Today is voting day in Texas, a difficult one for a lot of people who may not have matching names on their documents - especially women. I have matching names because I'm OCD enough to ALWAYS fill out forms with 3 full names (partly because I'm proud of my middle name, my mom's maiden name.)
I'm also OCD enough to have talked to friends who know about the details of specific propositions on the ballot and then to have gone online to find what supporters say, what opponents say, who sponsored the Bills that led to these constitutional amendments, what impact they're likely to have on the state or district they affect. Most importantly, I wanted Burnt Orange Report's take on all of them.
I walked into the polling place knowing what I was voting for - 7 Propositions on the ballot that will change the Texas State Constitution. It was interesting to note that the amendments sponsored by Republicans only were not favored by BOR, those that were bi-partisan were rated "not all we'd hoped for but will nevertheless help...". Being Texas, only one of the seven was submitted by Dems only.
Why does this matter? Because I had the opportunity to let the election judges know that I knew they had to let people know, clearly, that a slight difference (middle name) in ID didn't mean they couldn't vote. I was close enough to be able to see the hesitation from the voter who was handed a slip of paper with instructions for rectifying errors in registration information, close enough to say "But, of course she can still vote now, right?" and have that acknowledged. After three interventions they added that to their rap, and continued for as long as I was there to listen - maybe even after I left.
I was also able, while in line outside the polling place, to tell people it wasn't 27 propositions we'd voting on, it was 7, and then to answer questions about what they meant. I sent folks to the website that gave me the best background data (iPhones are soooo helpful), told them I'd read the pros and cons on each Prop. Then I said, snarkily, that at this point in time my stance was that if Liberals were for it so was I and if Conservatives were for it it automatically made me nervous, given what they're doing nationally to hurt people like us. I got a couple of stinkeye looks, but mostly people laughed and nodded.
I was quiet, but got more attention than I'd ever have expected to and may have done some good.
There's more to voting than checking a box. Some of these propositions sounded great on paper but had some poison pills no one was talking about publicly, some were so undermentioned I'd guess they'd be skipped by most people and one was really worth a For vote even though it didn't affect any of us.
I can't vote anymore without knowing what I'm doing. I need deeper information than I'm getting from editorial boards or talking heads. We all do. We all need to show up for every election, with the facts, with the sense we know why we're there and what we're supporting and opposing. We all need to take that risk in public, politely but firmly ensuring that people who don't blog all day long know what their rights and obligations are.
Happy voting day!!!! Here's hoping that the Republicans walk away chastened somewhat and Democrats celebrate an empowered motivated electorate, off-year or not.
10:22 AM PT: TITLE didn't publish fully, can't get in to edit: should say VOTING EDITION.