Tell Us About Your Experience

Hey there Cool Kids!

So many things to write; so little time. I don't know about you, but I needed some time to come down from my Election Day high. Now that we have had a little time and space from the election, I am eager to hear from the many of you who were placed in spots across Dutchess County. This moment is so ripe for learning about the election process from your first-hand accounts. Please join in the conversation. Share your thoughts/experiences/reflections--the good, the bad, the boring, the ugly. We need to hear them so that we can report to the Board of Elections and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission about how well H.A.V.A. is working. Whether you celebrate the outcome of the election or not, your participation as a poll worker helps us to tell a different story about the quality of the electoral experience for all the citizens of Dutchess County. Believe me, having you out there made a huge difference. It really did.

So come and share. We are opening this post site up to you guys who made DCCAN a tremendous success for its first time out of the gate. Let's keep trying to improve the process.

And guess what--now YOU are VETERAN poll workers (smile)! You are now trained to work at all future elections in Dutchess County. Congratulations DCCAN!

Sarita G.

Notes from a College Poll Worker

Hey guys! Alicia just set us up on this new blog--thanks big time!!

Let's share some reflections and notes on what it is/was like to be a poll worker--your wisdom will be invaluable to folks out there who are interested in the experience.

Peace,

Sarita G.

Getting Started

Hello to everyone who's reading this!

DC CAN is a great new organization in Dutchess County, New York. It stands for Dutchess County Citizen Action Network and it's a way for students at Vassar College, Marist College, and Dutchess Community College to build bridges with our surrounding community and come together in a way that hasn't really happened before.

DC CAN's first order of business is to recruit 200 college-aged poll workers for the 2008 Presidential Election. Students from Marist, Dutchess, and Vassar are all welcome to sign up and work the polls!

New York State, and the nation as a whole, currently has a huge shortage of poll workers which means longer lines and more hassle when voting. We want to reduce the hassle and make voting fair and accessible for every voter. New York State is also in the process of replacing the lever voting machines with new, electronic machines, and since college students tend to be pretty technology-savvy, of course they are a great resource to tap into!

This blog is for everyone who is a part of DC CAN, and the campus fellows from Dutchess, Marist, and Vassar will be updating regularly so we can keep in touch and our recruits (or anyone else who is interested!) can see what's going on.

So, enjoy!
-Alicia