MIKE AND MARTHA
by Cash Michaels
You know how when we see someone who is in the military out in public, we instinctively, as Americans, thank them for their service. We tell them that because we understand the tremendous risks and sacrifices that service members endure to be in uniform to defend this nation. To answer the call when needed, despite family or other personal interests, willing to give even their very life to protect the homeland.
There is no question that we owe these people our highest respect and honors.
But I’ve always believed that in addition to our military, historically there have been other Americans who have given their last measure to also serve this nation for unselfish causes we rarely recognize as intrinsic to our national character and legacy.
For instance, the brave citizens of all colors, nationalities and faiths who served us well in the civil rights movement. These were brave and defiant people who decided America was headed in the wrong direction when it came to living up to the true meaning of its creed that all men and women are created equal, and with nothing more than love in their hearts for their fellow man, these brave souls, again of all colors, openly challenged the power structure of this nation to become a more inclusive society.
These are people who in my opinion, had every bit as much courage as our military to stand up without weapons, and face down the agents of racial hatred and inequality, and I forever thank them for their service as well.
And then there are dedicated citizens like Mike and Martha, two extraordinary souls I met on October 15th - the first day of early voting in North Carolina - at the Herbert C.Young Community Center in Cary. Mike and Martha are election officials, or more officially known as “poll workers.”
The North Carolina Board of Elections has another moniker for Mike, Martha, and thousands of other dedicated poll workers who man our precincts during early voting and Election Day - they’re called “Democracy Heroes.”
According to the NCSBE website, Democracy Heroes are, “Election officials [who] operate the polls during early voting and on Election Day by providing services such as setting up the voting equipment, checking in voters, processing ballots, assisting voters with special needs, and closing and securing the voting site at the end of the day.”
“To qualify to work as an election official, the applicant must be a registered voter who resides in the precinct where they wish to serve. To serve as an election worker on Election Day, you must be a registered voter or be a high school student who is at least 17 years old and in good academic standing.”
During my many years of voting, most of the poll workers I’ve had the pleasure to meet during either early voting or on Election Day have either been older, retired citizens or younger college students - all extremely helpful. And since I’ve been physically handicapped since the end of the pandemic and have had to use curbside voting regularly since, I’ve really come to appreciate the devotion to duty and detail these Democracy Heroes display when they assist those of us who cannot physically wait on long lines to cast a ballot.
On October 15th at the Herbert C. Young Center in Cary, Mike and Martha were just two of the many dedicated poll workers there making sure that the rules were being followed, and every voter who came to cast a ballot, were properly processed to do so.
Think about it. We just couldn’t run elections in this state or nation properly without dedicated citizens like Mike or Martha. And it is truly a damn shame when hard working poll workers like these have been unduly accused of “rigging elections” when certain candidates lose and need somebody to blame for their lackluster showing.
I, for one, am extremely thankful for these Democracy Heroes because in my experience, I’ve learned to trust them having closely watched how hard they’ve worked to make sure our elections are fair, honest and orderly. I would certainly trust any “Mike” or “Martha” election poll worker before I would a lying partisan hack who’s ready at a drop of a hat to yell “rigged election” without any evidence.
In fact, with just a few precious days left to early voting before the November 3rd midterm Election Day, better brace yourself for any and all election tricks coming from the Trump Administration in an attempt to screw up the results so they won’t look as bad as projected to be.
It’s shame that in what’s supposed to be a free nation, we are all expecting armed troops to show up at various polling places, with one actually seizing ballots after the vote. We can also expect Republican officials to play games with election results after changing the rules so that any crazy challenge will carry some weight.
When all is said and done, good, honest, trusted people like Mike and Martha are the rock solid foundation our voting system counts on to get it right more times the not.
And that’s why every time I vote, I make sure I thank any and every election poll worker who has helped me fulfill my civic duty. Without a “Mike” or “Martha,” neither I, nor millions of other voters, could get it done.
There’s just a few more days of One Stop Early Voting/Same Day Registration left, ending on Saturday, October 31st at 3 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd with polls opening at 6:30 a.m., closing at 7:30 p.m..
Nothing really gets decided without your vote, so make sure you cast it!
And before I go, please allow me to tip my hat to the hundreds of students who took to the streets of Greensboro from NC A&T University, Bennett College for Women and UNC-Greensboro to march to the polls on Oct.15th, the first day in North Carolina for One Stop Early Voting. It was a sight to see, and sent a strong message to the Republican-led Guilford County Board of Elections - go ahead and shut down our campus polling place, but you will NEVER shutdown our right to vote!
I’m proud of those students! This is their country too!
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