in several local outlets including GoLocal, Valley Breeze, The Rhode Island Catholic, and Currents Magazine.

 

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