The Unsung Heroes of Election Day

By Cindy Green, Democratic Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates, District 44

As this article comes out right before Election Day, I hope everyone is doing the most American thing you can do, voting. Whether you vote early, by mail, or at the polls, you are taking part in something that defines who we are as a country.

Of course, if you live here in District 44, I hope you will cast that vote for me. But more than that, I hope every citizen, no matter their party, does their civic duty. Voting is powerful. It is how ordinary people move mountains.

But today, I want to talk about another group of people, the unsung heroes who make sure your vote actually counts.

Most folks never learn their names. They are not on campaign signs or in TV ads. But these men and women, our registrars, electoral board members, and poll workers, are the quiet backbone of democracy.

In Virginia, each locality has a three-member Electoral Board appointed by local circuit court judges. These boards oversee elections and hire the General Registrar, who runs day-to-day operations. The registrar’s office handles everything from voter registration to ballot printing and machine testing. You can learn more about this process at the Virginia Department of Elections.

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Here in Washington County, VA, the registrar is appointed by the local Electoral Board, which is balanced between the two major political parties. The same is true for The City of Bristol VA and Russell County, VA. It is designed that way so elections stay fair and transparent, no matter who is in power.

Then there are the Officers of Election, what most of us call poll workers. They are the friendly faces who check your ID, hand you a ballot, and make sure the process runs smoothly. Virginia law requires that these officers be trained, impartial, and whenever possible, represent both political parties equally.

It is a long day for them. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. They are there before sunrise setting up machines and after dark securing ballots. They do not do it for the money. They do it because they believe in this country and in their neighbors.

And this is not just true for Virginia. From the small towns of Appalachia and the Blue Ridge to the plains of Kansas, the hollers of Kentucky, the pine hills of East Texas, and the Dakotas, rural America runs on these quiet, steady hands. When the spotlight shines on national elections, these are the folks keeping the lights on, often in borrowed buildings, school gyms, or volunteer fire halls.

In an age where faith in democracy can feel shaky, these local heroes keep it steady. They remind us that the system still works because good people still make it work.

Here in Southwest Virginia, and across rural America, we understand that kind of dedication. It is the same work ethic you see at the firehouse, at the hospital, at the feed store, and in the small businesses that hold our towns together. It is the belief that no matter who you are or what you believe, your voice matters just as much as anyone else’s.

So if you are in line to vote tomorrow, take a second to thank the folks running your precinct. They are not just there for you, they are there for democracy itself.

And from me, a heartfelt thank-you to all those who make this process possible in Bristol, Abingdon, Washington County, Russell County, and every rural county in America where neighbors still look out for one another. You are the reason faith in elections still lives strong in America.

When I talk about being the hardest working Delegate in Richmond, it is people like you who set the example. You remind us that real democracy does not live in big offices or political war rooms. It lives in small towns, on church pews, and behind those folding tables at the polls.

To all the unsung heroes of Election Day, thank you.

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