My first time pollwatching

It was the first time I volunteered in a political campaign. I was 16 years old and the voting age was 21. So, I could not legally be a poll watcher. Still, I submitted my poll watcher credential to the election judge.

The precinct captain immediately protested. “He can’t be a poll watcher,” the guy charged. “He’s not old enough.”

The election judge, who I later learned was the precinct captain’s sister, said, “It’s OK, Sam. He can watch. He just can’t challenge anything.”

I was fine with that. I had no intention of challenging anything. I was just passing literature outside the polling place and reminding people to vote. P.S. My candidate won the precinct – and the election.

P.S. My candidate won the precinct - and the election.