Have YOU Voted Yet?

The 2024 election is upon us. Today I dropped my absentee ballot in a nearby drop box. I expect my board of elections to notify me when it collects my ballot, and, subsequently, when my votes are tallied. Since absentee ballots are not reviewed until after election day, I assume that notice may take a while.

However, during this time, I do not anticipate any controversies about this process. I fully expect my votes to be counted and recorded properly. I spent many years working in the Democratic precinct organization and everything I saw reinforced my belief that many dedicated people are working to assure a fair and reliable system of elections. Across the years, I viewed the functions as both a candidate and as a voter.

Often I saw the same senior citizens working the check-in desk at my local precinct. They would work long hours on election day for the small fees they might earn, but, since they were experienced; they made the process work smoothly. I never knew which election worker belonged to which party, mostly, because each took off their party hat to ensure fair access for local voters. During some years, Maryland used an entirely electronic voting system, which many distrusted after the 2000-2004 elections, since some claimed that the machines could be hacked. Others noted security flaws were not investigated nor fixed in the Diebold Machines then widely in use. There was no ability to recreate a ballot result, no paper trail of any kind. Eventually, Maryland changed to a paper ballot that was electronically counted and which could be retained and recounted. Marked votes cannot be erased. All of this reinforces the integrity of our elections and should be the type of system used all over the country, in my opinion. Then, none should reasonably claim that bad actors from Italy or where- ever, are changing votes from afar.

Anyway, please vote and continue, as most voters do, to have faith in American elections. If you mail your ballot, it must be post-marked by election day November 5. Many states have early voting and activity is already reported as robust across the country. According to the Associated Press, as of this date, more than 46 million ballots have been cast. In Maryland, 440,453 votes were cast in-person and 478,447 mail-in votes have been received. Storm ravaged North Carolina reported over 2.8 million votes, with California showing a total tally of over 4 million, for example.

The Census Bureau reported that in 2020, over 66% of citizens voted despite the problems with Covid. At that time, 43% voted by mail, and 26% chose early voting. This changed the typical get-out-the-vote (GOTV) pushes by the political parties commonly seen on election eve. Voters in blue states voted early or by mail more frequently than those in red states.

158,429,631 votes were cast in the 2020 presidential election. The Census Bureau reported that there were over 250 million Americans of voting age, so many people did not vote. Hopefully, in a year as critical as this is when we are up against a wanna-be-fascist, turnout will be higher.

Many pundits are saying that DJT is pushing the mega-male image to men while answering to “Daddy Don” for women and claiming he will be their protector. Somehow. a predator con-man as a protector just doesn’t cut it for me. While others may promote the inability of a female leader to govern with strength, I present the list below.

History is on my mind. Here's some information for those who do not believe a woman can lead a country. Some women, presented below as a sample, proved their courage as they led wars, dealt with divisive factions, and united their countries.

Golda Meir Led Israel from 1969-1974

Indira Gandhi- Led India -1966-1977, 1980-84, Assassinated

Margaret Thatcher Led the UK from 1979 to 1990

Benizar Bhutto-Led Pakistan, 1988-1990, 1993-1996 Assassinated.

Corazon Aquino- led the Phllipines-1986-1992

Angela Merkel- Chancellor of Germany 2005-2021

 

The US is usually ahead of the curve and is seriously lagging here.

Time to make a change and elect Kamala Harris!

‘

Til next week- Peace!