Be a “Full-Participation Voter”
Be a “Full-Participation Voter”
And Make a Bigger Difference
During every election cycle, the most news coverage and the most noise revolves around the most high profile races. In a Presidential election year, the candidates for President understandably get the most focus. Even though that race is highly important, don’t let your attention to the candidates stop there. Contests for other federal, state, and local offices are very important too and often have much more of a day-to-day impact on our lives. Candidates for many of these lesser-known political offices don’t receive much news coverage or advertising, especially in the current day when the availability of local news reporting by newspapers, radio, and television has shrunk dramatically in most parts of the country. Many voters know little or nothing about these candidates and either make arbitrary selections or choose not to make a selection at all in these lower level races. That’s not the way to be a smart voter. It’s important to be a “full-participation voter” and thereby make a much bigger difference when casting your votes. Here’s how to do it.
First, understand what electoral contests are going to be on the ballot in your locality and become familiar with other election related information. Contact your local election board or check its website to find all kinds of details about the upcoming election including contests, candidates, registering to vote, polling date(s), hours, & locations, absentee voting, etc. If you have a local newspaper, watch for all stories about the offices coming up for election. Do the same with your local radio and TV stations. Take time to read and consider newspaper editorial endorsements, contributors’ op-eds, and readers’ letters to the editor. You will likely gain some insights and perspectives that you might not have otherwise known. Look up websites for the candidates and read about their qualifications, relevant experience, accomplishments, and proposed policies and priorities. Attend candidate forums in your area and prepare in advance some questions for the candidates on topics that are of particular interest to you. Ask the candidates these questions and listen carefully to their answers. Be ready to ask follow-up questions. Good candidates welcome your interest and input. Be wary of those who avoid, deflect, and change the subject. Share the insights you’ve gained with your family, friends, and neighbors.
As Election Day approaches and you discern more clearly which candidates best align with your own values and priorities for yourself, your family, your community, your state, and the nation as a whole, make a specific plan for casting your vote. Verify your voter registration and if need be, update it with the local election board. Get or update (if needed) your personal identification so that you have that documentation readily at hand when it’s time to go vote. Your own particular circumstances may dictate that it’s best to cast an absentee ballot, to vote on-site during one of the designated early voting periods, or to vote on Election Day at your local precinct. Whichever you choose, make sure to fully understand the applicable rules for casting your ballot and follow those rules explicitly. Check the election board website or call the election board office for particular questions you still have. Prior to voting, review the sample ballot published in advance on the election board website or in your local newspaper or on display at the polling station. That way, you know what to expect when you are viewing the actual ballot and can better complete your ballot fully and without confusion. If, during the voting process, you have questions about how to mark your ballot or you inadvertently make a selection you didn’t intend, pause and ask for assistance from one of the poll workers. They are there to help.
If for some reason you are told by an election official when you have arrived to cast your vote that you must complete a provisional ballot, ask questions of the election administrators on site to make sure you clearly understand what is needed for you to follow-up in a timely manner with the necessary documentation needed for you to “cure” your provisional ballot. Then do that in the allotted time frame. That way, you ensure that your vote will be counted. (Uncured provisional ballots are not counted in the final vote tallies.) If anyone attempts to interfere with your efforts to vote, immediately report that circumstance to an election official at your polling place. The election official has the power and authority to ensure that you are able to cast your vote fairly and without influence or intimidation.
Remember, voting is a fundamental right of US citizenship. That right is one that should be fulfilled with diligence, pride, and confidence. Yes, your vote is “just one vote” — but your vote counts just as much as every other individual’s vote — and is equally important as well. Collectively, our votes enable us to choose the local, state, and national leaders who will be representing our interests in the years ahead. It’s up to us, all of us. Be a “full-participation” voter and make a bigger difference.
Post submitted by James Utt, a volunteer with The Union in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Note: The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single-issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy.
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