The day before Election Day, from the inside

Jillian Johnson's working at the Santa Barbara Board of Elections, surely among the most highminded in the nation. She shares this in an e-mail:

I've been phoning all day.

And, no...not through MoveOn. Not through any political party. Not to make Robo-Calls.

I've been working in an Elections Office these past several months and part of my job today was to be on the phone all day to try to remind people that they forgot to sign their absentee ballot when they sent it in. I had sent out hundreds of letters stating that fact for the past month, but, for some reason or another, many have just not bothered to show up at the office to sign their absentee ballot.

So I was doing follow up calls.

I've had people yell at me "No..you're lying. I signed it." then hang up.

I've had no luck finding good phone numbers for voters. Either old numbers not updated or false ones given out.

I've had older folks sigh heavy sighs of regret when they tell me they can't get down to either their polling place (to vote provisionally) or the office to actually sign the ballot. They are bed ridden, blind or handicapped to the point of relative non mobility.

I've had several "Bless you for calling."

I've had numerous "Thank you for reminding me! I completely forgot."

I've had a few "it's too inconvenient. Just forget about it."

I don't know how many other counties try their darndest to make voters votes count and take that "extra step" to ensure just that. I'm surely proud of my county. It's been an honor and great privilege to have worked for my county, for my Country.

Now...go out and vote. Just remember to sign your absentee ballots. I can't give everyone a reminder call.