By JEFF EPSTEIN
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WINDSOR, Vt. — Rain is famous for holding down voter turnout. With the rain coming down in buckets, the downtown on this election day is quiet. Of course, it’s quiet nearly any day in Windsor.
The polling place downtown is at the municipal complex. Normally the sign out front stands on its own, simply announcing the presence of the town departments. On this day, a flock of campaign signs surround it, in a rainbow of colors. This is what campaigns call “visibility.” It is supposed to remind incoming voters of who they can vote for. With the rain coming down in sheets, the visibility isn’t all that visible.
The actual voting place is not in the police or fire stations, but in the attached gymnasium. Outside, in front of the steps, was more campaign visibility, but this time with real campaign volunteers holding the signs. But not many. Only a handful braved the rain.
In front of the volunteers in the steady rain, there is a steady trickle of voters. Very few at any one time, but they keep showing up every few minutes. Families with children. Single men. Elderly ladies, some with canes, some with friends, some with more elaborate support systems. They all walked with great determination, in the rain, toward the front entrance. With one, a reporter’s query of why is met with a glare.
“It’s important, that’s why!” she snaps.
Not everyone is headed in. Some are headed out, having completed democracy’s duty. Asked if it is busy inside, one person says, “No, it is very UNbusy. They will welcome you!”
After going up the steps and heading in, voters bypass the registration desk where gym members normally sign in. They approach the open doors to the gym, where the tables and voting booths are, but are first confronted with a large orange sign taped to the door.
“An election official will admit you when a voting booth is available,” it reads. By way of further explanation, it adds: “This is an attempt to keep the noise down in the voting area.”
It is so quiet inside the gymnasium, one can hear paper rustling as the election officials check the registration rolls for the person for who has been admitted. There is no line and no noise. A few voting booths are inside. They all have people standing in them, quietly voting.
On the other side, those who have voted leave the gym. In the hallway, they come to see clipboards and flyers; they are opportunities to sign up for newsletters and other forms of community involvement.
Exiting is not a problem. Outside, the rain has let up a little. A few more candidates have live volunteers holding their signs. The parking lot is pretty crowded, but some vehicles are quickly started and backed out.
“Got that done,” said one man, mostly to himself. He got into his pickup truck and drove away in the rain.
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