Voting Precinct Board Member
Like many people after the 2016 Presidential election, I’ve been following politics and the news a lot closer. Short of volunteering for a campaign however, my ability to create the change I want to see is limited, since I’m not allowed to vote as a Permanent Resident.
Looking for a way to give back to the community I’ve been calling home for the past six years, I learned about the possibility to serve as a precinct board member (more commonly known as a poll worker) on Election Day. In order to promote civic engagement among residents of the state and to provide additional members of precinct boards, California allows non-citizen permanent residents and high-school students 16 and over to serve as precinct board members.
Ventura County, where I live, offers an online application form for volunteers to get started, though in my case it wasn’t until I picked up the phone that I was accepted and assigned a precinct. So far there has not been a ton of communication or guidance from the Registrar’s Office, but there is a mandatory training and lab class that I’ll have to attend before Election Day.
Admittedly, I’m not exactly sure what to expect and how I’ll be able to stay sharp for the 14+ hours that I’m expected to be there. But I am looking forward to be working the polls during this year’s midterm election and contribute my small part to further democracy in the world!
This year’s group picture of Automatticians who self-identify as tall—and Cami for scale.
📸: Alex Shiels.
Tallmatticians
Thank you to everyone who donated to and/or shared this fundraiser to fight family separation at the southern border of the United States. Through your generosity we ended up raising more than 5x the amount I initially thought achievable—incredible.
I’ve always had reservations towards these types of fundraisers. Asking friends and family for money is something I’ll never grow comfortable doing, and on top of that for a cause that can be politicized so easily. Using Facebook as a platform for them is also something I would have loved to avoid, but they do make it incredibly easy to set up these fundraisers and reach an audience.
All of this is what makes me so so grateful for your donations! I could not have asked for a better and more meaningful birthday present.
Thank you.
Birthday Fundraiser for RAICES
For my birthday this year, I want to offer a way to donate to RAICES, a nonprofit agency that provides legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees in Texas.
My ability to fight family separation at US borders is limited, but I can help others in their fight to end this cruel and unamerican practice. I’m not asking you to donate, but if you feel like me and have been thinking “I should do something about this”—this is probably the easiest way you can.
Thank you.
