Started Typing: 11:15 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 12:55 PM ET
Hi, everyone! I have plenty of work to do today, and it’s stuff I don’t even mind doing, but I’m super unmotivated and figured it’s time to check in here. 
I’ve skimmed everything that was posted since Monday night, but I’m not going to reply to anything today: I’m 98% recovered from Tuesday, but still a little more tired than I thought I’d be by now.
In solidarity with BBBoo and SCAdian – and anyone else I might have missed who worked the polls – another Election Day is in the books! 
My alarm went off at 3:30am, I left my house at 4:45am, and I got home at 9:30pm (I’m very grateful that I was assigned to my “home” location, which is only 2 blocks from my house). There was a decent line when the polls opened at 6am, and there was a steady stream of voters all day. I was a provisional specialist, and the volume of folks needing assistance was quite reasonable at first: the other provisional specialist (Bill) and I were busy, but it was manageable – until around 2pm, when he and I suddenly got slammed and it didn’t let up until the polls closed at 7pm. I was actually still with a voter when the doors shut (as long as you’re at least in line before the polls close, you get to finish voting no matter what time it is). There were often 3-5 people waiting for assistance at a time: neither Bill nor I was able to take a dinner break – just quick bio breaks – and we even needed another election officer to help us with the “admin” stuff for a few hours (see the summary below for what that is). Happily, though, there were absolutely no issues at my precinct – and I was never worried about my safety for even a second (OMG, BBBoo!!! 
). One or two voters who needed help got a little grumpy about having to wait, but for the most part everyone was patient and understanding and reasonable. 1140 people voted regularly, 55 people voted provisionally, and 9 absentee ballots were dropped off.
Explanation of provisional voting for those interested
Provisional voting allows people to vote if there’s some reason they can’t be checked in/vote regularly. Examples of provisional voting would be for same-day registrations, if someone was sent an absentee ballot and decided to vote in person but doesn’t have the absentee ballot with them (and doesn’t want to go get it), if someone recently moved into the precinct, if someone can’t (or won’t) provide an acceptable form of ID, if the poll pad shows that someone has already voted but they say they haven’t, etc. Historically, only the Chief and Assistant Chief election officers handled provisional ballots: when Virginia began allowing same-day registration a year ago, the county election office created a “same day registration/provisional specialist” position. I signed up for that right away, and this was my third election serving in that role (it was my seventh election overall). The exact steps vary depending on the reason for the provisional vote, but basically the voter comes over to me at my table, provides a bunch of information/fills out the side of a special envelope, sits in front of me and fills out their ballot (using a privacy screen), then folds their ballot and puts it in the envelope. I give them an information sheet that lets them know they voted provisionally, the reason why, and how to contact the election office with questions and/or to follow up on the status of their ballot. After the voter leaves I have to record the provisional vote in a county database (via an app on a special iPad) and make sure I complete a worksheet for them (it gets sent back to the county), then store the envelope in one of two places depending on the type of provisional vote. After election day, the county election office reviews the information provided and determines whether the ballot should/can be counted.
In other news, the landscapers came on Tuesday: I’d asked them to prune/shape my small crepe myrtle, which is in the front yard next to my sidewalk path, and they cut all of the branches off! It’s maybe 3-4’ tall now, with zero leaves. I don’t really mind it being like this, because it had gotten a bit out of control and I know it will grow back, but now there’s nothing to put Christmas lights on. 
I guess this year I’ll string the hedges instead. They also cut the peony bush on the side of the house, even though I’d only asked for work to be done out front: I’m a little more upset about this one, because they cut it down to the ground. I can just barely see some bits still sticking out of the dirt. I’m sure it will also grow back (it better!), but I didn’t see it until this morning – when I rolled the biiiiiig trash can from the patio to the curb – and it was quite a shock.
When I got home from the polling place on Tuesday night I ate a banana and a Hot Pocket and tried to watch the new episode of Tracker, but crashed after 20 minutes. I was up at my normal time on Wednesday, but hit a wall at around 3pm and logged off work at 3:30. I tried to nap on the couch but couldn’t sleep despite the mental and physical exhaustion, but I did go to bed early that night…and last night. 
At this point, Bailey and I are both mostly recovered from the schedule disruption. I haven’t had the energy to do any reading since Monday night, but I’m looking forward to getting back to my new book tonight/this weekend. I’m glad that (a) I have no plans after work today, (b) the only thing on my calendar this weekend is a mid-day personal training session tomorrow, and (c) Monday is a federal (and corporate) holiday!
I’ll be more social/jump back into the conversation tomorrow. 
