It Takes Individual Action
The general election is six weeks away, and Alaskans have already experienced dozens of twists and turns. On the local front, more than 3,000 voters were moved to inactive status after a citizenship-data check, which the state later acknowledged had flagged hundreds of U.S. citizens. Two candidates were removed from the general election ballot and later reinstated. Nationally, a federal court blocked the USPS from enforcing stricter absentee-ballot requirements, while news that the Justice Department plans to deploy an unprecedented 1,000 poll monitors nationwide has prompted concern from organizations skeptical of the Trump administration’s voting approach.
It’s easy to give into a feeling of helplessness when it seems like our rights are being eroded. Following the news closely can weigh a person down, leaving them wondering about the United States’ constitutional promise of a right to free and fair elections. Despite mounting fears and uncertainty in the political landscape, the important thing to remember is that our elections are secure, our votes matter, and there are steps Alaskans can take to feel empowered during an overwhelming season. Right now, everyone should check to make sure their voter registration is up to date by the October 4 deadline, especially if you are a new US citizen, didn’t vote in the primary election, or are planning to vote by mail.
If you are ready to take a bigger step for our democracy, being a poll worker is an excellent way to feel empowered — and remind others in your community of the power we yield as a collective. Poll workers learn a lot about the process of election administration, as Erin Dooley, a poll worker in the primary elections, shared recently. It helped her clarify some of the misconceptions she has heard. For example, she learned that polling places have to have a partisan balance among the staff – and that “undecided and nonpartisan (voters) are the universal blood donors of poll workers” for that reason.
Another poll worker, Becky Judd, has worked multiple elections and plans to keep coming back. She enjoys the variety of tasks a poll worker can perform. Throughout the course of a long day, Judd greets voters, preps envelopes, checks voter registration, and hands out ballots. As she learned all these different roles, she gained an understanding of the challenges and work that it takes to run a successful election. It feels good, she said, to be a part of that work. “I think Alaska really tries hard to make it easy for people to vote,” Judd said.
According to Dooley, perhaps the most important thing about working elections is the empowerment that comes with getting involved in something that matters to you. “It’s a reminder that the government is made up of individuals, and it takes individual action in order for the process to go smoothly,” said Dooley.
So check your voter registration, make a plan to vote, and even consider helping to make sure the election runs smoothly by becoming a poll worker. Election Day will be here before you know it!
For our democracy,
The Alaska Center
