The Election Polls Belong to the People: Why I’m Writing Every Day before the 2026 General Election

By Maqube Reese, MSW, LSW, Founder | CEO, Tribe Consulting Firm

The Civic Literacy Project, August 2, 2026

Over the next few months, my focus is on people, not politics. I’ll be writing every day to help boost civic literacy, and I’m excited to have you join me on this journey. The Civic Literacy Project by Tribe Consulting Firm is to develop leaders, build civic knowledge, and find practical ways to engage with democracy.

In my work in public service and community leadership, I’ve noticed a common challenge: people want to get involved but often aren’t sure where to start.

• What does a county commissioner do?

• How does a local judge or school board election impact my day-to-day life?

• Where do I go to find straightforward answers without the political spin?

These are important questions, and everyone should have clear, easy-to-understand answers.

Grounded in the Polling Place: I want to share what I learned early on. I watched my mom, the late Janet E. Reese, work as an election poll worker. She didn’t just do it to get a day off work, though that was probably a nice bonus. Seeing her involved in civic life inspired me to do the same. That’s what legacy means to me. Love you, Momma. I proudly followed her path and became a poll worker myself. Poll workers check in voters, hand out ballots, and help people through the voting process. They stay nonpartisan, so you’ll see people from different parties working together. (What does a poll worker do? How do I volunteer?, 2025) Later, I became an election inspector, which meant managing the whole operation from start to finish. Inspectors open and close the polls, count ballots, and handle any challenges that come up, and there were definitely some! (2026 Poll Worker Training Standards) Still, I always enjoyed working with the other poll workers and clerks. My main job was to make sure everything stayed nonpartisan. That can be tough, but it made me feel comfortable knowing people felt safe taking part in our democracy.

It mattered to me to help create that welcoming environment. I also noticed I was the youngest person in that role, and yes, you do get paid for it. I got to greet first-time voters, longtime community leaders, veterans, and people of all ages throughout the day. I’ve truly seen democracy in action. That experience taught me something simple: democracy needs us to show up and do the work. If you want to get involved, being a poll worker is a great way to start. And yes, you get paid! (Key facts about US poll workers ahead of the 2024 election) For me, it was a way to carry on my mom’s legacy. Love you, Momma, and thank you for teaching me about civic literacy. I’m grateful to both you and Dad for being voters.

What to Expect: The Civic Literacy Project by Tribe Consulting Firm. In the coming months, you’ll get short, nonpartisan articles just 2 to 5 minutes each explaining the people, processes, and policies behind our elections.

Here’s what we’ll cover in our first week in August: the basics of democracy. The schedule will look like this:

• Monday | History of Democracy

• Tuesday | Prepare to Vote

• Wednesday | What’s on the Ballot?

• Thursday | Government 101?

• Friday | Policy in Plain English

• Saturday | Did You Know• Sunday | Why it Matters

My Promise to You: I’m not here to tell you who or what to vote for. My promise is to help you understand your choices when you step into the polling booth and how they affect your family, your community, your neighbors, and your future. I want to help you feel confident about participating in democracy. If you’re a first-time voter, you’re welcome here. I invite you to follow along as we learn together, discuss civic issues, and strengthen our democracy, one article at a time.

Join me…like and share if you can!

References

(2025). What does a poll worker do? How do I volunteer?. U.S. Election Assistance Commission. https://www.eac.gov/what-does-a-poll-worker-do

(2026). 2026 Poll Worker Training Standards. California Secretary of State. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/help-strengthen-our-democracy/poll-worker-training-standards

(October 23, 2024). Key facts about US poll workers ahead of the 2024 election. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/10/24/key-facts-about-us-poll-workers/

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About the Author

Maqube Reese, MSW, LSW, is the founder of Tribe Consulting and an award-winning civil rights leader, educator, and strategist committed to strengthening democracy. She believes civic literacy, leadership, and public service are essential today. Maqube received the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Award for her civil rights work and the NAACP Indiana Youth and College as the inaugural award winner of The Jason Hayes Presidents Award, recognizing her dedication to empowering young leaders. 

As a former Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service under the Biden and Harris administration, she addressed complex challenges in civil rights, public safety, and conflict resolution. Reese also served as an Associate Faculty at Indiana University Bloomington, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. She was an Associate Director for the Kelley School of Business, recruiting and retaining top talent across the nation. Her experience with real-world practice, coupled with academic scholarship, provides an opportunity to introduce real challenges and navigate a solution-focused mindset.  

Reese currently works at Indiana Black Expo, Inc. as their Director for Youth and Family Programs, a statewide organization, and her belief in democracy is strongest when people understand how and why it CAN work. The principle of Vincent Harding, a predecessor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., historian and peacemaker, guides her. As historian and civil rights scholar Vincent Harding reminded us, "We are all a part of each other." Democracy is not an individual act but an interconnected responsibility. Every election, every conversation, and every generation inherit the work of strengthening the human experience.