As noted in my previous blog, I am currently working with my mom at a high-volume precinct in San Francisco. Before 6:45am, we already had more than 20 people lined up outside the precinct office. We've got voters filling out ballots in the hallway, and overflow in the school cafeteria.

I've been serving as an inspector at every election since I turned 18, and my mom has volunteered during elections since the early 1990s. But, as mainstream medias and alternative forms of media i.e. blogs, reveal that this is certainly the election of a lifetime. How exciting is it for me to not only be an observer, but to also have the opportunity to engage in the political/electoral process.

Since 7am this morning, I've been meeting and assisting a significant number of first-time voters. Many were nervous: Am I supposed to fold it a certain way? What pen do I use? Is the line I drew to indicate my selection to long, short, wide-- will the machine read my vote?

Thanks for being so patient with me... it's my first time to vote.

I seriously got goosebumps when I heard this from more than first-time voter. For years, eversince I became aware of the power of the ballot, and more importantly, how that right was not so in other countries, let alone, many cities around the U.S. (Yes, disenfranchisement is still real in the U.S.) I was moved to see people who've been eligible to vote in previous elections, and only now, have decided to get up and have their voice heard at the polls. 

Part of me thought, did Obama or a crumbling country inspire you to envision a better country (hopefully, both).

But, it did pain me to have people come in who weren't registered, come into my precinct and say, "No one told me. I didn't how to register." As I reflect on the campaign, I wonder, could we have done more in the taken-for-granted San Francisco? Were we too concentrated in certain landmarks and barely visible in other areas?

Then, I thought about the power given to me as an inspector, and to the other volunteer pollworkers: the power to eliminate or contribute to voter intimidation. Uncertain/undecided voters, visually challenged voters, limited English proficiency voters, the elderly, first-time voters, the list goes on, are potential targets. 

While I have strong political opinions, I am just as concerned about  making sure no one is persuaded or intimidated to vote one way, or disuaded by the people, like myself, who are supposed to be protecting them for experiencing such problem. I've observed the Catch-22: get Americans to take charge of the precincts, lead polling sites, but watch out: our advocate may be the political bully in disguise. 

Yes, more needs to be done to not only reach out, but engage and educate our fellow Americans, so they can truly make politically informed decisions instead of voting yes/ no on something because a friend said so.