It’s the patriotic duty that brings them in. That, and the chance to see neighbors and enjoy a little espirit de corps.

A number of Lawrence County’s poll workers have years of experience assisting their neighbors at the voting booth.

South Point I precinct worker, Donna Deere, has been working the polls for approximately 40 years.

Her friend, Marlene Arthur, has been on the job every primary and general election for 30 years.

In Ironton, Pansy Cook has been a poll worker since 1952. That was the year Americans elected Dwight D. Eisenhower president. She wishes voters would turn out today like they did back then.

&uot;We really had a lot of people voting back then,&uot;

Cook said. &uot;People seemed more interested.&uot;

Evelyn Saunders has been on the job since the ’60s.

She said working the polls is something she can do for her country.

&uot;We all get to work together,&uot; she said. &uot;And this is sometimes the only time we can see them.&uot;

Freda Rose Holmes agrees.

&uot;I enjoy doing this, I’ve done it for years,&uot; Holmes said. She started out counting votes in the early '60s.