Poll Worker Stayed On To Be Part of 'History'

7th Presidential Race to Be Her Last

Katherine Bowman says that when she retired at 58 in 1983 from her position as an administrative aide for the federal government, she decided she wanted to do something productive that would benefit herself and her community.

Bowman recalls talking to her late sister Constance, who was a poll worker for D.C. elections. Bowman decided to do the same thing. Twenty-five years later, at 83, Bowman will be working at the polls for her seventh presidential election, making her one of the longest-serving poll workers for the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.

"I knew that they needed help, and my sister used to work there," Bowman said. "She told me about the position, so I just went down there, signed up, took a test and started working. . . . I like people. I thought it'd be interesting to do something like this. And I thought it was a civic duty."

For five years, she has worked elections at the 5th Precinct at Christ Church on 31st and O streets NW. Earlier, Bowman worked in the 3rd Precinct in Foggy Bottom.

Bowman was sure she would stop working the polls this year. But the historic nature of this year's presidential race persuaded her to work one more time. She said the thought of being part of an election that could give the nation its first African American president was something she decided she couldn't miss.

"That's why I'm here. It's history," Bowman said. "This is it. After this one, I'm not working anymore."

Besides, she said, "None of [the past elections] will compare to this one. How could it? You have a black person running for president against a woman who is running for vice president. It's history within itself, and I'm glad I can be a part of it."

Paul Albers, the captain of Bowman's precinct, knows this is her last election.

"She knows a lot of the people who come in to vote even before they check in," Albers said. "She was a captain and ran this precinct for a while. She's probably a lot smarter than me. Election days are 14 to 15 hours. A 15-hour day for me is a long day, and I'm half her age. She's very reliable, she knows all the rules and she's really pleasant to work with. I'll be sad to see her go."

The board has more than 300 new workers for this year's election in anticipation of a massive voter turnout. Bowman's advice to the newcomers is be prepared to deal with a large crowd from morning until night. Although some voters might become frustrated with the speed of the lines, Bowman said most residents come to the polls expecting a wait.

Bowman has been following this year's election closer than any other in her life, she said. She watches CNN every night for three hours and watched the three presidential debates. Bowman said she is more concerned with what her neighbors do at the polls than she is with Joe the Plummer. Neighbors on P Street in Georgetown who know she's a poll worker chat with her frequently about politics.

Born in the District, Bowman has lived in Georgetown all but three years of her life. She has seen her neighborhood change many times since her parents bought the family home in 1937. Living in a predominantly white, mostly Democratic neighborhood that can probably be expected to vote for a black presidential candidate shows her how much has changed since her childhood.

"It's remarkable," she said. "I never thought it would happen this way. It's a strange world. Things are so different now. My parents would think this is just great."