Its so difficult to find parking, oh the line is so long, whine whine, moan moan. Enough already! Voting is your civic duty. You owe it to your ancestors and every single person who has suffered, sacrificed or died to obtain or maintain American democracy. My ancestors (with the exception of my Native American heritage) journeyed to the United States hoping for a better life. When a citizen chooses not to vote, they are disrespecting their elders as well as mine.
What is most disturbing is that people who are politically moderate or liberal don’t vote at the same rate as people who are politically conservative. Why? Is it because moderates and liberals are optimists and assume that their candidates and causes will win due to logic? What utter nonsense. The Presidential contest as well as both amendment issues in Minnesota are neck-and-neck this year. What will matter is the actual vote. Don’t do absentee balloting unless you absolutely have to because if you mess up the outer envelope, it will be rejected.
Grab a cup of coffee and a neighbor/roomie and venture to your polling place on Tuesday, November 6th. Due to redistricting, make certain that you are going to the correct location. The polls are open for thirteen hours, 7am to 8pm. The lines tend to be longest in the morning so visit during lunchtime or after work. Consider it as entertaining as the State Fair, terrific for people watching. Bring leftover Halloween candy to share with people waiting in line. Make it a little party. Maybe you’ll procure new friends or meet someone cute. Smile, laugh and celebrate wearing the “I Voted” sticker. It would be terrific if business owners would give away a free dessert or cup of coffee/tea to people wearing the sticker on Election Day. I’ll be working as an Election Judge.
www.vote411.org for polling location finder, do it before you go to vote!
VOTE November 6th!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Showing posts with label voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voting. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
COUNT EVERY ONE
My family has been active in the military since at least the Civil War. They fought, were battered and bruised or died for the United States of America. They sought to uphold the freedoms that we enjoy as citizens of a democratic nation. One of those rights and privileges is a “free and fair” election process. Women and people of ethnic diversity were only awarded those rights during the past 100 years and now there is a proposed Minnesota Constitutional Amendment that would disproportionately affect these people. Our ancestors would be appalled.
Yes, it is a nice concept to have every voter display photographic identification when they cast a ballot. However, a photo ID is difficult to attain for many people. My parents were born on the farm and didn’t obtain birth certificates until they needed a passport to travel. Many elders are in that situation; it would be nearly impossible to prove that they were born in the US. An estimated 140,000 Minnesotans who are completely qualified to vote would not have access to the polls. The blood of my ancestors would have been shed in vain.
Also troubling are the additional provisions of the amendment. As a Head Election Judge for several years, I observed how important same-day registration was for voters. First, many people move after the pre-registration date (October 15th of this year) and would be disqualified if this amendment passes. Second, members of the military (which includes my family) would be forced to do a two-step ballot and there is a high probability that their vote would never be counted. What a terrible irony. Third, county governments would be forced to locate money to pay for items required by the amendment. Not exactly fiscally prudent, now is it?
Finally, it is very uncommon to have a contested campaign conclusion. Very few campaigns end with a close vote. Technically, the opportunity for an “illegal” vote to sway the result of an election is miniscule. I’m willing to take that risk to ensure access for all the people who would have trouble attaining a photo ID and for multitude that would be barred by the other provisions of the amendment. That is why I will mark NO on the Anti-Voting Amendment in Minnesota on November 6th, 2012.
www.ourvoteourfuture.org
Two NOs make a Right!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Yes, it is a nice concept to have every voter display photographic identification when they cast a ballot. However, a photo ID is difficult to attain for many people. My parents were born on the farm and didn’t obtain birth certificates until they needed a passport to travel. Many elders are in that situation; it would be nearly impossible to prove that they were born in the US. An estimated 140,000 Minnesotans who are completely qualified to vote would not have access to the polls. The blood of my ancestors would have been shed in vain.
Also troubling are the additional provisions of the amendment. As a Head Election Judge for several years, I observed how important same-day registration was for voters. First, many people move after the pre-registration date (October 15th of this year) and would be disqualified if this amendment passes. Second, members of the military (which includes my family) would be forced to do a two-step ballot and there is a high probability that their vote would never be counted. What a terrible irony. Third, county governments would be forced to locate money to pay for items required by the amendment. Not exactly fiscally prudent, now is it?
Finally, it is very uncommon to have a contested campaign conclusion. Very few campaigns end with a close vote. Technically, the opportunity for an “illegal” vote to sway the result of an election is miniscule. I’m willing to take that risk to ensure access for all the people who would have trouble attaining a photo ID and for multitude that would be barred by the other provisions of the amendment. That is why I will mark NO on the Anti-Voting Amendment in Minnesota on November 6th, 2012.
www.ourvoteourfuture.org
Two NOs make a Right!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
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