A primary responsibility

Posted 9/3/20

With so much happening nationwide - from fears and uncertainty over schools returning to session in the midst of the ongoing pandemic to a movement for racial equality that has ramped up into violent outbursts in various places - it seems somewhat

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A primary responsibility

Posted

With so much happening nationwide – from fears and uncertainty over schools returning to session in the midst of the ongoing pandemic to a movement for racial equality that has ramped up into violent outbursts in various places – it seems somewhat daunting that we’re now also entering the home stretch of one of the most politically momentous periods of recent history.

The Rhode Island Primary is Tuesday, September 8 – next week! If you haven’t registered, you’re unfortunately too late to do so, but still have time prior to the October 4 deadline for the general election. Those looking to utilize mail-in voting will not be able to do so for the primary (that deadline passed in early August), but will have until October 13 to apply for a mail-in ballot for the general.

As you read this, you may be uncertain about how voting will work on Primary Day and Election Day. Fortunately, the Secretary of State’s office (vote.sos.ri.gov) provides valuable information for those wondering what options are available.

For voters who are already registered but are worried about not being able to vote due to missing the deadline for mail-in voting, you are still able to vote in-person at your local polling station on September 8, which you can find by simply filling in your address on the SOS website. But what you may not know is that Rhode Island allows early, in-person voting up until September 8 by visiting your Board of Canvassers at your Town/City Hall. The process is straightforward and requires only a photo ID. Simply visit your Town or City Hall during regular business hours to get the process started.

Physical challenges to voting aside, it can also be very easy to turn cynical on our nation’s most fundamental mechanism of democracy if you read through daily news briefs. Between pervasive Russian attempts to meddle in our voting process, controversy that has surrounded decisions made by the Postmaster General and attacks from the Trump Administration on the validity of mail-in voting – it seems logical to wonder if there has ever been a more important yet embattled election.

We think it is important to urge voters to not succumb to the alluring nature of defeatism when participating in elections. As ineffective and clunky as the democratic system can seem at times, we must always keep in mind that there are millions of people across the world who would gladly trade place for our system of governance over any number of actively oppressive and regressive forms of leadership found elsewhere in the world.

There is a tremendous amount at stake in political positions from local city councils and state legislatures all the way up to the White House – and in each of these races is the potential for great changes to be made through the use of the ballot box. Many long-tenured members of our own state legislature face competitors from opposing parties or new, up-and-coming factions within their own parties. There is no such thing as a 100 percent safe seat in 2020, as elections already held elsewhere in the country have shown.

Even if front running incumbents secure their seats, facing a challenger forces them to engage with their constituents and reiterate on record their priorities and promises for their continued leadership – which they should then be held accountable for by the people they represent.

The State Primary will also play an important role as a litmus test for the General Election on November 3. Hopefully, some best practices will be ascertained and potential glitches will become known to give the state more time to prepare. Hopefully, when the dust settles sometime after November 3, we will have renewed confidence that even in our most trying democratic times, our electoral system endured.

You play a crucial role in this most important test. No matter who you vote for, or how you do it, make sure that you cast your vote and make your voice known.

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