By Darren Johnson
Campus News
It’s election season, and I do hope you will vote this year. At the very least, your vote for Congressperson could be an anti- or pro-Trump vote, depending which party you pick. You don’t even really need to know much about the candidates for that race, considering how partisan Washington has become. If you hate Trump, vote Democratic; if you like him, Republican. There are third parties, too.
When I was younger and a bit more naïve – though I like to think I’m still as idealistic – I ran for office in a district with an entrenched incumbent who had a two-to-one party enrollment advantage and a six-figure campaign war chest. My thought was, this person wasn’t getting much done, and I am an idea person. Surely, my ideas would be better than the incumbent’s entrenched and boring ideas, right?
The opposing parties were just happy to have someone on the ballot. I got three party lines by going to a bunch of political interviews at places like the Knights of Columbus, some guy’s living room and a nondescript office building’s top floor. Political operatives asked me standard questions, just to make sure I wouldn’t embarrass their party. I guess I passed. After all, they needed to put someone on the ballot. Why not this guy?
While I only raised about $5000, my feeling was I could afford some mass mailed postcards to voters in the district and would get some free press in the local papers. Being young and naïve, I thought this would be enough to eke out a victory. Later on, as I grew older and wiser to the ways of media, I realized it actually takes at least 17 contacts for advertising to work (thus why you see so many political ads on TV – I couldn’t afford that). As for the newspapers, they only reach a small percent of voters – and many of them skip the political articles in favor of coupons. My attempt at unseating an incumbent was folly, just I didn’t know it when I was in the middle of it. I went to dozens of civic events and senior centers, debating the opponent. We were on cable TV at one point at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. Special interest groups interviewed us, endorsing one or the other. It was a whirlwind for me. For the incumbent it was old hat. She was bored.
On Election Day, after the polls closed but before the results came in, I bumped into a poll worker. I introduced myself as one of the candidates. “Gee,” she said. “I would have voted for you if I had heard of you before.” And right there, I realized, all my months of work, all my shaking hands and mileage from event to event, all of it was for naught. I didn’t make an impact, and lost by the same margin the previous candidate lost by – and he didn’t campaign at all.
But there’s a reason why my results were the same as they ever were – the same people vote year after year, and the same people don’t even bother to vote. In many districts, non-voting adults are a majority.
But look at what happened when people who usually don’t vote finally did vote: Barack Obama won in 2008 thanks to new voters. Change can happen.
Many people reading this haven’t voted before, but here’s a chance to vote for change, or vote for the status quo. It’s up to you. But do vote – I promise, you will feel better about yourself and your place in society after.
The deadline to register to vote in New York is Oct. 12. It’s Oct. 16 in New Jersey and Oct. 17 in Massachusetts. Just google “(Your County) Board of Elections” and you can register online. Or go to your local post office, where they should have forms.
If you are reading this article after the above dates you may be registered to vote and not even know it. For example, if you have a driver’s license, you’re probably registered to vote. Go on your BOE site and check, or call them.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Polls are open at 6 a.m. Go before you start your day, as you may be too tired after.
In retrospect, I likely would have lost in my political race even if everyone voted. There are other problems in politics besides voter turnout. And maybe – gasp – I wasn’t the better candidate. But the system can’t start to get to better, and more representative of us ALL, until all of us lend our voices.
Yes, you may know many people who aren’t voting. Be different, be brave. Put your ideals in motion, register to vote by the October date above, and show up at your polling station on Nov. 6.
Your vote does matter. This is your stand. Thank you for taking part!
Darren Johnson even votes in primaries. Contact him at dj@cccn.us.
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