Early voting has ended, and we await the spectacle of live voting on Nov. 8. If you are eligible to vote and haven’t done so, please consider exercising your right to help decide which direction our country, state and local governments will take for next several years.
Election Day is the voters’ day. It does not belong to any political party or official, regardless of the assertions and promises any of them make. It does not even belong to the victors; the voters will decide not only whom they want in various seats of governance, but their votes also let those victors know what is expected of them.
Regular voters have seen plenty of changes in recent years. Depending on one’s perception those changes have been enacted either to make the process more secure or to make it more difficult, even to the exclusion of specific groups of eligible voters.
Changes that are new to voters this year will be the possible presence of partisan “poll watchers” milling around the voting areas. These watchers now allowed by the state in response to widespread allegations by one political party that past elections have not been fair — allegations that universally have been proven false in dozens of investigations and lawsuits. Ostensibly, these people will be there to observe the process and ensure its integrity. In the absence of past problems, however, many say they will be there to pressure and intimidate voters.
Voters don’t need to let that happen. While law permits watchers to be near voters, they cannot be in the booth, or close enough to violate voters’ privacy.
It matters not how aggressive or authoritative any poll watcher might behave, they are allowed only to observe and report any questionable behavior or action — not to the voters but to the precinct workers. They are not allowed to lobby or show support for any candidate within the voting area.
At the same time, voters who believe anyone — a poll watcher, precinct worker or even another voter — does something questionable, those voters have the same right to report that behavior.
Of course, like most every other privilege, the right to choose who represents us in the halls of governance carries responsibilities. For voters that means making the best-informed decisions possible. Find out what you can about the candidates, their platforms and their records if they’ve held office before. If they spend more time and energy criticizing the opponent than stating their own intentions, it’s fair to ask why.
Keep in mind that ours is a government of the people, and the people. Voting is the greatest privilege, and duty, in our country, and those who participate in the process should endure no intimidation, or allow their motives or actions to be questioned.
It doesn’t matter whether one votes with the majority or the opposition, for the debate that arises between competing views, the expression of concerns and suggestion of alternatives, that helps form policy that is most beneficial for the largest number of people.
We applaud and thank all those who choose to participate in the election of our officials. You are the reason our country has been the most successful democracy in history.
