Election Day holds tremendous importance in our country, not just as the day when we vote our leaders into office, but as the symbolic cornerstone of our democracy. It is a day when all our voices are heard. No matter what you look like, how much money you make, your family’s background, or how old you are, we all have an equal say on Election Day. The openness and fairness of our voting process is what makes America the leading democracy in the world.
Unfortunately, there are those who would undermine our democracy to push their own political agendas.
You don’t have to live in a presidential battleground like Ohio or Florida to experience voter intimidation or needless restrictions on your right to vote. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear the case against Arizona’s proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration. We all have to provide ID when we first register to vote and no Arizonan has been charged with falsifying their citizenship when they registered, so why do we need extra hurdles between eligible voters and the ballot box?
And then there is the egregious mistake Maricopa County election officials made twice when they let voter registration cards and bookmarks with the wrong election date printed in Spanish go out to the public. Officials tried to minimize the gaffe, but even one misinformed voter is too many. Whether its sloppy proofreading, faulty voting machines, or lack of adequate resources on Election Day, our right to choose our elected leaders is too important to allow any mistakes.
Some may chalk these things up to human error, but unfortunately you don’t have to dig too far into the past to know that people have willingly used unjust laws and even physical violence to restrict voters’ access to the polls. That’s why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed — to protect everyone’s right to vote regardless of race and ensure no laws or policies that deny American citizens the equal right to vote are enacted. Unfortunately, Arizona has been on the Department of Justice’s watch list for our voting and election policies for decades after the law passed, and we haven’t made enough progress in the past 47 years to be taken off that list.
As recently as last election, there were accusations of poll challengers brandishing guns in front of polling places in heavily Latino districts and poll workers asking ID from minority voters but not from white voters. There are proper ways to police polling places. That should be in the hands of professional election officials, not untrained, politically motivated bullies with their own agendas.
Thankfully, there are groups like our friends at Arizona Advocacy Network who do great work to counter voter intimidation by educating voters on their rights and helping them to report and monitor incidents of Election Day harassment. But, making sure our elections remain free and fair is something all of us should take responsibility for.
Our elections should be decided by the voices of the American people, not by politicians and ideological groups trying to manipulate the system. Voting is a right, a civic duty, and the backbone of our democracy. We must protect the integrity of our elections, not by making it harder for people to vote, but by empowering each and every eligible voter to go to the polls and have their say. When all our voices are heard and when we all vote, that’s when democracy works best.
Rebekah Friend is a Mesa resident and secretary/treasurer and executive director of the Arizona AFL-CIO, the labor union federation in Arizona representing 185,000 union members through over 200 local union affiliates.
Bluepoet posted at 3:27 pm on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
Ms. Friend is an officer of a prominent Union. I think she knows all about voter intimidation, and probably from both sides, at least in Union voting. I know I do, as a former Teamster. I've seen Union members form gauntlets of silent stares, at the union polls, and I've seen company executives offer bribes to union members, to sway a vote on a new contract. It's why I'm no longer affiliated. However, I still think Unions are better than the company store.
I also have a little perspective on the matter, having been in foreign countries, where voters were not only intimidated, but killed outright, simply for standing in line to vote (I lived in the Phillippines, when Marcos took over, in the sixties).
We should all consider just how fortunate we are, to live in a country where we can vote. As flawed and rigged as our politics are, it could be so much worse...
bobunf posted at 10:32 pm on Mon, Oct 29, 2012.
Accuracy, you must know that the issue in Ohio is not whether military personnel can vote early, but whether or not everybody else can. The suit is an attempt to increase early voting, not decrease it.
bobunf posted at 10:30 pm on Mon, Oct 29, 2012.
Cas Lee, didn't you notice that the topic of the column was "Voters have a right to their say on Election Day," not what happened in the debates.
But, since you raised the subject, debate performance is clearly in the eye of the beholder, but you should be aware that the vast majority do not agree with your assessments.
Of more significance is the record. As Colin Powell put it, Obama got us out of one war, is getting us out of another, and hasn't gotten us into any new wars. That's a rather good start.
bobunf posted at 10:22 pm on Mon, Oct 29, 2012.
Somebody tell Leon it's not polite to shout all the time. Apparently his mother failed to teach him any manners - or sense.
Cas Lee posted at 7:27 pm on Sun, Oct 28, 2012.
Hello, my fellow American voters!
I watched the 4 October debates which covered 28 topics: jobs; spending/budget deficit/debt; tax reform; federal gov’t economic regulation and role; medicare; social security; entitlements (medicaid, food stamps, etc.); healthcare; gas prices; equal pay; abortion; illegal immigrants; assault weapons; partisan gridlock; negative campaign tactics; candidate misperceptions; Bush policies; Obama’s record; U.S. world role; military policy/spending; U.S. national security threats; Libya, Syria; Egypt; Israel; Iran; Afghanistan; China.
Romney and Ryan won all 4 debates, although Romney slightly won the 2nd and 3rd debates.
In the 3rd debate (unlike in prior debates), Obama reflected his weakness and disrespect by interrupting Romney a lot and using too many “one-line quips” to try to denigrate Romney.
Ryan won despite Biden’s consistently rude behavior (often interrupted Ryan, laughed when Ryan talked, pointed his finger).
Romney/Ryan won with substance, directness, integrity, respect, clarity, facts, commitment, inspiration, credibility, and leadership.
