I had an interesting day yesterday

[lurker17260]

I worked from 7.30am until after 9.30pm as a polling assistant.

I was one of those people who helped you find the right queue, made sure you put your green paper in the green box and white paper in the white box ( which some of you seemed a bit challenging by), listened to you all moaning about the size of the ballot paper while keeping my smile on, marked you off the register and gave you the speal about how to fill in your ballot paper formally, which many of you seemed to ignore (and if you think it was boring listening to it once you should try saying it a couple of thousand times!).

Then after the doors had closed at 6pm I was one of the ones who unfolded, sorted and counted your ballot papers so you could get your results as quickly as possible.

This morning my knees and hips are aching from standing most of the day, I'm dog tired, my shoulders are sore from unfolding and checking those monster senate papers and I have multiple paper cuts all over my fingers.  BUT it was mostly fun and very interesting and I'm pretty sure I'll apply to work again next election  

[freshwater-2]

A sincere thank you to ALL the volunteers who worked on the polling booths yesterday.

[cherry*135]

Lurker & e-m - you get paid handsomely for doing that for the day, don't you?

Why are the voting papers filled in with pencil? I wanted to know that too?

The person who ticked me off the roll didnt ask me what my address was, only asked my name. I was trying to peep at the list to make sure my address was correct as I have changed it since the last election.

Lurker - how do you count & record the 100+ names below the list (NSW) if the voter has filled them out?

[*elizabeths-mum*]

We were paid well, am3 but including several hours spent setting up the day before, for the hours I worked I would have earned twice as much in my normal job plus penalty rates for it being Saturday.

You are allowed to use pens but I think pencils are just easier to have attached as they can be sharpened. I liked the magnifying things too but they all had to be returned. 😄

[catsnknots]

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@am*3 wrote:

Why are the voting papers filled in with pencil? I wanted to know that too?

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Why do they supply pencils in polling booths and not pens?Doesn't using pencils allow votes to be tampered with?

The provision of pencils in polling booths is a requirement of section 206 of the Electoral Act. There is, however nothing to prevent an elector from marking his or her ballot paper with a pen if they so wish. The AEC has found from experience that pencils are the most reliable implements for marking ballot papers. Pencils are practical because they don't run out and the polling staff check and sharpen pencils as necessary throughout election day. Pencils can be stored between elections and they work better in tropical areas. The security of your vote is guaranteed as the storage and counting of ballots is tightly scrutinised.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

That too. 😄

[just_me_karen]

I did it too. I was the ballot box guard and I handed out stickers 😄 it was a longgggg day (plus setup the night before) but very interesting doing the counting and learning how they work out preferences.

My favourite thing was the fools who wasted their vote by ranting on their ballot paper. Is Nero in my electorate??

[cherry*135]

Thanks, e-m & cm.

I thought this bit was funny/weird.

Pencils can be stored between elections and they work better in tropical areas.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Did you have a big stick, Karen?

[just_me_karen]

I had an ugly AEC purple vest with big writing and a badge that said GUARD lol

But I softened my hostility with stickers 😄

I was on my feet from 7am until after 10pm, it was really hard work... but fun. I've done other work for aec before, but never election day.

Edit to add... I nicked a magnifier lol

I also asked if I could nick my badge and vest but they said no.

[freshwater-2]

A sincere thank you to ALL the volunteers who worked on the polling booths yesterday.

In my previous post I was thanking all those people who did the external setups and stood outside handing out htv, etc.

An arduous but non-financially rewarding day for these volunteers.