The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 3 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on November 13, 2020.
Emma G. Overton ’21
Editor-in-Chief and News Editor
As states across the country prepared for the 2020 election, many faced a shortage of election workers due to concerns about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Election workers are critical to the operation of American elections, and according to ABC News, election workers “…across the country handle ‘the nuts and bolts of what we need to do to make our season run,’…[and][f]or years, volunteers have skewed older.” Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, ABC News noted that “…this year, many are staying home because of COVID-19. In response, the local and state authorities who organize elections have been looking for younger volunteers.”
One of these younger volunteers was Lake Forest College student Delaney Trail ’22 who worked the election in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Trail, a double-major in politics and communication, worked as both an Election Judge and as a member of the Election Night Ballot Security Team.
Trail’s Election Judge duties involved working in “a bi-partisan team” that “verified ballot signatures” and ensured “that ballots were completed correctly to be counted.” She explained that “each team had to be made up of two people from different registered parties. Democrats were given blue lanyards, Republicans were given red lanyards, and independents or third-party registered voters were given black.” Her position on the Election Night Ballot Security Team also involved working “… in bi-partisan teams” where the teams “went to voting sites to collect ballots and ensure that none [of the ballots]were lost or submitted late. Everything had to be checked and signed by both team members.” Trail also explained that “the last person in line” at 7 p.m. was given “a sign that said ‘Final Voter’ and no one could get in line after them.”
Acknowledging the safety concerns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trail explained that “[e]veryone was required to wear a mask, fill out a health form before entering the building, have their temperature taken, and wash their hands before working.” She further noted that “[t]here were also sanitation stations with wipes and hand sanitizer” available.
Speaking about her experience on Election Day, November 3, 2020, Trail noted that because “Colorado sends every registered voter a ballot prior to the election… [i]n-person voting locations are mostly used for same-day registration.” As a result, she stated that “[t]here was a consistent line to register and vote, but not so many as to be overwhelming or more than expected.”
Trail shared that she was motivated to work in the 2020 election because it was “the first election that I’ve been able to work in my home state. I wanted to be a part of the election process and learn more about what is going on behind the scenes.” She further stated that she “…would recommend that anyone who is able to apply to work elections do so. It’s a great way to get involved in the process.”
