A Polling-Place Worker Says No to Prop. 52

Re your “no” recommendation on Proposition 52, editorial, Oct. 20: As an experienced polling-place worker, I oppose this proposition for two reasons. First, poll workers are difficult to recruit and retain, especially when more laws require more paperwork on election day.

Yes, workers are paid to work those 16-plus hours at the polling places, but most workers I’ve met are there because they feel that they’re doing their civic duty. Some workers are overwhelmed by the new fail-safe procedures and complicated ballots and have stopped working on elections.

Second, I believe that citizens who are concerned about what happens in their government will register to vote ahead of time. We have lots of publicity about deadlines for registering. We have safeguards in place to ensure that registered voters will be able to vote if they have moved and have not re-registered. Our country depends on an informed electorate, not on people who, on a whim, decide to vote at the last minute.

Julie Towery

San Luis Obispo