The United States general election of 2024 is considered by many to be one of the most important and controversial elections in recent memory. This is due in no small part to the quickly growing political divide in the United States. All elections, especially ones of this importance, are built off the backs of poll workers and volunteers. This year, I decided to volunteer at my local polling station, to get a sense of how the election process is conducted. Elections are one of the core parts of American government and culture.
When I arrived at my local voting center, within the basement ballroom of a local church, it stood out to me that the number of voting machines was fairly small — there were only about 6 of them — likely due to this voting center serving a relatively small group of voters. I was educated in how provisional ballots were carried out: essentially, if there is some error with the voter, such as having requested a mail-in ballot but never getting it, a provisional ballot is given. When votes are counted, the provisional ballot is looked at, and if there is no issue at that time, it is counted. Provisional ballots are one of many measures that have been taken to ensure everyone’s voice is heard in our elections.
Due to being under 18, I was not able to interact with the voting machines, so I was assigned the role of giving out stickers to voters. And as simple as that was, it still felt highly rewarding to help out, even in this small way.
Both the volunteers and the voters were highly diverse, representing both Montgomery County and America as a whole. Furthermore, the attitude around voting was highly positive, especially for first time voters, who were greeted with a cheer by the various election judges stationed there. Other voters seemed to be excited to vote as well.
Regardless of how we feel about the outcome of the election, it’s important for us to look back on how elections are conducted, so that more people can be inspired to vote in coming elections. Being a part of the 2024 election has been one of the highlights of my year, and is a story I can’t wait to share with others. I highly recommend everyone who can sign up to aid in the 2026 midterm elections does so, so they can have the same experience.
