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Tuesday, Nov 6, 2012 11:45 PM UTC

POLL VETERAN

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Topics: From the Wires,

POLL VETERANPeople wait in line to vote at the Neptune Society Columbarium Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 in San Francisco. Built in 1898, the Neo-Classical columbarium is one of the last remaining cemeteries in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (Credit: AP)

There are people who believe in voting, and then there’s Elisa Kennedy.

The National Association of Secretaries of State honored California’s longest-serving poll worker with a medal Tuesday for her years of service — 75 of them, to be exact.

Kennedy, 96, born before women got the vote, began volunteering as a poll worker in San Francisco shortly after she reached eligible voting age. FDR was president — and it was his first term.

“A lot has changed in politics and in the world since Elisa first volunteered as a poll worker 75 years ago, but her commitment to democracy and her devotion to her community has remained constant,” Secretary of State Debra Bowen said in a statement.

Kennedy, who has worked nearly 120 elections, said it’s the “wonderful people” who keep her coming back.

“I find it very rewarding, in that I’ve met so many people through the years and it’s been a great satisfaction to me,” she said in a statement.

— Hannah Dreier — http://twitter.com/hannahdreier

___

EDITOR’S NOTE — Election Watch shows you Election Day 2012 through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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