With few exceptions, states are cutting budgets for elections. It’s a race to the bottom. Fewer and fewer voting places and resources. Longer and longer lines.
What happens when a potential voter is confronted with a long line? Many have extraordinary determination, and will wait for as long as it takes to exercise their right to vote, even if it means missing work, increased child care costs, or other losses.
But voting shouldn’t have to be an act of extraordinary determination. It is a right. Guaranteeing that right means making it as easy as possible for every citizen, whatever their circumstances, to cast their ballot.
Lost Votes
When faced with a long line too vote, competing commitments and priorities win the day for far too many of us. There is no data, but it is probably safe to assume that for every 10 people waiting in the line, at least one drove by, or left the line without voting.
With so many lost votes, how can we say our elections reflect the will of the people?
Long Lines Anywhere in America Affect All Americans
Lack of resources and long lines affects ALL of us, whatever state we live in. If voting is difficult for ANYONE in ANY STATE, we are failing to protect our most fundamental right, and we all suffer fallout of the betrayal.
The New Poll Tax
Time is precious, and long lines to vote are intolerable. They are the new poll tax.
Lobby for “Lines=Fines”
How can we put an end to long lines to vote? The answer is to change the incentives.
One way is to enact federal legislation that imposes substantial fines on a state if their cut backs force voters in any jurisdiction to wait more than 30 minutes to cast their vote on election day. Penalties must be substantial enough to offset any money saved though under allocation of resources. Let’s make it more cost effective to ensure resources are more than sufficient to handle the highest turnout.
Write the representative of your congressional district. Write your senators. Or, better yet, get together with neighbors and friends and ask them join you in requesting a meeting with your representative or senators, or with a member of their staff to talk about the problem and discuss solutions and steps.
Encourage any political action organizations you are involved with to promote a “lines=fines” campaign.
Every Conversation Matters
This is not not just about implementing any specific legislation. It’s about transforming the discussion. It’s about reminding others of our fundamental values and ensuring that it is easy for every American to exercise their right to vote, whenever they opt to do so. (Early voting options do not compensate for failure to provide adequate resources on election day.)
Every conversation you have about the need to put an end to long lines to vote, whether it is with a lawmaker in Washington, DC or your next door neighbor, matters.
Let’s get moving in the right direction. Let’s transform thinking both inside and outside the beltway.
Whatever action you take, post a comment to let others know what you did and what the response was.