RK ARCHIVE - Practical Civics 101; a case history

I've never been especially interested in politics. Growing up in a country where "you can vote but you cannot elect" -- as my Mother summarized the political situation in "socialist" Poland -- does not encourage you to participate in the democratic process. You went and voted; the party representatives would hound you if you didn't... They'd come by your house several times a day, offering to drive you to he polls, to babysit your children, to do your shopping and house-cleaning for you... *Anything* to be able to post the 85% participation the next day . So you voted. But you didn't pay much attention to who you voted for; it was all the same.

Here... I had too much pride to "vote stupid", which meant that I had to read up on candidates and issues. It's boring stuff, especially if, deep in your heart, you don't really believe that your vote will make any difference because all your experience is telling you otherwise. So I read, but just enough to make my mind up. I noticed that I tended to vote for Dems almost all the time, but I didn't go postal just because a Repub won. How much damage can one do in 4 -- or even 8 -- years?

The 2000 presidential elections jolted me out of my complacency; the whole circus was sooooo reminiscent of "home"... the votes not counted, and the votes (perhaps) counted twice, and the final decision coming "from above"... Welcome back in USSR (and the orbit countries). The results -- Bush's rule -- were as devastating as I had thought they would be. I began to read up on issues not just from an obligation any more, but from a sense of urgency -- if *I* don't keep a beady eye on the bastards, who will? But 2002 went, and then 2004, and all my "reading up on issues" didn't do a blind bit of good; the whole train continued, brake-less, on an accelerated track to perdition, and there weren't enough foolhardy idiots to try and hang on to it to stop it. What to do?

I'm a housewife, without a regular source of income other than the "pin money" I get from my husband and an occasional part-time job here and there, so finances are never all that healthy. But, by '05, I began to contribute a -- teeny, tiny -- bit to political causes (UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and Ammnesty Interntional remain the biggest recipients of my -- negligible -- "largesse"). Tim Kaine won that year. Not really surprising, since he followed Mark Warner, but a bit of cheer to hug to one's chest. So, in the fall of '06, I dipped my toes further and "went active"; I made contact with the local Dems and started haunting the headquarters, offering to do any odd jobs that needed doing (other than going door-to-door or phoning. I'm too shy for the first and my English isn't up to the second).

Jim Webb knocked Macaca off its perch that November. Other Dems did equally well, all over the country. The train wreck was still going forward, but at a slower pace; hope was around the corner. With just a little bit of an effort, who knows what could be done... In January '07, I took a few deep breaths to pump up my courage and volunteered to serve as an officer of elections. Filled in a form, took an oath and, about 3 weeks ago, got a packet of papers to read in preparation for the training session.

Which took place on June 5th -- a week prior to the primaries. Thankfully, since I wasn't sure I "got it" all, I was designated as an alternate. And I got permission to come and watch the more seasoned officers during the primaries, to learn more; I've always been the "monkey see, monkey do" kind of macaca. And primaries are a good time to learn, since they're slower than the general elections, with fewer people coming to vote.

These were Republican primaries; the 24th district has only one Dem running for the Senate. It was Sayer vs Hanger, with Sayer a "local" (I'm in Lexington). Judging by he yard signs, the chances were about even. Judging by the campaigns... Hanger sent about a flier a day, the week leading to the primaries. Sayer sent a pair of door-knockers on Saturday. Clean, young (early twenties), things -- it was a pleasure to see youngsters involved in the political process.

Perhaps I was mean... Once I told them I wouldn't vote for a Republicancer if they paid me (6 yrs of Bush having turned me from "reasonable" to "rabid"), they asked if I knew any neighbours who might. We don't go much for yard signs in my neighbourhood ("tacky", my husband says), so it's a bit of a mystery, but... "Try accross the street" I said, "the lady of the house hangs around with someone whom I know to be a racist bigot; they might vote for your candidate". The clean young things scooted. Accross the street, as directed :)

So, yesterday, I went and observed the process and the procedures. The "traffic" was brisker than expected -- the precinct averaged about 25 people per hour -- given that it was a primary and that only one party was really involved in it. I "got" the routine within half an hour at most. During the 3.5 hrs I was there, only a few "iffy" voters showed up. None of them were challenged. And none were processed *quite* according to the "rules". Whenever the officer flagged a problem, and called a supervisor, the supervisor "took care" of it. Required papers *were* fiilled out, (I think), but the voter wasn't marked in the register with the appropriate designation. So, next time around, nobody will know there *had been* a problem.

One of the "problems" got me really upset. It was a young (30?) woman, who works as a bagger in a local grocery store. I think she's a Down-syndrome child or something like that. At any rate, she was unable to recite her full name or address -- supposedly a requirement. But we were told to check her off the register anyway (how on earth did she ever get registered?) and issue her a voting ticket. The mother then said she'd have to "help" her to vote. And off they went, a-clicking on that screen. Filled the paperwork (needed help) *afterwards*, and the register wasn't marked in any way.

As far as I'm concerned, this was a clear instance of what Rove's been after all those years -- voter fraud. The mother got to vote twice.

I've been stewing over it all day today, and tomorrow I'm taking my skinny butt off to the registrar to clarify the state's position on the voting rights of people who are -- chronologically -- over 18 but who are also -- mentally - under 5. I got so ticked off in fact, that I voted myself :) For the lesser evil -- Hanger. I'm afraid Cox doesn't have a snowflake's chance of winning in 24th, so trying to get Hanger elected in the primaries is, in a manner of speaking, a way to cover my butt for the next few years. Hanger won. Now, I can start working *for* Cox and *against* Hanger. And against all odds.

Sigh... Practical Civics 101 is a tough course for a moderate, basically a-political "furriner".

Comments

There is a gray area with people with special needs (Hugo Estrada - 6/14/2007 3:01:38 PM)

For the parents of children with special needs, trying to give a normal life to their children is a strong priority. I know that this is a charitable view. In any case, it still looks bad.

Does anyone know what laws do we have about how to handle these cases?

Civics PS (libra - 6/14/2007 6:16:30 PM)

Well I did go by the registrar's office today and asked her. She said I wasn't the first person to complain about the situation; that people in both parties are upset about it. But, she said, there's nothing that she can do. The only way the young woman could be removed from the rolls is by court order. Someone would have to bring up a case to the court. Guardians would be the natural ones but, obviously, it's not in the guardians interest. A concerned citizen could do it too, but would have much less of a standing. Besides, who wants that much hassle and who wants to spend all that money?

What she also said is that there's an even greater problem -- simply because of numbers -- with the elderly with Alzheimer's, some of whom don't even know their family, much less who's running for what office. But their children will pick up their absentee ballots and bring thm all filled in...

I realize that parents want their children to have, as normal as possible, lives. But there are things that young woman will never be able to do -- for example to pass a driver's test for a license. And I doubt she cares much, either way, about voting; I don't think she'd feel deprived. Indeed, come th general elections and the place is crowded, she may even feel uncomfortable about it.

But anyway, it just doesn't seem honest to me.