Election Judges needed in November

We Need YOU to RECRUIT Election Judges!

By Sara Byron

How many people have you met in the last 18 months that are looking for a way to get involved in the political process?  This may be a perfect fit - a limited commitment that even pays a little cash!  

Every even-numbered year after a primary, we go through a process of certifying election judges for our party.  You will soon be asked to contact or call the judges on your precinct list that currently serve, and any volunteers that have shown willingness to judge, either when they registered or by submitting an online application.  This gives us a chance to confirm the availability and suitability of our Democratic election judges. 

At this time it is critical that we recruit new judges.  Attrition and the demands of same day registration have made this a high priority.  Many of the incumbent judges are reaching an age that makes it more difficult to work such a long day.  This seems to be the case for the Republican Party a bit more than the Democrats.  While most polling places used to have more Republican judges, it has shifted recently.  The Election Commission has been counting on the Democrats to supply more judges – and so far we’ve been able.  

A good person to recruit as a judge may be the spouse or partner of a PC.  They tend to be Democrats and also are willing to get involved!  People who don’t have a regular day job are most easily recruited.  They should be intelligent, personable and willing to work a long day on Election Day (5 am to 8 or 9 pm).  Pay is $130 plus $30 for taking a very good 3-hour online training.  Besides the pay, the job is fun and very worthwhile.  Judges and PC’s are the backbone of the democratic process and the work is very rewarding.  

Some details that may be helpful in talking to people:  Over the next two years there will be three elections: a general election on the first Tuesday of November, November 6, 2018; a consolidated election on April 2, 2019; and a primary election on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  Before each election all judges receive an ‘availability to work letter’ asking if they are available for that election and if they will work outside their precinct.  If they answer ‘yes’ to the latter they will  generally not be asked to go far from home.  

For more information and FAQ’s:  https://www.dupageco.org/Election/37876/#Election_Workers.  And I will be glad to answer questions if you send me a message at sarabyron@att.net. 

Pulling it together after a loss - Voter's perspective

Pulling it Together After a Loss -- Voter's Perspective

Stepping aside for the greater good

By Maryann Vazquez

During the hard work we do to get our candidate elected during the primary, it’s hard not to become emotionally invested in that candidate.  We give so much time and energy to the campaign.  We are excited and hopeful.  So what happens what when we lose?  We feel broken hearted, lost, sad, confused, angry and in a state of shock.  We experience an actual grief process.  How can I support someone I was fighting against?  Aren’t they the enemy?  -  I spent months believing this.  Now, how do I change my belief?  Why would I?

Why?  Well, we need to consider what is best for the greater good.  There are issues that we all agree upon.  Most Democratic candidates have similar core values and platform.  We care about our community.  We believe in healthcare for all; that climate change is real; that we need to protect the most vulnerable; that there is value in supporting a social safety-net; that diversity and inclusion is our strength; that quality public education should be available to all children; that we need reasonable gun laws; and much more.  These are our core beliefs.  We agree about a common vision for our future and our country.  When we focus on our personal pain, we cannot accomplish our goal to move forward to a more progressive agenda.

So what do we do when we’re struggling to get behind the party’s candidate.  Let start with might work – it has for others.  This will require us to be open to listening and accepting new information. 

We have a tendency to see the positive in our candidate and only the negative in our opponent.  This shift is often difficult.  Start by getting to know the candidate.  Who is the candidate as a person, and what have they done that defines who they are as a candidate?  Focus on identifying their strengths.  Talk to people who supported the candidate during the primary and ask why.  Go see the candidate speak and meet them.  Look at the candidate’s platform and discover the similarities that you supported during the campaign.  You will likely find you agree more than you disagree.   We never agree 100% on anything.

Give yourself space to shift.  Allow yourself time to heal.  Also allow the candidate the space to be heard.  It may surprise us, but armed with new information, we CAN support and even create a level of enthusiasm for our Democratic candidate.

Office Hours - May 2018

DGTD Office Hours May 2018

906 Curtiss, Downers Grove

Monday 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Friday 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – noon
Sunday closed