Primary Election Volunteer Experience

Cameron Lockett

Brian Hussey

American History

April 27, 2016

On Tuesday April 26, 2016 Clay, Hector, Tefay, and I volunteered to get questions for the Committee of Seventy.  At first we met up in the 44th ward of Philadelphia since Clay knew voting polls in the area. When the group all came together we first started near a local hospital. We took pictures of people handing out flyers to support their candidate, a diagram of the voting booth, and a sign saying that there would be a language interpreter. When we were all set up we then began to ask people questions. As soon as we started, we realized we might have some trouble. As the first person I approached to see if they could answer some brief questions quickly rejected me. It took me some time before someone to say yes to answer the questions for Committee of Seventy. While Hector and Clay found it fairly easy for strangers to agree to answer questions for them. We decided to leave the location though since most of the people were coming inside the building since it was a hospital, and they did not want to vote. Some icing on the cake though was before we left I asked an older man to answer some questions. He agreed and during the middle of one the questions he noticed the Committee of Seventy symbol and stormed off.  

After that we decided to go to a polling station around city hall. At that area we were able to get more people to answer the questions. I’m not sure if it was the location since we were outside a building in center city and more people voted there or if it was because the people there were just friendlier than the last bunch. Even still only got around seven to eight people to answer some questions. I guess I should have expected this as the citizens of Phildelphia are not the most avid fans of answering random questions. Especially when they are being asked by someone who is asking you political questions just after you vote. From this experience though I have gained respect for people who have the guts to ask people questions or ask for their support a whole campaign. As even if you’re motivated it can be soul crushing to hear so many no’s back to back.  

Image #1 talks about the information needed for people with disabilities to be able to vote.  

Image #2 talks about how if you speak another language you can get an interpreter to help you vote.

Image #3 talks about the things prohibited during voting and the penalties that you could receive