Post 667 - October 26, 2024

It is a perfect day to vote. The sun is shining. It’s a bit chilly. There are few stellar days in New York City, weatherwise, during any given year, but this is certainly one of them.

Today is the first day of early voting in New York. Our polling place is about five blocks away from us, up Amsterdam Avenue.

Last night we went to see a friend in a show that he wrote. I was as moved by his work as I was by the musical, itself. I feel so fortunate to be a part of such a creative community. Michael and I are surrounded by friends who are actors, directors, writers, painters, poets, musicians, and designers. If our friends aren’t making something themselves, they are going out to see someone else’s work or helping them put it together.

This world is something we usually take for granted. That we can do what we want, when we want, and say almost anything we feel like saying without fear of reprisal is not the norm in the world. It is a bitterly fought for freedom. Because few of us were around for the war that got it for us, it is easy to forget just how difficult a fight it was.

The musical we saw last night was, at times, critical of the United States government in terms of its treatment of Native Americans. The piece was about far more than just that. Nonetheless, that clear-eyed look at our government’s complicity in what has been generational genocide was always there as an undercurrent to the story.

In another country, our talented friend may not have been able to speak up about any of it. Even privately, criticism of the ruling party in some places could wind you up in prison or hanging from a gibbet.

The original Constitution of the United States of America never comes right out and says that we, the people, have the right to vote. All it says is that anyone eligible to vote for representatives in their state’s legislature is also eligible to vote for their delegate to the House of Representatives. The original Constitution left it up to the individual states to decide who would and wouldn’t be eligible to vote.

In the beginning that usually meant that property-owning white men were the only segment of the population with a say in our government. In New Jersey, interestingly, gave free men and women of any race the right to cast a ballot. They stopped letting Black men and women vote in 1807. Slowly, the landowner qualification began being let go. It was only in 1856 that North Carolina stopped requiring property ownership in order to vote.

In 2024, how we vote and who is allowed to vote is still not fully federally mandated. Each state still has the power to decide for themselves. Some states do not allow convicted felons to vote. The Republican candidate can, however, still vote for himself, because Florida lets felons go to the polls. New York began allowing convicted felons to vote in 2021 provided they’ve served their sentences.

Over the years, of course, the United States Constitution has been added to. The 14^th Amendment gives every person born in this country or who has been naturalized the right to citizenship regardless of race. The rights of citizenship, including the right to vote, are included in that. In case there was any confusion, though, the 15^th Amendment specifically states that voting rights cannot be restricted due to race.

The 17^th says that states must elect Senators through the popular vote. The 19^th finally allowed women to vote in every state. Wyoming had already given women the vote in 1869. The 24^th bans poll taxes which were used to keep the poor out of the picture, and the 26^th says that anyone over 18 can vote.

These Amendments gave the federal government more power to control national elections. They also gave Congress the ability to legislate and enforce voting protections. There are some notable laws such as the Enforcement Act of 1870 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that allow the President to bring charges against violators.

That brings us to where we are now. The Republicans can’t win in a fair election anymore. As the party has fallen under the thrall of wealthy would-be oligarchs and corporations, their policies have become less popular with voters. Over the last few decades, the Republicans have made it very difficult for the system to work the way it should. They have done everything in their power to skew the advantage in their favor.

The systematic dismantling of the public education programs in this country has resulted in a less informed and more easily manipulated electorate. As a people, our critical thinking skills have all but vanished. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the MAGA movement. This trend toward the dumbing-down of America reached its peak during the former-President’s administration under the then Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. She did everything she could during her time in office to dismantle our education system completely.

Legislation passed by the Conservative-stacked United States Supreme Court has also weakened much of our federal oversight ability. The Republicans want to restore all power back to the states. They know they’ll never get anywhere with the blue states on the coasts, but if the red states in the middle can do what they like and disenfranchise anyone they please, the Republicans can then rule the country no matter what the majority wants.

It's a shame the Democrats didn’t do more to fight against the steady stream of little changes the Republicans have been putting into place for years. Now that they’ve formed a seam we find ourselves facing an election where the oversight is in the court of the Republican candidate’s hand-picked flunkies. Local, state, and federal judges, as well as those sitting on the bench in the highest court in the land, seem primed to do the Republican’s bidding no matter what we all decide on November 5.

I woke up this morning at about 8:30. Our polling place had opened a half hour before.

During the 2020 election, which fell right in the middle of the pandemic, I had to stand in line for hours. This morning, I got there right after ten and there were only a few people standing in front of me waiting to get in. There was an army of volunteers keeping us all moving.

In addition to the choice of candidates are a series of state legislative proposals whose only point seems to be to further limit the power of we, the people. Proposals 2-6 seem dodgy to me. The first one seems OK. I filled out my ballot, submitted it, got my “I Voted Early” sticker, and left about ten minutes later.

I walked back out into this glorious day having done my civic duty. Voting is not only a right but also a responsibility. This nation requires us to participate in it regularly. Voting gives us the right to be able to complain about the results. If you don’t vote, you don’t get to bitch. Voting is also a privilege that we are beyond lucky to have.

There is a lot at stake during this election, not the least of which is our individual right to vote at all. Should the federal legislation that is designed to make us equal on election day be eroded any further, many people are going to find themselves without a voice at all.

So, over the next week leading up to the official day on November 5, sing out Louise! Make a joyful noise. Make yourselves heard. Get out and vote!

I did a little singing of my own this morning and it felt great!

(Thanks to Democracy Docket for the information about our voting rights and the Constitution.)