The Reals, Peace

November 3, 2020, Creswell, Oregon – An unknown person leans against a lightpost as they await a bus at Creswell’s downtown bus stop during the last hours of the election. The ballot box is visible to the right of image center, past the left upright of the bus shelter.

This image, and the following images made on the same night, were made while I sat in the shadows in my car for a couple hours observing the ballot box as part of an organized team ready to call 911 should anything untoward happen.

Ahhhh, nothing did.

Oregon has enjoyed around 30 years of mail-in voting and the slow trickle of cars laid clear the truth of our voting quickly and easily, most of us having returned our ballots within days of receipt. Lane County Elections even provides a service online that confirms receipt of your ballot, a service located elsewhere, I’m sure.

Two days earlier, Creswell had a peaceful protest turn ugly. I’m still shook. Please see my prior post and the commentary thread for information. I don’t have the strength to re-tell that story tonight. Our little town is having growing pains, and these were especially acute for some of us.

These images celebrate the peace and quiet in Creswell on the final evening of the 2020 election. The yellow-vested trio appeared for the final hour of the election, and turned out to be Lane County Elections officials present to collect the ballots at or just after 8 p.m., per established rules.

I came out of the shadows and made the Election Officials’ acquaintance as they began to collect the ballots, and they graciously allowed me to photograph them at this important moment.

I am so proud of Creswell, proud of the rule of law, proud of a system that supports the peaceful transfer of power, and happy to face a new era.