Earlier this week, I spent a long, long day—from 5:30 a.m. until 8:20 p.m.—as a poll worker.

As always, I came home exhausted, feeling virtuous, civic-minded, and happy. I always have a great time. That's why I’ve worked every election for the last decade. I even schedule my classes so I can do it.

Part of it is that I enjoy the work. I like greeting my neighbors, looking up the addresses of students excited to be voting for the first time, and watching "children" who are senior citizens carefully guiding their parents through the lines.

But most of it is working with the other poll workers. That’s interesting because, like all polling places in Ohio, poll workers are carefully matched. Half of us are registered Democrats. Half of us are registered Republicans. All of us are committed. To be a poll worker, you can't switch parties, and you have to vote every election.

Not only is the polling place balanced, but each station is as well. Every station where we check IDs and print ballots is staffed by a Republican and a Democrat. Every station scans ballots. Every help desk. The manager and assistant manager. Even the folks wiping down the machines and handing out the styluses.

We aren’t allowed to discuss politics, but our badges are coded so we can tell party affiliation with........

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