Taylor County early voting, Day 9: 2,273 vote in person Wednesday
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Taylor County election judge takes the process seriously

Like Captain America, Taylor County election judge Lara Carlin urges residents to exercise their right to vote.

When then-Taylor County Democratic Party Chairman Dave Haigler nominated Lara Carlin to become an election judge, she didn't know he'd passed her name along.

"It's the chair's job to kind of come up with election judges on each side, they try to fill those slots as much as they can," she said."... I didn't know how (former Taylor County Election administrator Kristi Allyn) got my name or anything, I didn't figure it out until later."

Now, it's something she's done for a decade and a half, and Carlin wouldn't trade the opportunity.

Someone has to do it

Starting at Johnston Elementary's voting site, Carlin, now 51, worked there for about seven years before moving to the voting location at Zion Lutheran Church.

Preparing things so that people can easily vote is work but worth it, she said.

"We secure the location, and on the day before set up the machines and make sure everything is operating properly," she said. "And then, the next day, we show up about 6 a.m. and get everything set up so that at 7 a.m. when we open the doors, we're ready to go."

Election Day then becomes about answering questions and making sure voters know what they need to know, from operating voting machines to getting through the process successfully.

Freda Ragan, Taylor County's current election administrator, said Carlin has served well in her role as a judge and as a member of the county's Early Voting Ballot Board.

"She is committed to the efficient, fair and neutral conduct of the election process," Raga said. "She always maintains a positive and professional attitude no matter the circumstance."

Important task

While she's always been politically active, Carlin said working elections — and making sure people get to exercise their right to vote — somewhat sacred to her.

"(It's about) making sure that I have all the information they need, that I am ready for them to come through that line and do it successfully and easily," she said. "Everybody who is a registered voter gets to vote, and that's what is really important to me."

And while party affiliations may exist, judges and workers readily set those ideologies aside for the good of all voters, Carlin said.

Many people who choose to not vote say they don't because they believe their vote doesn't make a difference, she said.

"But it's such a privilege to be able to do it," she said. "... All those people saying it doesn't make a difference, if they all voted it would make a huge difference. And I think it's a responsibility."

Voting makes one "part of the conversation," she said.

"If you have an opinion, you've got to make sure you show up," Carlin said.

Positive changes

Election Judge Lara Carlin, second from left, joined three others Thursday to gather mailed-in ballots in preparation for Saturday's election in Taylor County.

Voting is in some ways easier these days, with lots of time for early voting and more convenient voting centers located throughout the county, she said.

Technology also has made workers' tasks easier, with more information available at their fingertips, she said.

"The most rewarding thing to me is those days where (you can help) someone who hasn't voted in a long time or never voted before or used the machine before," she said. "I've helped people who have never voted before who are senior citizens."

It's exciting to watch those first-timers cast a ballot, and Carlin also said that she has seen more people in minority communities, some of whom previously felt discouraged when it came to voting, showing up for elections with more regularity.

"At a certain point in history, they were discouraged from it, and so they felt powerless," she said. "And once they felt powerless, they just thought, 'Whatever, I'm not going to worry about it.' They thought it would never make a difference."

But, more and more people from diverse groups are becoming active participants, many voting in local elections and then "catching the bug" to go on to vote every time.

Making connections

Carlin also said that she has seen just how important it is for those running for office to make close connections with the people that they ultimately want to serve. 

"You can really see the effort of the candidates and their campaigns," she said. "You can see so many times someone you didn't think had any chance at all, (but) if they've gone out and block-walked and knocked on doors and called, it makes a huge difference."

Carlin doesn't see stopping her participation anytime soon, and said she's personally always on the lookout for people, whether they be Republican or Democrat, who would make good election judges.

That has become especially important as some people who have worked long term are aging out, and not as many younger replacements are coming in.

"I give a spiel whenever I get a chance about (how) this is really important," she said. "I know the party stuff, a lot of times, get the fanfare and the hoopla. This is hard work. It's a 14-hour day no problem, and it's a hard day.

"But it's only one day, and so most people can do it. And I really think it's important that people take the time and make sure that people get to vote."

Saturday election results

Go to reporternews.com for results for Places 5 and 6 on the Abilene City Council, Wylie ISD Place 3 race and Big Country elections.