Does one vote (not mine), in a state red enough glow in the dark, make a difference?
My opinion: yes, it does.
I voted days ago, with pride, for President Obama. My wife, a long-time Republican voter, would not convert to vote for our President (give me credit for trying, but no cigar), but she did choose not to vote this year sheerly out of dislike for Romney.
But this is not about our votes or lack thereof.
Today at work, a brief political discussion broke out. One of my colleagues speculated that she knew who we had all voted for (or would). I asked who she thought that was. She immediately replied, "Romney." I grinned and replied that no, I had voted for MY President with pride. She was quite amazed. She said, "You know, I wasn't going to vote, but now I think I'd like to. I'll go on my lunch."
About 90 minutes later she came up to my desk. The conversation went, approximately, like this:
Beth (not her name): Jon, they turned me away. They wouldn't let me vote.
Me: What on earth for?
Beth: They said something about they couldn't find my district, or my registration. I mean, I moved, but...
Me: No, Beth, that's not right. I moved within the last four years too. I was able to fill out a Change Of Address form right there in the polling office. It took like 3 minutes. They didn't offer you that?
Beth: No! They did it for the guy in front of me, but the poll worker said something about not being able to verify me as a registered voter. He just said I couldn't vote, and he was sorry. He said he was sorry! (She was furious.)
Me: Ok, bear with me. Did you have photo ID with you?
Beth: Yes!
Me: We are going to fix this. I need to look something up and I'll get back to you. If I can't catch you, I'll leave a posty-note on your desk, ok?
Beth: Thank you. Really.
At this point, I looked up Steven D's wonderful diary (seriously man, can't say thanks enough - to everyone who rec'd and those who reposted, too) on where to find your polling place, and fight voter suppression. I had to be in a meeting in literally 2 minutes (literally!), so all I had time to do was scribble down the Our Vote number and website, and My Vote number, add a quick note, paste it on her desk, and run like mad. (Beth was away when I went over to her area.) As I hauled my arse to a conference room, I sent a quick entreaty to the ancestors, Zoroaster, Allah, Yahweh, Kali, Cthulu, Elvis Presley and anyone else that might be listening that all would go well...
...and someone was listening, because it did. About an hour later, I got an e-mail from Beth, telling me she had gone back to the polling office after speaking with folks at Our Vote. They had advised her on what to ask for (a provisional ballot) and that if anyone tried any more shenanigans, she could call the Our Vote office from her cell phone and a lawyer would be dispatched to her location to help her. (I admit, I was grinning like a fiend reading this e-mail.) But this time, the way was clear. She was given a provisional ballot, filled it out and turned it in before witnesses, and her vote was counted. The last paragraph of the e-mail related that when people around her realized she had been turned away previously, but refused to back down, came back and had her vote counted... they began applauding.
I teared up a little bit reading that part.
Now I'll be brutally honest. This was, at best, a symbolic gesture. Tennessee is slowly... slowly... beginning to turn purple, but the urban centers (traditionally deep blue) are surrounded and outnumbered by the holdout rural districts, and some of those holdouts in particular are really virulent and nasty. I see Confederate flags with some frequency not too far from where I live, and I'm a short hop from Antioch (Nashville suburb). It's going to be a long time - within my lifespan, but a while - before TN goes blue. Is my vote going to change that, this cycle? Is Beth's?
Nope.
What this did do is inspire a younger, less self-assured female to vote when she initially met with direct (and farcical) resistance. It helped her find in herself the confidence - and, to be sure, the legal tools - to stand up to horseshit voter suppression and say aloud that she does care about her country's future, and her children's. If the God I worship is kind, she will do so again.
I take little credit for this. I was in the right place and time, and happened to know ('cause I read DKos) how to provide a bit of helpful information. Beth (again, not her real name) is the hero of the piece - as are the folks at Our Vote and My Vote, who've stood ready to help Beth and people like her throughout this grueling day, at the end of this grueling cycle, on the day of the most important election in our lives (at least, so I believe). I do feel good because all I've done previously to this is send money to candidates. I haven't phone-banked or door-knocked, and in recent days I've felt increasingly bad about that.
So I got one lucky shot to do a little good - I will take some credit, just not much - and I'm glad I could. And again, thanks beyond words to Steven D, kestrel9000, and many other folks who've compiled this vital information, propagated it, and helped keep it circulating.
You guys ROCK.
You helped someone vote today who would not have otherwise.
Thank you. And thanks to Beth for her voice and her choice.
Thanks to President Obama for being a man and leader I'm proud to fight for.
Thanks to God, fate or random chance for giving me an opportunity to do something.
I won't wait so late next time.
Thanks all for reading.