Kathy Conner doesn't want to hear people say their vote doesn't count.
The Blair County poll worker and voter registration volunteer tries to convince those who don't believe they can make a difference that they do.
''I tell them they're missing the opportunity of a lifetime,'' she said. ''And they have no right to complain if they don't get out and vote.''
Conner has always watched politics and, about a decade ago, joined the board at her polling place in Antis Township at the United Methodist Church. She lives just across the road.
Conner said she believes everyone should play a part on their election boards and enjoys everything about it.
''I like meeting the people, the voters,'' she said. ''I just like that feeling of doing something.''
The other five people on the board at Antis 2 also have worked the poll year after year and, while one member died last year, another quickly took the vacancy.
''Each gal knows the other gals' jobs,'' Conner said, making their work easier. ''You can do each person's job on the board.''
Conner also started volunteering in the voter registration office last year, helping file and alphabetize the flood of applications the office receives before election time. She also makes sure area voters are up to date, filed with their correct addresses.
''I told Shirley to call if they needed help and they did,'' she said, referring to former elections director Shirley Crowl. ''I never dreamed there was so much work, and there is.''
Ingrid Healy, county elections director since August, is thankful for the help and said Conner has taught her a few things.
''I love her,'' she said. ''She's very good. She helps the girls in voter registration, and I know she'll help me more.''
Healy said Conner has given her a few pointers on poll worker training.
''I have not gone through that yet,'' Healy said in late September. ''I feel like the poll workers are going to train me - and that's great. They've been doing it for a number of years.''
As Blair joined other Pennsylvania counties in training on electronic voting machines for the 2006 election, Conner and other poll workers prepared through training sessions.
''I think the training sessions were very well done,'' she said. ''There were a few frustrated people when they went to the machines. We couldn't go in the booth with them, but we could kind of help them.''
Along with helping and encouraging others during election years, Conner keeps up with election news and enjoys being informed.
''I read everything I can,'' she said. ''I listen to everything I can, so I can make the best choice.''
She hopes all voters will inform themselves and said most voters seem to know which candidate they plan to vote for when they arrive.
Conner would prefer not to hear bickering between candidates and attack advertisements.
''I want to know what they stand for,'' she said. ''That turns me off.''
With this election season lasting nearly two years now, even Conner sometimes tires of repetition, but she said she looks forward to the remaining debates and wants to hear more about Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
''We took a vacation to Alaska this past year and didn't hear anything about Palin, good or bad,'' she said.
Conner plans to continue her election season work as long as possible.
''Either until I die or they don't want me,'' she said, smiling. ''It's very rewarding.''
Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.
