By james art By Howard Peer
They are powerful. And they count on YOU NOT VOTE!
That’s what I told a graduating class.
They count on you being too busy. Or not to leave work. Or not having transportation. Or you are not sure which one to choose.
They’re counting on you thinking the system is rigged, so what’s the point? Or think it doesn’t matter anyway. Or being confused about the photo ID thing.
They count on you to be overwhelmed by so many applicants. Or they don’t know what the bad votes contest is about. Or you don’t have time to research the candidates to choose one over the other. Or being disgusted by all the negativity. Or you think your vote won’t count anyway.
It doesn’t matter to them, I said. Any excuse will do as long as it prevents you from showing up.
They are strong and they don’t want you to vote, I said. They want you not to show up and count on you not to vote! They will raise any obstacle they can think of.
That’s what I told those school leavers we were helping to pre-register so that they would automatically be fully registered when they turned 18.
But my message also applies to some others who are not high school seniors – senior citizens.
On Tuesday, November 5th, we will have the privilege and responsibility to determine the future of our cities, counties, states and nations by electing the political leaders who will shape that future.
Failure to vote is a loss of right and non-responsibility. Ignoring the vote is not standing up when it matters.
That’s what I said.
If you let one of the hundreds of excuses keep you from the voting booth, you will not be disenfranchised. You will lose your voting rights. Not only that, you will be letting down your children, your grandchildren, your community.
But there’s more for senior citizens.
Not only do senior citizens have a responsibility to vote, senior citizens also have a responsibility to use their influence as respected family and community leaders.
Here’s what to do besides vote.
*A voter registration volunteer drives through the League of Women Voters or even by himself. (According to the NC Election Commission, any organization, group or individual may conduct a voter registration drive. No permit or training is required. Get the forms from the Forsyth County Election Commission. If you feel the need for training, sign up with the League of Women Voters , YouCanVote, or other organizations that offer this.)
* Volunteer to work with a local party or candidate by walking around your neighborhood. Campaigning means knocking on the doors of voters who are registered with your party to provide information about polling places, hours, etc. You can also use a smartphone to show the voter how to check if he or she is “active.” You can help other household members register if they need to do so. The first step is usually to contact a candidate or party’s office or website to volunteer. You will receive a script with talking points and a list of registered voters of the candidate’s party before heading to the target district.
* Volunteer with the Forsyth County Board of Elections to serve as a precinct judge or assistant during early voting or on Election Day. Judges and assistants go through Board of Elections training and are paid for the training and also for service on Election Day ($150 for judges, $120 for assistants, including student assistants, $200 for chief judges). The day is long and the work is demanding, but here the rubber of democracy meets the road.
*Volunteer with a party or candidate to greet voters at a polling station and hand out literature.
* Volunteer with a group to be an observer. Observers watch how judges manage voters in precincts and report to the chief justice or party officials any attempts at intimidation or illegal attempts to influence voters.
Whether we are still in high school or retired, we cannot allow these powerful forces to succeed in their efforts to suppress our voices.
Howard Pear retired after a career as a counselor and manager with NC Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He has conducted voter registration training workshops and is a member of the Winston-Salem Writers.