WS Chronicle

By Howard Pearre

They are powerful. And they are counting on you NOT TO VOTE!

This is what I told a class of high school seniors.

They’re counting on you being too busy. Or not getting off from work. Or not having a ride. Or not being sure who to choose.  

They’re counting on you thinking that the system is rigged, so what’s the use?  Or thinking it doesn’t matter anyway.  Or being confused about the photo ID thing.”

They’re counting on you being overwhelmed by so many candidates. Or not knowing what the down-ballot races are all about. Or not having time to research the candidates to choose one over another. Or being disgusted by all the negativity. Or thinking your vote won’t count anyway.

It doesn’t matter to them, I said. Any excuse will do, just as long as it keeps you from showing up.

They are powerful, and they do not want you to vote, I said. They want you to not show up, and they are counting on you not voting! They are going to throw up every roadblock they can think of.

This is what I said to those high school seniors we were helping pre-register so they would be automatically fully registered when they turned 18.

But my message also applies to some others who are not high school seniors – senior citizens. 

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, we will have the privilege and responsibility to determine the futures of our cities, counties, state, and nation by choosing the political leaders who will shape these futures.

Neglecting to vote is forfeiting a right and failing a responsibility. Neglecting to vote is not standing up when it counts.

This is what I said.  

If you allow one of hundreds of excuses to keep you from the voting booth, you will not be disenfranchised. You will have disenfranchised yourself. And not only that, you will be letting down your children, your grandchildren, your community. 

But for senior citizens, there’s more.

Not only do senior citizens have the responsibility of casting ballots, senior citizens also have the responsibility of using their influence as respected family and community leaders.

Here’s what to do besides voting.

*Volunteer for voter registration drives though the League of Women Voters or even by yourself. (According to the NC Board of Elections, any organization, group, or individual may conduct a voter registration drive. No permission or training is required. Get the forms from the Forsyth County Board of Elections. 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 canvassing your neighborhood. Canvassing means knocking on doors of voters who are registered with your party to provide information about polling places, times, etc. You can also use a smartphone to show the voter how to check to see if he or she is “active.” You can assist others in the household to register if they need to do this. The first step is usually to contact a candidate’s or party’s office or website to volunteer. You’ll get a talking-points script and a list of registered voters of the candidate’s party before heading to a target neighborhood.

*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 receive pay for the training and also for serving on Election Day ($150 for judges, $120 for assistants including student assistants, $200 for chief judges). The day is long and the work is exacting, but this is where the rubber of democracy meets the road.

*Volunteer with a party or candidate to greet voters at a polling place and hand out literature.   

*Volunteer with a party to be an observer. Observers monitor how judges manage voters inside the polls and report intimidation efforts or unlawful attempts to influence voters to the chief judge or party officials.

Whether we’re still in high school or we’ve reached retirement, we can’t let those powerful forces be successful in their efforts to suppress our votes.

Howard Pearre retired after a career as a counselor and manager with N.C. Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He has led training workshops on voter registration and is a member of  Winston-Salem Writers.