Nov. 03, 2020 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – With both Nationals Park and the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy serving as voting centers for the 2020 election, our staff has stepped up to the plate to ensure Washingtonians can express the right to vote. We’re catching up with volunteers at both locations to hear about the sites, the traffic, and reflections on the overall voter experience.
Shannon Donohoe
Operations Manager, Washington Nationals Philanthropies
Volunteer role: Ballot Clerk at Nationals Park
What has been your most memorable experience about being a ballot clerk at Nationals Park?
I was lucky enough to volunteer at Nationals Park on the one year anniversary of the Nationals winning the World Series. It warmed my heart to see so many voters excitedly wearing their World Series hats and shirts while voting. I also spoke with a few voters who noted that it was their first time either voting in person or in the District. They mentioned that having the opportunity to vote at Nationals Park inspired them to come vote in person. I believe that this must have been the case for a good number of people, because even by Saturday, Nationals Park had the most ballots cast by any location in the city.
What inspired you to volunteer for the role?
I was inspired to volunteer after seeing on the news that there is a greater need this year for election workers due to COVID. Generally speaking, past volunteers have been either retirees or older community members, but due to the pandemic they are more at risk. It was heartening to see on my first day on site that there were so many other younger people volunteering. Having grown up in the D.C. area, I’ve always been engaged in our government and thought this would be a great way to help give back to my community.
What was the process like to become a volunteer?
The process was seamless! After a quick Google search, I found the Board of Elections website where I filled out a form stating my interest. We then had a four-hour training class back in August to teach us how to work the different ballot machines and review new COVID policies. We took a final test and then were approved to volunteer.
