SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) – Poll workers across the country are gearing up for a long Election Day on Tuesday, November 6. They rise and shine early and arrive early to their assigned station at 6 a.m., and usually don’t leave until after 10 p.m.
Ninety-year-old retired U.S. Army Staff Sargent William Eade has volunteered as a San Diego County election poll worker since 2002. His working days as a poll worker have consisted of 16-hour days. “I think we owe it to the community to do things for the community.”
After 16 years, Eade has elected to retire. “I don’t do well for long drawn out days. We don’t do it for the money.”
The Korean War veteran has spent a lifetime volunteering. He worked as a Sheriff’s Department weapons instructor and a first responder. “I figure someone has to do the job and it might as well be me.”
In 1992, at a Ross Perot presidential rally in San Diego, Eade met his late wife of 20 years.
Eade has volunteered at the San Marcos Casistas del Sol recreation hall precinct. He has managed and supervised poll sites, and he is bilingual. “I had a lot of nice people working with me. They were really nice.”
Earlier this week, the County Board of Supervisors honored Eade as volunteer of the month. “It’s the least we can do in terms of his service to not only his country, but also serving when he came back at the polling place,” said Michael Vu.
According to Vu, Tuesday’s midterm election will have 7,000 poll workers. “They are not only champions of democracy, but they really are the buttress of the foundation of democracy.”
Eade said he may not be able to keep up, but hopes his story inspires the next potential poll worker. “Go for it! If you can hold up the hours, do it!”
San Diegans can still sign up to volunteer as a poll worker for the November 6th, election. The deadline is Friday and volunteers must attend the last training session on Saturday.
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