Counting Votes
Some voters are not confident in the US election system. The workers who run that system have no doubt.
Photo above: Brian Mead, left, director of the Licking County Board of Elections, talks to a voter outside of a polling location in Johnstown, Ohio. Photo by Doug Swift.
In the following audio story, Doug Swift and Jack Shuler spend Election Day with Brian Mead, the amiable director of the Licking County Board of Elections. We also talk to poll workers, board members and voters of Licking County, Ohio.
It's a story about service, community, and who we choose to trust as our storytellers. It's an inside look at how votes are gathered and counted. There's even a corny joke.
Brian Mead gets his staff on the same page as vote counting begins, 7:30 p.m., Election night. Brian represents Republicans, but at the end of the day refers to himself as "the referee." Photo by Doug Swift
Brian Mead gets his staff on the same page as vote counting begins, 7:30 p.m., Election night. Brian represents Republicans, but at the end of the day refers to himself as "the referee." Photo by Doug Swift
Franklin Davis is voting location manager at the American Legion in Newark. He says false reports of voting fraud are frustrating. "When people read or hear things like that it can shade or color their thoughts about the election." Photo by Doug Swift.
Franklin Davis is voting location manager at the American Legion in Newark. He says false reports of voting fraud are frustrating. "When people read or hear things like that it can shade or color their thoughts about the election." Photo by Doug Swift.
Freddie Latella is the Board Chair, and represents Democrats, as does Tess Wigginton, background. The board and administration are equally split between the two parties, and work together to ensure a fair election.
Freddie Latella is the Board Chair, and represents Democrats, as does Tess Wigginton, background. The board and administration are equally split between the two parties, and work together to ensure a fair election.
Doug Swift and Jack Shuler write for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.
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