Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Cash and Casserole - Jacksonville Glenwood Meadows, 2:57 pm

Twenty-four year old Nena Bell was the lone campaigner at the Glenwood Meadows Community Center - a guy named Bug was there to keep her company. She was handing out sample ballots titled, "Ray's Political Enterprise." An arrow was drawn on the ballot directing people to vote for Democratic candidates Baxley, Folsom, Tyson, Cobb, Johnson, England, McFerrin, Clarke, and Parker in the state races. The ballot also endorsed Democratic candidate Larry D. Amerson for Calhoun County Sheriff.
Bell said her uncle runs Ray's Political Enterprise, which pays individuals, like herself, to hand out promotional material from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day.
"The candidates pay my uncle and he pays us," she said.
She gets $100 for the day and a free lunch from anywhere she wants.
When I went inside the Community Center I found out that 450 people had voted, a high number compared to years past, according to Tracey Beavers, a polling officials.
The polling officials seemed to be having a good time. They were laughing, and said they were glad to be there. It was a much needed break from their kids and jobs, Beavers said.
Polling officials get paid $125 a day. A polling inspector gets paid $175 a day. The pay isn't too shabby, and the food is great. They went pot luck this year - hamburger casserole, meat and cheese, sandwiches, cake.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

When I voted at the MH Center, all the workers had a spread of food. Is Vote Day a feast day everywhere? And who knew the pay for these jobs?