Weekly Opinion Editorial
VOTE SMART!
by Steve
Fair
Early voting starts Wednesday in Oklahoma. In-person absentee voting – more commonly referred to as “early voting” in Oklahoma – is available to all voters. No excuse is needed. Voters can cast their ballot at the County courthouse or Election board on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8am to 6pm and on Saturday from 8am to 2pm. Early voters will need to complete an in-person absentee ballot application when they check in at the early voting location before they are given a ballot.
Oklahoma voters are also required to prove their identity before they are given a ballot. There are three ways to prove identity: (1) Photo ID. It must have been issued by the federal government, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government. The name on the ID needs to match the way it appears on the precinct voter registry. (2) Election Board Voter ID card. The law allows use of the voter ID card even though it does not include a photograph. (3) Affidavit with a provisional ballot. If a voter refuses to show proof of identity, they may vote by provisional ballot and prove their identity by signing a sworn affidavit. After election day, County Election Board officials will investigate the information provided by the voter on the affidavit and either will approve the provisional ballot for counting or will reject it based on the outcome of that investigation.
There is no excuse not to vote, but there is also no excuse to be a low information or uninformed voter. In the United States voting is accessible, but with accessibility comes a price. Voters have a responsibility to educate themselves. They should do their own research about the candidates on the ballot. The deliberate dissemination of misinformation by campaigns designed to manipulate public opinion and influence voter behavior makes voter decisions difficult. Here are three principles that voters should recognize:
First, political Party affiliation matters. Voters are not just casting a ballot for a candidate, but they are voting for the Party's agenda- especially in a legislative body- whether they realize it or not. Not every Republican on the ballot is not as conservative as the Party platform- the RINOS- but in most cases those RINOS are more conservative than the Democrat. The most conservative D is going to caucus with the most liberal Democrat once they are elected. The so called 'independent voice' in a legislative body is virtually non-existent.
Second, voters should be cynical about campaign material. Every candidate puts their best foot forward. They brag about their experience, their honesty, integrity, and unselfishness. Conversely, they paint their opponent as unqualified, crooked, and devious. Clean campaigns are a thing of the past, which make sorting the sheep from the goats next to impossible.
Third, voters should base their decision on three factors: (1) Ability to do the job. Is the candidate qualified for the position? Do they have the skill set to do the job? (2) Who is funding the candidate? This may be more critical than the first factor. Special interests don't give their money to a candidate without expecting something in return. Voters should research who donated to a candidate. It will reveal who they are beholden to. (3) Accessibility and accountability. Candidates that refuse to meet with constituents and avoid being willing to justify a vote should be shunned.
America has a lot riding on the November 3rd
election. Will the country take a hard
left and set up gridlock for the next two years or will it stay the course? Remains to be determined. Vote, but vote smart!
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