Poll worker Chen Zunni helped take votes in Oakland's Chinatown during the midterm elections. Zunni immigrated here 10 years ago, and sees first-hand the voters who take part in American democracy. (Photo by Wu Nan)

“I like working here,” Chen said. “People who live here know me, and I know them.” He is 60, emigrated from Hong Kong 10 years ago, and wore a red tie decorated with small gray whales. He looked proud when he said this was his fifth year as a poll worker in Oakland’s Chinatown.

Different types of voting materials were on the desk in front of Chen ⎯ an addresses directory, a check-in book, English and Chinese ballots, “I Voted” stickers. When Chinese people came into the room, he nodded and said “Hello” in Cantonese.

An old Chinese couple came in together. Chen greeted them, handed them the check-in book, and asked them to sign their addresses. At the same time he took out the directory to double-check their registration. He put a ruler on the directory and drew a black line under the right address. The couple filled in the check-in book quickly.

“We want ballots in Chinese,” said Tao Hengsheng, the husband. He’s 76 and emigrated from Taiwan 30 years ago, with his family. He and his wife walked to the booths at one side of the room so they could vote separately and in private. “What should we do next?” asked Tao, in Cantonese, waving his ballots.

Chen took the ballots from Tao’s hand, tearing the top slowly off each one. “Keep the top as the receipt,” he said. “Go to the scanner machine and insert the paper ballots, one by one.”

Tao walked toward the black-and-gray scanner machine, looked at his ballots once more, and inserted his papers. The machine beeped twice.

“Well done and come here,” Chen said. He handed Tao an “I Voted” sticker.

Tao smiled and put the sticker on his sweater. His wife put hers on, too. They gazed at each other happily.

Lion Dancers in Doug Chan's campaign perform in San Francisco. (Photo by Wu Nan)

“I voted for Democrats,” Tao said.

“I voted for Democrats too,” said his wife, Liu Deshun.

“It's not because Democrats are too good, but because Republicans are too bad,” Tao said. “I really don't like Bush's administration. And I am angry about the Iraq war.” He stood up straight and crossed his hands in front of his body.

“Bush lied about the Iraq war,” Tao said, raising his voice. “He said when the Americans took over Iraq there would be cheap gas coming everyday. But the gas here was raised to $3 at one point.”

Liu looked at her husband. “The valuable thing about the voting system in America is if this government is not doing well, you can wait and choose the next government,” she said. “There is always hope.”

“Voting is the right none of us should give up,” Tao said.

Ann Li, who is the managing director of the local Asian-American organization called the East Bay Voters Consortium, walked into the building. “We are trying to get more people to vote,” she said. “We went to people’s houses, and helped them register.”

Li said she hoped that more Chinese voters would eventually produce real political results for the area’s Chinese community. She pointed to Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, who is Chinese, and said Lai-Bitker knows how to work closely with the Chinese people here. Li also mentioned Oakland’s District 2 City Council member Pat Kernighan, who Li said is popular with Chinese people here. Kernighan appeared poised to maintain her seat in elections Tuesday.

At the polling station a Taiwanese-American couple said they had voted for Kernighan. They referred to her by the name used to translate Kernighan into the Chinese-language handbook: Kernigha Jian lixian. “She is very nice to Chinese people,” said Helen Hung. “Jiang came and ate in our restaurant before she became a politician. We feel very close to her.”

Brian Hung, Helen’s husband, agreed. “Democrats have been working for poor people like us,” he said. He was moved by Kernighan’s support for an entertainment center for old people like him, he said.

The Hungs walked out of the polling station hand in hand. Watching them, an Alameda County poll worker named Rosalien Joseph looked at the scanning machine and said, “Until now, 48 people have come and voted here today.”

This is the seventh year Joseph has worked the polls, she said. Each time, she has to show up the day before the vote to set up the polling facilities, such as the booths, the scanning machine, and the ballot box. She also said it takes three hours of training for spectators like her to get used to the new changes in voting methods.

“It is fun to work here,” Joseph said quietly. “But this is a long day.”