Let Us Vote!

Regardless of political opinion, ideology, allegiance, or party the right of every eligible American to vote is something that should be held sacred. Our right to vote is what binds this country together. Our entire system of self governance is built on the right to vote, not the privilege, the right. It is not something that is afforded to you because of some deed, or good work you have done. It cannot be earned. It is something that every American, at the age of 18, has the undeniable guarantee they will be able to do.

Unfortunately, those on the right, those who claim to be the never-ending protectors of the freedoms we enjoy, are attempting to stifle the most fundamental right Americans have to protect the Union. Voter suppression is not something new. It is not magically appearing this election cycle. Suppression has arguably always existed in modern politics, in some way or another, but I cannot remember or find it being so openly sought after by elected officials as has been the story this election cycle. If it weren't for Ohio's Secretary of State, Jon  Husted, or Florida's Governor, Rick Scott, we might be able to write off such blatant intimidation efforts like the Ohio and Wisconsin voter fraud billboards as simply a more vigorous attack by private citizens and groups on minority voters then years past. But these attacks are not confined to so-called “concerned citizens.” Instead, Republican state officials from across the country, ranging from Governors and Secretaries of State to county and city election officials, have been actively reducing the amount of time available for voters to vote early and making it more difficult to vote overall.

There are several reasons that are put forward to explain why this suppression is so vitally needed. These reasons usually involve the rampant “voter fraud” existing in the system or attempting to lower the cost of an election. First, the issue of in person voter fraud is nonexistent. Don't take my word for it. Just read this 45 page analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice. As far as lowering the costs associated with elections, it seems odd that the groups that are supposedly protecting our freedoms would be worried about how much it costs to administer elections, the very thing which our freedom is based on. I suppose I can understand it being a valid conversation, but I personally reject the idea that administering an election could ever cost too much.

Nonetheless, the reality of voter suppression in this election cycle is clear. Whether it is Ohio's Secretary of State trying to reduce the amount of days of early voting, intimidating billboards in minority neighborhoods from “A Private Family Foundation,” or Florida's Rick Scott refusing to extend early voting hours to alleviate lines of upwards of six hours in some cases, the vote is being suppressed. Curiously, we're not hearing about any of these issues in Republican strongholds. Places like Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas seem to not have any problem with voter fraud or suppression. I find it disturbing and comical that these suppression efforts are being so blatantly targeted. They aren't even making an effort to hide the fact that they are attempting to suppress a very targeted group of voters. Democrats.

Voting isn't supposed to be hard. Voting officials shouldn't be centerpieces in an election. They are kind of like referees in sports. If you notice them, then they are doing a good job. If there are long lines and people are having to give up an entire workday and bring food and water just to vote, then you are not doing a good job. This is not difficult. Your partisanship is ruining our democracy. If you are actively working against bringing more people on voter rolls and allowing them to vote then you are not truly protectors of our Constitution. In fact, to deny the right to vote is truly un-American.