As an INDEPENDENT female feminist (egalitarian) voter, I support the Romney/Ryan ticket.
Romney and Ryan, with their no-nonsense and methodic approach to solving America’s problems, are the best persons in terms of qualifications and character to lead our country and make life better for all Americans. I hope that you are inspired by Romney/Ryan!
Best regards,
Cas Lee
FrankHenry posted at 1:23 pm on Sat, Oct 27, 2012.
Friend, you mention the voters have their say...how do you know that all our votes
are in fact being counted as we say/intend?
Accuracy posted at 9:47 am on Sat, Oct 27, 2012.
Rebekah Friend wrote: “…….We must protect the integrity of our elections, not by making it harder for people to vote, but by empowering each and every eligible voter to go to the polls and have their say.”
-------------------------------------------------
Yes, and military voters deserved special treatment because they could be deployed any time, causing them to miss the chance to vote. Military voters face obstacles that other voters don't face.
But, President Obama’s campaign has filed a lawsuit to stop members of the military from having three extra days to vote early. Arguing that the early voting disparity was unconstitutional.
Arizona is one of fourteen states that support the case on whether Ohio may allow only military (service-members) voters to do in-person early voting in the three days before the Nov. 6 election.
Opposing the President’s lawsuit are non-partisan veterans groups and military groups, include the National Guard Association of the United States, the Association of the U.S. Army, Association of the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps League, and the Military Officers Association of America. They want President Obama to drop the lawsuit and protect military voting rights instead.
k33j88 posted at 6:39 am on Sat, Oct 27, 2012.
Dear AZWillie: You are correct that federal registration forms don't require "proof of citizenship". This is a perfect example of an ever-expanding federal bureaucracy, testing and over-stepping its Constitutional boundaries. However, you lose credibility when you reference "Acorn" as having some sense of legitimacy.
Arizona Willie posted at 3:54 pm on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
AZJenjen --- I challenge you to PROVE your claims about ACORN.
Provide solid links to authoritative sources --- not some right winger Faux entertainment web site.
AZJenjen posted at 1:32 pm on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
If what "Ms. Friend" contends is true, then why were MILLIONS of false registrations made by ACORN volunteers? In some cases, tens of thousands of registrations at one bogus address in Texas. In another, tens of thousands of people - including corpses, cartoon characters and celebrities registered at a halfway house in Cleveland. The unfortunate TRUTH is that the nefarious folks who brought us groups like ACORN found and exploited a glaring weakness in our system of governance. It's time we fix it so that those who have NO LEGAL, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE can't. The ONLY way we can do that is to require ID to vote...PERIOD.
Now - what about the MINISCULE part of our population who IS allowed to vote but does NOT possess the proper ID to vote? Let's all do what we can to help them get said ID.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:07 am on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
P.S...........IS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH ???
IS THE BILL OF RIGHTS IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH???
WHEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN, A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM THE SHERIFF OR THE CHIEF ON DOWN OR A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY FROM GENERAL/ADMIRAL ON DOWN TO "ENLISTEE"................TAKE AN OATH....IS THAT OATH IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH ???
ARE AMERICAN BIRTHCERTIFICATES, PASSPORTS, DEATH CERTIFICATES, DRIVER'S LICENSES IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH ???
THIS IS AMERICA, NOT MEXICO, NOT GUATAMALA, NOT HONDURAS, NOT EL SALVADOR.............LEARN ENGLISH OR GO BACK TO WHERE EVER IT WAS THAT YOU CAME FROM !!!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:02 am on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
"AFL-CIO UNION LEADER" = THAT SAYS IT ALL..........[wink]
chatmandu002 posted at 8:58 am on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
Rebekah,
Your cry of voter intimidation and suppression are false and a "red herring" to distract from Obama's terrible record and incompetent leadership. With over 70% of the population approving of the voter ID requirement, you are on the wrong side. Voting is a right, privilege and responsibility of citizenship. Providing the required documents to vote is part of that responsibility.
Arizona Willie posted at 8:50 am on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
Ummm, nevermind, just realized that Ms. Friend said we had to provide ID -- not citizenship.
There I go jumping to conclusions again.
Well I gotta get < some > exercise :)
Arizona Willie posted at 8:03 am on Fri, Oct 26, 2012.
Ms. Friend, you said " We all have to provide ID when we first register to vote and no Arizonan has been charged with falsifying their citizenship when they registered, so why do we need extra hurdles between eligible voters and the ballot box? "
Right off the bat you are WRONG.
If someone registers using the Federal voter registration form THEY DO NOT have to provide proof of citizenship. In fact, IT IS ILLEGAL to demand proof of citizenship if they use the Federal voter registration form.
However, if they use the State voter registration form the voter registration office CAN require proof of citizenship and I believe that is what this case before the Supreme Court is about --- a group of people is trying to STOP the state from demanding proof of citizenship.
We, the United States of America, are the only major world power that does not require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.
We have been using the honor system.
People say there has been almost no cases of voter fraud and that is not surprising.Since it is illegal to ask for proof of a persons citizenship in order to register ( using the Federal form ) or at the polls ( with any kind of voter registration -- once registered they CANNOT BY LAW ask for proof of citizenship at the polls ), how would anyone ever catch an illegal voter.
All they have to do is lie and register to vote and when they go to vote, as long as their identification matches what is on the voter registration books THEY HAVE TO LET YOU VOTE. And they cannot check your citizenship.
A PERFECT CRIME.