A Democratic block captain this year, I’ve leafleted my blocks—all 64 residences—with voting registration information. A few weeks later, I gave the registered Dems the party’s position information on issues and candidates. My neighborhood is solidly Democratic, so that was most of them. Later, I’ll get a list of Dems who haven’t voted yet. I’ll call to remind them the future of our democracy is at stake and to get off their asses. I’ll say it more politely, but that’s what I’ll mean. Knowing who the Dems are is useful. A neighbor I was looking askance at because of what he’s not doing with his yard, I now feel inclined to forgive since I’ve learned he’s a Democrat.
Ballot Trace informed me by email that our ballots were on the way. We’d already read a lot of material, but once the ballots arrived (on schedule: thank you Postal Service) Phil and I spent an hour poring over the issues. There are nineteen, eleven state-wide and eight municipal. The candidates are no problem: we know who we want, polished off that voting in minutes. I voted for Obama’s VP and the woman who made Brett Kavanaugh cry.
Phil voting
Initiatives, amendments and such are another matter: wolves and pit bulls, tax hikes and tax cuts, homelessness funding and a vaping tax (sin tax! people usually like those) and the national popular vote, among others. We consult the state blue book first, the thorough, neutral publication put together for each election by the Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly.
A word about the Legislative Council: I knew someone who worked there once. Their mission is research, their position non-partisan, their goal the facts. They are trustworthy, like the CDC used to be before the current administration poisoned it. Their quick “what a yes or no vote means” for each issue is a handy shortcut. The summaries of arguments for and against each proposition are invaluable.
Denver Elections Division’s version of that booklet for city issues is organized in much the same way. After reading all those pros and cons, we refer to online news sources: Colorado Sun, the Denverite, Colorado News Collaborative, Denver Post, and the New Era Voter Guide Hannah Sun, former DSA student, sent me.
A word about former students: I often said I learned as much from them as they did from me; that still happens from time to time now that I’m retired. It’s nice. Then we look at what the Dems and the ACLU care about. We march pretty close to the party line, but there are always a few things we differ on.
Pat voting
We’ve had mail voting in Colorado since 2013. There’s no fraud. We spread all the reference info and the six pages of our ballots on the dining room table, read and ponder and cross-check, disagree and agree, read the instructions three times to be sure we’re doing it correctly. It’s a relaxed experience. You can have a cup of coffee, argue with your spouse about the Gallagher Repeal. Finally we seal the ballot into its privacy envelope, sign it and take it to the secure ballot box we usually use, by the library.
A word about signatures: I understand young people who never learned cursive don’t really have signatures. They have squiggles made with a finger on a screen. I’m old enough to have a signature that retains its characteristic form, so this doesn’t happen to me. But if your signature’s in doubt, they notify you so you can prove you’re you. My advice is to develop a reliable signature, or at the least, find out what squiggle the Election division has on file for you. I’ve always thought abandoning cursive instruction was a bad idea. Just sayin’.
We deposited our ballots October 12. During the few minutes we were there, three cars pulled up on the drive-in side to deposit their ballots, and four other walkers dropped theirs. My friend Sara had the same experience when she took hers. A tsunami of early voting is apparently underway. Ballot Trace will notify us when our ballots are received for counting.
I said it already but Trump keeps repeating his fearmongering about the mail-in ballots, so it won’t hurt to repeat the truth: THERE’S NO FRAUD. Mail-in voting works.
Yay for Colorado, having the foresight to activate a process for mail-in voting seven years ago. Safest way to do your civic duty, these days in particular. GO VOTE!!
Vote! And without fraud!!
Longest ballot I’ve ever had for an election in my life, but taking the time to read the pros and cons on all the issues is an important privilege of being an American– figuring out where you stand is the responsibility of every voter. I spent about an hour on it last night. I too am a block leader (and we only have one Republican or unregistered voter) so I guess I picked the right neighborhood. I told you we are always on the same page, Pat!
No, no, Deb: block CAPTAIN. We’re captains. You’re right. We’re living parallel lives. 🙂
Oh my Goodness! I loved your paragraph about signatures. I teach some 18 year old students. Maybe I’ll do a “signature day” in class. 🙂
Andrea! So good to hear from you and a signature class would be a very useful service!
Thanks for the photos; good to see you both. I delivered our ballots to the drop box outside the Englewood library on Tuesday, then walked around the park where I used to take my baby grand daughter (sixteen yesterday) to play. A good day.
On the note of signatures/security/fraud: A few years ago, I received notice that my ballot had been rejected because of a mismatch, which turned out to be because my signature DOES NOT match Hubby’s: I had accidentally sent my ballot back in his envelope.
Two lessons:1) The safeguards are fully functional; 2) Keep ballot packets separate; we now sequester ours in separate rooms.
Sometimes I think sequestering in separate rooms, for many things besides ballots, is the secret to a happy marriage.
Works for us.