More than just death and taxes are certain. Comments after elections are always rampant. Some are how well the process was handled this year while on the other hand probes must be made into “allegations (not proven facts yet) of improprieties ( missed standards stated or expected) in the way elections were conducted.” This was a word for word quote from the Houston Chronicle. I did some Wikipedia type research and a review of my memories and can state that unequivocally no election has been without fraud since Roman times, my earliest starting date. One site even listed eleven ways that unscrupulous citizens, or even aliens for that matter, could mess up the hope of validity. Because voting involves numbers, mathematicians have a field day dealing with totals, and age groups, and absentee against on site, and that not to be argued with proof of ratios and percentages.
Consider personal experience. This year you may have been am eighteen year old able with a bit of pride to cast your first vote. I have a variety of experiences under my belt. The earliest was sitting on a counter next to my daddy who inked an eraser on an unsharpened pencil and marked a paper ballot. Some years I’ve had to sign my name under a voter registration list and other years they just looked me up in a book and put a tic next to my name and recently my driver’s license was my proof of identity. I voted with a mail-in ballot one year and followed the directions to sign my name where it crossed the seal of the envelope, so no one could open and change my choices. I have stood behind a machine and had to move buttons and a yellow knob to go through a long process before check and submit. This year I needed help to understand feeding a sheet of paper through a voting machine and then taking it to be scanned and printed before handing it in. I have visited with friends at a local church while waiting to vote and have also been one in a long line at a municipal center. I missed the years where voting was a stating your choice in a loud voice while someone else wrote it down, so in each case mentioned, my vote was my private opinion.
Two caveats as I wrap up. I do respected the frustration of those whose right to vote was made difficult or impossible this year because of non-validation of themselves or non-availability of a voting site. As a woman, I am aware that offering that right to have a say in government was a long journey even in a democracy. And, I offer utmost respect to those paid and otherwise who moved machinery, set up sites to be used in the most effective and efficient manner, and stood their post all day to answer questions and encourage as needed. Once again, I cast my one vote – the only voice I have. I voted against a few candidates while not feeling strongly about the one I did choose. For some slots, I definitely wanted that one with the box checked. The next day, my candidate won, In some cases, my candidate lost. Across the slate, may each of us have wisdom and commitment to respect how our individuality makes for a stronger community. The verse is true in a variety of situations that require the power of one.
Choose you this day. Joshua 24:14
Let Me Tell Ya 