Assembly Bill 817 passes, would allow permanent residents to serve as poll workers

by Brian Leubitz

Nothing gets the Right going like a good immigration debate. Nativism bubbles rapidly to the surface. Asm. Rob Bonta’s AB817, which passed yesterday, was such a debate. The bill would allow legal permanent residents of the state to act as poll workers.

Now, the job is admittedly not really that glamorous. It doesn’t pay well, it is very temporary, and isn’t really the most exciting job in the world. In fact, it turns out that many counties have problems getting enough poll workers. But, apparently people that have gone through the effort of legally immigrating, getting a green card, etc., have no possible reason to do this job:

“If somebody is not registered to vote and they aren’t a citizen and they can’t vote, then why would they even want to sit at the poll?” asked Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point. “What could possibly entice them? Is this just another career path? I’m a bit confused.”(SacBee)

Unfortunately, Harkey doesn’t see the point of wanting to get involved in your new country. Of wanting to participate, even if you are not yet able to vote. In the world of some of these folks, poll workers are always just out to cheat the system and help commit voter fraud. Oh, by the way, did you the hear the one about voter fraud? Oh, right, because it really doesn’t exist.

But what are a few factsto get in the way of some good ol’ fashioned Nativism.

The bill now heads to the Governor.