If anyone has any problems voting today -- said problems may include, but are not limited to, finding the polling place, voter intimidation, accessibility issues, voting machine problems, and provisional ballot issues -- or if anyone witnesses anyone having these or any other problems, the Verifiable Voting Foundation has a toll-free line for you to call. It's 1.866.OUR.VOTE -- or if, like me, mnemonic devices such as "OUR VOTE" actually slow you down considerably when you're trying to dial, that's 1.866.687.8683. Don't be skittish or ashamed about making that call; they're there to help.
Voting, in my opinion, is a citizen's absolute minimum duty in America. This is our government, no matter how little it resembles a good government, and we have the obligation as citizens to make it a good government, first on Election Day and then on every day thereafter. There are only bad reasons for not voting. Negative campaigning is an especially bad one -- you do realize politicians run negative campaigns in order to alienate voters and make them stay home, right? If you stay home, you can't vote against them! And cynicism about the state of the nation is not only a bad reason to stay home, it's a bad reason to do anything. Sure, things get pretty discouraging at times. But I refuse to drink from the cup of cynicism, and I pray that I always have the strength to refuse that cup.
Comments