My Election Story

I am little sad that I chose to write this entry 4 whole days after the most historic election in the history of this country but at least I remembered to blog about this topic!

If you've read any of the previous blogs of Oct & Nov which go into details about voter registration nightmares, you will instantly understand the beauty of my election night. If not, let me just give you the basics. I attempted to register to vote in Florida (previously registered in another state) specifically for this year's high profiled elections. I got my application in on the very last day required by the State of Florida. Approximately, two weeks later, I was notified that my application was incomplete. It was not. I called them to fix that. They promised to do so...to give them a day to get me registered. I followed up. Got a complete imbecile on the phone. She told me my registration rights would not go into effect for 2008's elections because I got my application in too late. Another lie. I refuted this and in the meantime tried to attempt every watchdog group and voter protection associations known from the NAACP to Barack Obama's Camp. Much to my dismay, I must add, I did not really get anywhere with any of the sources that I reached out to. Anyway, I argued with the Supervisor's Office of Elections for some days, finally was "granted" the "privilege" to vote and promised an absentee ballot. It never came.

Fast forward to Election Night, November 4th 2008. Even though the entire city is getting riled up for the night, I am at work anticipating the night's results but at the same time suffering negative feelings due to my voting scandal. I felt like my right to have my political voice heard had been stolen and there was currently nothing I could do. Or was there? I went to BO's website to see if there were still volunteering opportunities available. To my surprise, there were. I then thought if this would even be a reasonable thing to do considering that I had loads of homework to do (and might I add, 4 days later, it is still undone). I spoke with my mentor for a moment about some work things and briefly mentioned my conflict between deciding to do homework or get involved with the campaign last minute. Besides, what much could I do? Then again, at the same time I was thinking, "what have I done?" Answer: Nothing. She responded, "We all have our priorities and we must weigh them. I mean, this is an historic event." Clearly she was implying that I have homework everyday but an historic election happens once in a lifetime! Well, that gave me the boost that I needed to go sign up for a couple of hours. I registered online at the GC before heading out the door to find the volunteer call center location. Oddly enough, it was located at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club (according to the website, many of the calling stations were located at clubs...strategic? probably. smart? yes, if the goal was to draw young masses to familiar joints). Even funnier, upon my arrival at 40/40, I saw that it was located very close to my school yet I'd never known it was there. (My best guy friend, uncle, and I were there as NYC tourist patrons in 2004.) I walked through the door and clearly there was a group who were there as clients and a separate casually dressed group there for calling duty. I went in and I'd never really seen anything like it. There were about 70 people hunched over papers with cellphones in hand calling voters across America. When I walked into the volunteer room, a woman greeted me two lists for voters in Iowa (or Idaho, I forget) and a quick run-down on how the calling worked. I thanked her and nestled myself into a cozy corner on a couch with other volunteers. One of them, a young man, said hello assertively and somewhat seriously after I'd been sitting for 3 minutes. Almost made me feel bad that I didn't initiate the hello. It was a bit weird at first but after a few phone calls, I got the hang of it. I was primarily leaving voice messages or getting people who had already been to the polls so as I didn't really feel like I was making a difference per se, it still felt good to be making collective calls with a room full of people who were supporting Obama in their altruistic efforts. After we'd been there for about an hour, we were told that the "party" was moving to another location where we'd continue making calls that would also serve as the venue for the after party. When I heard this I was thinking that this is not what I'd anticipated. I had simply wanted to come in, do my 2 hours of calling in one location and get back home so that I could get to bed at a decent hour and certainly before my curfew. I guess I didn't feel strongly enough about that and rationalized that an extra hour of calling was on my duty list anyways. A woman and man who didn't appear to be together approached me to ask if I wanted to split a cab (in my mind I'm thinking that volunteering is not supposed to cost, can't take the train and use my handy dandy prepaid subway card!?). That thought also lasted half a minute as I followed the two to the curb between 5th & Broadway off 23rd to find a taxi. In no time, the male was in the front discussing the election scene in New York with the cabber while the woman and I went through the traditional i-don't-know-you introductions. While she talked to me about her education and career, I heard the taxi driver stating that in all of his time as a cabi in New York, he has never seen so many young people out for Election Day with such excitement and fervor. We arrived on the West Side of NYC shortly and the man who had been sharing conversations with the cabber paid for us which was such a nice gesture. I reached my hand out to give him my crumpled $3 after he said he'd paid and he kindly turned it away saying that "paying for the cab is the least I can do". The address was precisely 22nd between 10& 11th which I was thinking, "Great" because home is not so far away after all of this is over. I went inside of the Mansion and its name lived up to its immense side and gorgeous Victorian decorations. There was quadruple the number of volunteers at this location and gaging from the empty cans and crusty donuts lying around tables with soiled napkins, they'd been there for quite some time. I walked in, forever splitting from my taxi comrades, and found a space for one on a lush burgundy couch next to two young colored girls, only after getting my new call lists for Colorado. We said hi and introduced ourselves and the calling began again. Perhaps after 3o minutes, we were told that the calling would cease and to finish the calls. They took the sheets and we waited for whatever was next. Well more calling was in store because apparently, they'd received word from "headquarters" to give some calls out to Nevada who on East Coast time, still had some time left for voting. These last minute calls seemed frivolous but we thought, "what the heck! it's the least and last that we can do."

