Poll worker Bea Richards will never forget the primary election with the angry voter.
The ballots that year had Republican candidates on one side of the ballot and Democrats on the other. The man did not realize the ballots were two-sided, with Republican candidates on one side and Democrats on the other.
‘He said, ‘What’s the matter with you people! You know I’m a Republican, why’d you give me a Democrat ballot??? recalls Richards. ‘We said, ‘Just turn it over.??
As an election worker for nearly 50 years, Richards has seen a good number of voters at township, village, and school board elections. She remembers the time a voter, frustrated after waiting in line to vote on a particularly hot issue, threw the ballot at her and other workers.
As a rule, however, she says things typically run smoothly.
‘I enjoyed it,? says Richards. ‘I never got tired; I enjoyed meeting people and other election workers.?
Richards and seven other Brandon Township election workers were honored for their longtime service on Oct. 3 as part of Help Oakland Vote Day. Richards was honored for 48 years of service; Arlene Martin for 45 years; Katie Hobson and Karen McArthur for 35 years each; Alice Churchill and Irva Ousnamer for 30 years each; and Kerry Borst and Linda Tennant for 25 years each.
‘We’re very blessed to have these workers who come back year after year,? said Township Clerk Jeannie McCreery. ‘We have really good people working… We appreciate the job they do, their integrity, and their dedication. They take this job very seriously.?
Richards, 85, is a lifelong Ortonville resident. She began voting shortly after she was married at 21, but didn’t become an election worker until called upon several years later. In the early years of being a poll worker, the election board used paper ballots and she wouldn’t get home until 3 or 4 a.m., after handcounting the ballots.
Later, they would get their first machines, which had a large sheet come out of the back. Arlene Martin remembers them calling it a bed sheet.
‘The first time we had a machine, it scared me to death,? recalls Martin. ‘I almost quit when it became computerized, but it was very easy and we had good instructors, they made it very easy.?
McCreery says that while Brandon has plenty of poll workers, she is always accepting back-up applications, particularly since there is some concern that ‘snowbirds? will not return in time for the January 15 presidential primary election. A training session is being planned for this fall.