BONUS: How to Engage in the Democratic Process with Loren Piretra

Ever wondered about the intricate journey of becoming an election worker and the pivotal role they play in ensuring our democratic process runs smoothly? Our guest, a passionate vote center clerk, shares their enlightening experiences and insights, promising to leave you with a deeper understanding of the voting process. From the crucial responsibilities of vote center clerks to the invaluable resources available for voters, like same-day registration in California and voter rights hotlines, this episode is your guide to navigating the sometimes-confusing landscape of casting a vote.

Our guest's journey unfolds with personal anecdotes that underscore the importance of being informed and proactive. They emphasize using voter guides and aligning with organizations that resonate with your values to make informed choices. Learn how to ensure your vote counts by using valid ballot drop boxes and tracking your ballot with services like BallotTrax, offering peace of mind and accountability. This episode is more than just a conversation; it’s a call to action. Discover creative ways to engage in the democratic process, from helping friends register to using your voice to mobilize communities, ensuring everyone’s prepared and empowered to vote.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So I'm going to be an election worker this election.
I have long felt called tolearn more about the democratic
process and the ins and outs,and I don't think it's fair that
we leave it up to our seniorsto be working like 13 hour 14
hour shifts and I've alwaysknown voting is confusing.
Like it's not as simple as likeyou just pick your choices and

(00:21):
you drop it off.
Like every state is differentall the deadlines.
But, speaking about Californiaspecifically, you can vote.
You can register same day andvote in California.
There's hotlines that will helpsupport you to know your voter
rights.
But I'm going to be a votecenter clerk.
I've gone through my training.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Are you going to be in Brentwood or somewhere else?
Bel Air.
This is the closest pollinglocation that needed to help.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
It opens on Saturday, which I believe is November 2nd
.
There's different hours, butpeople can come cast their vote.
I've learned how to registerpeople who are unhoused.
So, even if you don't have aphysical address it's a myth you
can still vote.
You can register on site.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
That's so important.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
You can bring your cross streets of where you most
regularly sleep at night.
That matters because there'sdifferent districts, that you
different races for differentdistricts, yeah, um, and then
for all the other states, likevoteorg great resource, so that
way you can check if there'ssame day voter registration,
being that california is a voteby mail by default.

(01:20):
What I'm telling everyone use avoter guide.
Don't guess.
Guess on anything.
Don't go off of last names orgender assumptions.
Use a voter guide.
Find an organization thataligns with your values, whether
it's Swing Left or PlannedParenthood.
Almost every organizationthat's involved in civics is
putting out some sort ofendorsements or voter guide.

(01:42):
Use that.
Make sure you don't leaveanything blank.
Vote up and down, and then mynext thing is drop it off in a
valid ballot drop box.
So USPS, cornerstone of ourdemocracy.
They make sure that people areeligible to vote.
They receive their ballots bymail, but there's a lot of
election deniers out thereworking really hard to
disqualify votes and just pullsome shenanigans.

(02:04):
So the best thing for voters todo is drop it off in a valid
ballot drop box, which are mostoften at a library, public
school rec center.
Mine was at a rec center.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
In.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
California.
Your ballot will come with yourlocations that are closest to
you.
And then my other favoriteresource is ballottracksorg.
Favorite resource is ballottrackscom tracks with the dot
org t-r-a-x.
Yeah so I like to know when myballot's on my way, on its way
to me, when she's like on herlittle journey and gotten
counted.
So I dropped my ballot off lastsunday.

(02:34):
She's giving much democracy,lots of, and I got a text, or I
got a voice note or voicemail uma couple days later and an
email confirming that my votehad been counted.
So I can sleep at peace,knowing that I did everything I
can there.
But now it's on to helping allmy friends and calling swing
states.
And there's a lot of differentways to use your gifts, whether

(02:55):
you're talking on social hostinglives, bringing community
members together, but the mostimpactful, like I shared with
you earlier, is just helpingyour immediate circle checking
in on your people, getting themregistered, making sure that
they have a plan.
I've been surprised with not ina judgmental way, but the
demands of life are demandingfor a lot of people and I know

(03:15):
that last year I was in survivalmode this time of year, so it
wouldn't have been as easy forme if I had just moved and
needed to find my ballot andregister and all that.
Thank God, california is youcan register same day.
But, um, making sure that yourpeople are set up and good to go
and that you can even ask themlike if they're your friends,
like ask them for receipts, belike okay, check your status and
show me um, because a lot of myfriends have moved around,

(03:37):
shuffled around over the lastcouple years and maybe only vote
in the presidential yeah I'm anevery race voter but, you know
we love it.
We'd love a first time voter.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Sure.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
However long it takes you to get here, as long as you
got here we're all in yes, yes,oh, and then the last thing is
election workers reallyimportant because when we don't
have enough election workers,poll workers, polling locations
close and most often they'repretty strategic in how these
polling locations close.
There's data that shows over50% of polling locations have

(04:10):
closed since like 2020.
And they most oftendisproportionately impact black
and brown communities.
So they'll strategically closevoting centers.
And then anyone who's disabled,low income, not able to get out
of work and get there in time,it creates further barriers,
longer wait time.
So it's a nonpartisan role.

(04:32):
But election workers reallyhelp power our democratic
process and ensure that everyonehas a safe, fair, accessible,
equitable chance at voting.
I signed up this year to be avote center clerk or I got an
assignment through LA CountyRegistrar, but I applied with
powerthepollsorg and we'realways looking for new people to

(04:55):
vote.
California actually pays, so ifpeople are motivated by that, I
think it's like $100 a day foryour voting assignment.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Power to the polls.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
Powerthepollsorg a day for your voting assignments.

Speaker 2 (05:05):
Power to the polls.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Powerthepollsorg.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
Powerthepollscom org.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
And we still need backups in case people call out
sick.
So there's a lot of key callouts for the states that are
remaining that need moreelection workers and now that
I've learned it it's so complexI'm like, okay, I'm in it for
life and it's going to be reallyrewarding and exciting to help
the people.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, hell yeah, and, and come on, we we owe it.
We can't have it.
Turn this onto our seniors,come on.
So thank you again for the workthat you're doing there and, uh
, for anybody that wants to findout information on how they can
be a poll worker again, we'llsee you after the break.