Rally4Vets

Four Days That Reaffirmed My Faith in Democracy

I spent my Army career protecting American democracy and watching other countries lose theirs. So this June, I spent four days at a folding table—name tag on, "I VOTED" sticker displayed—serving as a poll worker for the 2026 primary in Los Angeles.

It was, in a word, heartwarming.

Here's what I didn't fully appreciate until I lived it: the process is secure, and it's run by real people who care. I learned firsthand how check-in works, how ballots are handled, and the genuine safeguards built into every step. If you've ever wondered whether the system can be trusted, spend a few days behind that table. It's the best civics lesson money can't buy.

But the real magic was the team—three first-time high school students, regular citizens like me, another Army veteran, and dedicated county staff. Teenagers helping seniors. Neighbors greeting neighbors. Ordinary Americans quietly exercising their right to vote. That's the country at its finest. No drama. No headlines. Just democracy doing its unglamorous, essential work.

My one piece of advice, sincerely: everyone should serve as a poll worker at least once. You'll learn how it really works, meet people you'd never otherwise meet, and walk away reminded that this whole grand experiment depends on regular folks showing up.

I showed up. Your turn.

At Pacific Subaru getting the WRX ready for the start next week of our 37 day, 6,554 mile adventure across the US celebrating America’s 250th. Subaru loves pets and so do we. Kimmy, our new service dog has begun her training. Follow our crew at rally4vets.com