Presidential elections- a time of negative ads, intense campaigning and people lined up at their polling places. Based on social media, debates and television commentary, it appears that presidential campaigns are full of rudeness and mud-slinging, but the voter must rise above all of that once they arrive at the polls.
I participated in early voting for this year's election and saw my fair share of poor manners and tricky social situations. Whether you've voted for decades or just registered to vote this year, there are some etiquette tips that transcend party lines and nominee choices. Since we will be voting for many years to come, now is as good a time as any to brush up on our voting day manners.
Felt very presidential in my gold and blue on primary day.
My tips for surviving the polls with class:
- Get out and vote- This is the most important rule by far, mainly because you won't need to exercise your politeness at the polls if you don't even go. But really, voting is a privilege and a right that we should all take advantage of when possible. It gets you involved with your community at a local and national level and forces you to become invested in your own future and the future of later generations.
- Get informed- If you're going to drive to your poll place and wait in line to vote, you had better be informed about the items you're voting for and the individuals on the ballot. Find a sample ballot online and do your due diligence. All of the information you need is a Google search away, so you have no excuse to walk into a polling place blind.
- Practice patience- Speaking of lines, don't be surprised when you see other people at your poll place. Shockingly, they also share the same right to vote and get off of work at the same time as you. Expect to wait in line for at least an hour and don't complain about it. Use this time to research the candidates, catch up on your email or scan social media. No matter what you do to pass the time, don't spend it rolling your eyes and making other voters feel uncomfortable. Patience is a virtue, especially at the polls.
- Get good at small talk- While waiting in a long line, you're probably going to end up engaging in small talk with those in line around you. Also, there's the possibility that you end up right behind a slight acquaintance and have to spend the next few hours with them. It's not a matter of if but when you have to engage in small talk, so have a few topics ready to go. The weather, high (or low) voter turnout and the voting process are great go-to topics if you're chatting with a complete stranger. If you find yourself in line with an acquaintance, pass the time by talking about mutual friends and catching up on gossip.
- Don't get too political- Yes, you're at a political event. You're voting. But, that doesn't mean you should turn to fellow voters and start bashing political parties or individual candidates. You don't know who other people support, and throwing your views down their throat or talking negatively about their chosen candidate is plain rude. In a democracy, everyone has the right to make their own voting decisions, and it's only polite for us to respect that. Keep your conversations to small talk and save your political opinions for the poll itself.
- Respect volunteers- At your polling place, you'll see many volunteers who have dedicated their time to help you and others vote. While I was waiting to vote, I saw at least two people give volunteers attitude about how slow the line was moving or how poorly organized one aspect of the process was. Let's get real, the poll volunteers do not have control over the voting process. Also, it may be hard to remember, but these volunteers have also worked a long day and are getting everything done to the best of their ability. If you can't smile at them and speak kind words, then just keep your mouth shut.
Manners Moral: Get out and vote, but don't be surprised to see other people at the polls. Treat your fellow citizens with respect while all of you exercise your right to vote.