SEVEN DAYS

NEWS

UNPRECEDENTED The Bay Area added its voice to the historic voter turnout.

Powering the Polls

Despite the pandemic, East Bay residents stepped up as poll workers and watchers in record numbers BY DARCY BROWN-MARTIN

Over the last four years, the word “unprecedented” has been called into action so frequently—and also mangled, by a notable Twitter user who complained in 2016 about China’s “unpresidented” actions— that it might be charitable to let the overworked adjective rest. But here’s another instance where we need it: The number of Bay Area citizens who applied to serve as in-person poll workers and poll watchers this year, in the midst of a pandemic, was—that’s right— unprecedented.

“It’s a historic high,” said Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party (CADEM), referring to the 300 attorneys, including many Bay Area residents, who volunteered this year as poll observers with the CADEM Voter Protection Team.

“Turnout has been amazing,” said Alameda County Registrar of Voters Tim Dupuis, referring to both the number of applications his office received from prospective poll workers—4,800 for 1,800 slots— and the region’s extraordinary earlyvoting tallies. (As of Oct. 30, Dupuis reports, 52 percent of registered voters in Alameda County had already voted, as had 60 percent of voters in Marin County.)

What’s more, Dupuis added, “Our story is not unique.” San Francisco, San Mateo and other counties were also inundated with poll-worker applications.

“You can see the enthusiasm all over California,” Dupuis said. “People really want to get involved, and they really want this election to go off without hitches.”

Oakland resident Ann Richardson Berkey was one of those motivated to serve because of concerns about election safety, and despite fears about Covid-19. A retired senior vice president of communications for McKesson, Berkey worked four long days as a poll captain in an Accessible Voting Location (AVLs are the new polls) in West Oakland.