With worries of disruptions, just be polite at polling places
Published October 13, 2022
By Capitol Broadcasting Company
What’s the safest prediction on the outcome of the 2022 election?
Total turnout in North Carolina will far exceed voter participation in previous non-presidential year elections. There’s a bit less than a month until the Nov. 8 Election Day and already the number of requests for absentee mail-in ballots has exceeded the total requested four years ago.
The number of mail-in ballots requested is nearly three times greater than those requested at the same point in the last off-year election. The completed ballots returned already is almost five times more than those returned four years ago at the same point.
Prognosticators can dive into the other data – comparing number of ballots requested and returned thus far by Republicans and Democrats; women and men; Black and white voters – but the one safe conclusion is that voter turnout in 2022 will easily surpass the usual off-year election.
What does that mean?
Polling places -- for in-person early voting, which starts Thursday, Oct. 20, and for Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8 -- will be buzzing with activity.
Election workers -- responsible for collecting mail-in ballots as well as staffing and overseeing the safe and secure processing of voters as well as the collection and tabulation the ballots they cast --- will be VERY busy.
It also means that everyone will need to be on their best behavior – be polite and follow appropriate etiquette – so every qualified voter is able to cast a ballot and each of those properly cast ballots is accurately counted.
This greater-than-typical turnout is putting particular pressure on dedicated election workers who, on top of helping likely overflow crowds, will also be dealing with organized efforts to make their jobs more difficult.
Under the guise of “election integrity,” people already convinced there are problems with the conduct of elections are being trained and dispatched to “monitor” polling places. Mostly they’ll be looking for what they consider improper voting or other potential problems in the conduct of voting.
If recent past is any predictor, some of these monitors will be over zealous at best or purposeful disruptors at worst.
During primary voting in May there were several reports of election integrity polling place observers interfering with voters and intimidating election workers. In at least one case, an observer in their personal vehicle, trailed a car carrying ballots to the local Board of Elections and then walked behind those who were taking the ballots into the office.
Rather than going out of the way to seek confrontation, all of those involved with the elections -- voters, observers, and polling place workers -- should work towards accommodation.
The state Board of Elections has offered a common-sense guide so voting is safe and orderly.
Start with the basics:
- Treat everyone with deference and respect for the important task at hand – voting.
- Respect the “buffer zones” outside polling places so voters are able to get in and out to cast ballots without interference.
- Do not interfere with voters inside the polling place and as they cast ballots.
- Do not interfere with elections officials conducting the election.
- Those designated as political party election observers should do just that – observe and take notes. DO NOT interfere with voters or elections officials.
Want more information and details?
- Read State Election Director Karen Brinson Bell’s memo on “Maintaining Order at the Polls” here.
- Review the “Election Reference Guide for North Carolina Law Enforcement,” prepared jointly by N.C. Sheriffs’ Association, N.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the State Elections Board, here.
Deciding on who and what to vote for isn’t easy. It’s deliberative and can be challenging, frustrating and angst-ridden. That’s fine. Once that’s done, voting should be easy.
Respecting voters, poll watchers and polling place workers isn’t asking too much. It is the most effective way to assure election integrity, fair voting and a full and accurate count of every ballot.
