Voter registration

Democracy is strongest when everyone participates.

That fundamental tenet of American democracy is often overlooked by party operatives and conspiracy-theorists who want to work to ensure that only the “right” people vote.

Throughout our nation’s history, there have been many efforts to ensure that only the “right people” voted. Limits were imposed on voters based on income, land ownership, whether they were male or female, and the color of their skin. One by one, these restrictions have been struck down in the laws and the courts as we inch closer to the ideal of universal suffrage and one person, one vote.

Sadly, there are always those who think their votes should count more, whether it be due to their wealth, power or prestige. When you get down to it, each one of us should have an equal say in what happens in our communities, states and country. Each one of us has not only the right, but the obligation as citizens to stand up and be counted.

When I was a student in college, there was an ongoing effort by the local city leaders to break up the university into multiple districts to dilute the student vote for fear the students might seek to have their voices heard on topics such as their aggressive parking restrictions or maintaining better standards for off-campus housing.

People in the community wanted to make sure the “right” sorts of people could be heard rather than the riffraff college students. They had no problem with money we spent in the community and the jobs the university created, they just didn’t want us to do anything wild like attempting to overturn the ban on liquor being sold within a mile of campus or allowing the 24-hour fast food restaurant next to campus to bag food after 2 a.m.

I was thinking about this a few weeks ago when I attended a training session held on the new electronic voter books that were purchased in the city of Medford. I got to experience it from the viewpoint of a voter during the Feb. 16 primary.

While it does not take away my inherent aggravation of having poll workers I have known literally for decades examining my license like I am a 16 year old trying to buy a six pack with a fake ID, I am hopeful the new system will allow the process to be faster and more efficient.

I was thinking about this again last Friday when I stopped at city hall with my son, Alex, to make sure he was registered to vote. While Wisconsin still allows you to register at the polling place on election day, it is far easier for everyone to do it ahead of time.

Alex just missed being able to vote in the primary election, but is looking forward to voting in the April election.

I was thinking about this and my experience as a student working on both political campaigns and “Get out the Vote” efforts as I received emails this week from the president of a self-described conservative group that sees a vast leftist conspiracy behind encouraging students on college campuses to register and vote.

I think he greatly overestimates the ability of actual leftists to have that level of organization.

Efforts to encourage young people to become engaged in the political process, to become informed and to vote are a good thing, regardless of who is footing the bill for the posters, flyers and ads on the campus radio station. The real risk being that these young adults may have different values and issues of concern and could, gasp, even vote differently than their parents and grandparents.

We do a poor job as parents if our children are not raised to think for themselves and make their own choices — after all, they will have to live with those consequences far longer than you or I will.

Voting is a habit every American should have and is a fundamental right and duty of citizenship. Get out and vote and encourage others to get informed and vote in every election.

Brian Wilson is News Editor at The Star News.