Local Elections Count
I know that I’ve spent an awful lot of time on here talking about Sen. Barack Obama and my hopes for his presidential future. I have no qualms about singing from the rooftops that I think he is the most qualified leader for our country to take us safely from the shadows of the Bush Administration and back into the light of greatness in which America has shone for years. (Pardon the slightly Hallmark-y feel of that. I get a little misty about the election.) Still, when I cast my vote, I’ll be facing far more than a note with the words “Obama likes you. Do you like him? Circle yes or no.” Unlike our earliest days of ballot casting for homecoming queen or student body president, we have more than just a few names on the list.
In fact, we have a boat load of names on the list. As well as a bunch of amendments. And several referendums. And a line of people standing outside the voting booth, tapping their feet impatiently waiting for you to hurry up, make a choice, and move on so that they can go inside and have that same moment of frozen panic when they’re confronted with pages of information.
I’ve said over and over and over again that voting is essential. It’s one of the most important (if not the most important) actions a citizen can take to ensure his or her role in the government. This is true, but it’s also essential that you think about why you’re voting.
National elections are a big deal. If they weren’t I wouldn’t be busting my ass at the Obama office three or more nights a week. Despite my fervor for the national election, I can’t ignore what’s going on in my home town.
Growing up as I did, moving every few years, I found it difficult to connect to any one place. I landed in Colorado just before finishing high school and though I’ve lived in many locations in the state and far more apartments than was necessary for one person in the last few years, I feel rooted here. I feel a sense of ownership for this town and I am moved to keep it a place where I can be comfortable and content.
A few weeks ago we all should have received a guide in the mail that lists all of the measures on the ballot. Each issue is explained, summarized, and followed by both pros and cons. There is even a cheat sheet in the front of the book. As you decide what your concerns are, you can mark your ballot guide and they’ll even let you take your note card right into the ballot box with you. It’s like the ultimate open book test. All the questions are given to you a month in advance, you can look up all the answers before you go in, and all you have to do is transfer the answers from your paper to theirs. Should be easy.
Unfortunately, as many of us did in high school, too many people aren’t worried about studying for this important test. We figure we can just wing it when we get inside. What’s easy to forget, however, is that it can be overwhelming once you’re in your booth. You know there is a line, you know that you need to be quick, and hopefully you know that the ramifications are serious.
I’m not going to tell people how to vote on local initiatives. Actually, scratch that. I’m not going to tell people how to vote on most local initiatives. I’m still doing my research and I don’t honestly have enough information to provide anyone any real opinion or direction. I will say, however, that if you want my opinion (and I’d like to think that if you’re still here reading this you’re at least open to my opinion) I think that the amendment that absolutely cannot pass is Amendment 48, the definition of a person. More on that in it’s own post.
At the end of the day, our vote matters. On the local level as well as the national level, what we think about our government is essential.
Think about what it means as Americans to have this right. Our country is young and still learning. When we started back in 1776, only property-owning white men, usually Protestant and over the age of 21 were legally allowed to vote.
It wasn’t until l868 that black men were legally allowed to vote, and even then with the emergence of Jim Crow laws and crooked and prejudiced officials, voting in the black community was practically impossible. Two years later, in 1870, the laws were changed giving stronger rights to black American men to allow them to vote and make their voices heard in our government. Another 50 years went by before women of any nationality were granted the right to vote. We didn’t have the ability until 1920. Native Americans, as a group, weren’t officially granted the right to vote until 1947. Then let’s not forget about changing poll tax laws and literacty tests and so on in 1964 so that you could note be stopped from voting. And most recently, in 1971, the voting age was lowered to 18.
We’ve gone through all of that so that we can now share the privilege and responsibility of voting with each other and we should take that seriously.
There are several ways to vote. Registration has ended, but if you’re still concerned about your wait in line and the tapping feet outside the door, you can register for a mail in ballot. I know there is still some concern about them as a result of past issues, but this year the ballots have changed and mail in ballots are a safer and potentially far more effective way to make your voice heard. You can also vote early and beat the rush to the polls. Early voting has started in some states already and will crop up around the country in the next few weeks.
If you’re interested in registering for a mail-in ballot and having the freedom to vote in your pjs, this link will take you to the application. All you need to do is fill it out, mail it in, and they’ll send you a ballot to your home. You can also pick one up at the local Obama Headquarters at 218 S. Limit St. There are plenty of people there who are more than happy to provide you with applications and will even give them to the county clerk for you, thereby saving you the stamp. If you’re interested in early voting, click here to learn more about locations near you.
Remember that the local elections and local ballots matter. We’ve fought so hard and for so long to have this right that we need to respect it. Know the issues and be prepared. I’ve included a link to the Colorado Blue Book, which is the list of information sent to voters in Colorado with all of the information. It’s that handy cheat sheet I told you about. If you lost yours or didn’t receive it, download it and start over. Just know what’s going on.
Vote. Please.
Pro-bama ‘08!
Still concerned about the mail-in ballot. Bebe sent in her application for one ( she thinks her vote is probably more important here in CO than in Wisconsin and she really feels strongly against Amendment 48, also) and the form was returned as not completed. I watched her fill it out and KNOW that it was correct.Tracy hand carried a second one to the election office for her. I can’t help but feel that if she had filled in R instead of D it wouldn’t have happened.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:00 pmYes, everyone please vote no on Amendment 48, that is a naughty naughty amendment, and not in the good way. It scares the pee out of me. Just read this article Westword had when they interviewed the girl who started the amendment, it’s rather frightening. http://www.westword.com/2008-09-25/news/meet-kristi-burton-the-22-year-old-pro-lifer-behind-the-personhood-amendment/
October 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm[...] on her state candidates and ballot measures. If you’re a fellow Coloradan, she’d like you to do the same. (Thanks, Misa Dayson.) A few weeks ago we all should have received a guide in the mail that lists [...]
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm