Once upon a time, being a poll worker/observer was on my bucket list.
In today's climate...no more!
I was a poll watcher during 'W's' term. Counting people going into the building ... matching those numbers with the number of ballots. Watching people in line -- yep, some were handing out bottles of water to those waiting in line, only to find campaign ads on the bottom of the bottle ... reporting information like that to those in place who were down from DC.
You are right, in today's climate, I wouldn't do so. Too many bat crap crazy liberal mental midgets. This country has certainly changed.