|
Voting Matters
It’s time for elections in our country. Many states, such as here in Massachusetts, have early voting and mail in voting to assure that anyone who wants to exercise his/her/their constitutional right to vote, and is legally registered to do so, may cast a ballot in the state’s designated manner. No one is being forced to vote early or by mail or on Election Day. Those are simply choices left to individual voters.
I have the privilege of being a poll worker. A role I take seriously and feel strongly about undertaking. I work early voting and tabulation of mail in voting as well as physically being present at my precinct every Election Day. I’ve seen how each poll worker, under the guidance of our town election officials and staff will go to great lengths to make sure every ballot is cast, even if it needs to be a provisional ballot if records for the voter cannot be found. I’ve witnessed firsthand how those provisional ballots are not treated lightly, but are secured for tabulation at the end of the process, so the appropriate amount of care and consideration can be channeled into each ballot.
All the work and the counting and attention to detail at the polls is important. Poll watchers are always welcome to observe the process. It’s not rocket science, but it is equally important, if not more! In my humble opinion, voter fraud or rigging ballots is truly an act that would require an orchestrated team of individuals who would be hard pressed to pull off such a crime. At least that is the case in my precinct and my town and I believe in the system of fair voting to assert that it would be a near impossible task to do widespread control across the country. But don’t take my word for it – make sure you vote at every election. Make it your personal responsibility to know who and what is on the ballot and make your informed decision. We won’t always like the outcome, but we can agree it is a fair and just system that is worth protecting.
Kate Raymer
|
