I went beyond the duty to vote (which I had already done) on this election day. Although I had volunteered to be a poll watcher I was not required for that post. However on Saturday I got a call from Oregon saying that poll greeters were needed in Ocala. I had my email sent to the local chairman of Democratic volunteers and learned of a opening at a precinct at a church nearby. I agreed but without enthusiasm. I just didn't want to feel like I had not done as much as I could. I picked up a Biden/Harris sign and some sample ballot material from Democratic Headquarters so I was ready to go on Tuesday morning at 6:45.
It was a chilly morning but I and the voters were ready for an
early start. There was a line of people waiting for the doors to
open. I set up my lawn chair and tray table and sign outside of
the 150 foot perimeter as required by law. I was just there to
hand out material to those who requested it and very few did.
After the initial surge of voters things got pretty slow. I walked
around a bit trying to keep warm. At one point I stood in a
sheltered, sunny spot and though of how Larry always looked for
the early sunshine to help him get moving.
Later there were two events to spice up the morning. First I saw a man with a professional style camera walking around trying to get a picture of what was happening at this precinct. Eventually he wandered over and we started a conversation about election turnout and different parts of the US. He is a photographer named Doug Engle for the Ocala Star Banner, so he asked to take my picture with my Biden sign. It was a pleasant experience on an otherwise dull morning.
Later in the morning I saw three people on the other side of the parking lot, apparently engaged in a long discussion. After putting up a couple of signs in the vicinity of signs for a variety of candidates they headed in my direction. The man started a conversation so I reported on how voting was going at this polling place. He spoke of the turnout at other sites he had visited and mentioned the heavy early voting in Alachua and Clay Counties. He was accompanied by two young women and a small, friendly dog. They too asked to take a picture. This was a group picture of the Biden sign, me, the dog and the young man and one of the women. The photographer was pleased that she had gotten a good picture of the dog. The young man seems to have been the candidate for congress for this district, Adam Christensen (the commotion with the dog made me unsure of his name.) If he were to win his race, he would be the youngest member of congress.
It was definitely a more interesting morning than if I had stayed
at home.
https://demcastusa.com/2020/06/11/meet-the-candidateadam-christensen-florida/
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