Sometime after 9pm, the club began to display the election's preliminary progress on its huge 3 jumbotrons. The energy and the passion behind the crown led me to stay rooted in my seat while watching the TVs and sipping my red wine served by the rude bar staff and eating free hors d'oeurves. We all watched intently as red states turned blue (namely FL, VA, PA, & OH) and other states declared their prospective winners. The environment was intense but one that was pregnant with joy and anticipation. I decided around 11pm that there was no way that I was going to allow my precious nuns from stealing this beautiful night of political participation from me. Heck, I had no idea of where I'd stay but I knew it would not be at my "home". Music began to play between important announcements and the night soon developed into an interesting melange of grand party meets politics. When it was clear where the election was headed, favoring the O/B ticket, there was such a sense of victory in the entire room that I could feel it reverberating all around me. All songs played, namely by Love Generation of Bob Sinclair and Celebration by Kool & the Gang, were hot and really got the room pumped up. I felt what those in the Love, Peace, & Hippie Happiness era of the race-unifying 70s must have experienced. I mean I felt such liberation that I cannot really articulate it but it felt so good. Rejoicing, hugging, dancing, and smiling with complete strangers in the American city of New York where people normally try to guard any personal space even in highly unrealistic situations such as during claustrophobic MTA public transports. The music stopped and the whole room was attentive as McCain gave, in my opinion, his first eloquent and sincere-sounding speech. I had the sense that, like myself, those in the Democrat-filled room were proud of McCain in that moment and respected him more than they had at any other period in the election. When President Elect, Barack Obama, approached the stage to give his speech all 800 something eyeballs were fixed on the screen as if to absorb every word and movement of the Illinois senator. I was standing in the central most elevated platform in the club with a perfect center point view of the screen and I literally felt as if I were standing atop of the Moon. Not only was my physical elevation attributing to my inner triumph but all of the history that I knew of African Americans flashed my thoughts while looking into Obama's eyes while he gave his victory speech with a solidity & authority that only a legendary figure could give. Emotionally, I was moved much more than I'd ever expected while holding hands with one of the several strangers I'd met that night. She was Kenyan-American who had been texting her family back in Kenya who had stayed awake until 5am to hear the results of the American election. Amazing. That's the idea that I wished more Americans understood. The world was watching that night, and yes, it matters. In fact, they'd been watching the entire election and will continue to do so throughout Obama's presidency. It's important. With the US as a strong global participant in all affairs, it is provincial to believe that US presidency could be all about Americans! I'd prefer to not take this blog in the direction of my views of American politics but you can imagine my ideas. The theme of this entry is to highlight how my volunteering efforts on the evening of November 4th took me to a place that I could never have imagined. Whereas I had intended to only make some phone calls over a 2 hour time frame and go home and sleep, I ended up not only contributing to a victorious election through my calling efforts but enjoyed the night immensely by sharing that victory with fellow Americans instead of sleeping in a stuffy dorm room with exchange students who understandably could not empathize with the evening's importance. I texted some of my pals who had previously offered me their homes as refuge for occasions when the nuns locked me out. The sweet girls all called or texted me back. I ended up going to Brooklyn for the night with the friend that I'd spent Halloween evening with. I took a cab over which cost $30. Steep but certainly better than what I would have paid for a hotel room. My friend was overly accommodating considering that it was I who'd committed her to staying awake a few extra hours to receive me in her humble abode. She fed me, gave me face wash, and prepared my comfy sleeping quarters. Due to our intense conversation about the discriminatory experience she'd had herself at the voting polls earlier that day, we woke up her husband. Need I say that it was 2:30am. Funny enough, he rolled out the bed with sleepy eyes but within 5 minutes was engaged in conversation with us as if it was a breezy Friday evening at happy hour. Happy times and that day, I viewed my relationship with this couple in a deeper more meaningful way. I could go on and on about this day (as I already have) but I'll stop here. My day was simply symbolic, historic, and beautiful. God Bless America (I say that with meaning for the first time that I can remember). *Miranda Moore, November 8, 2008

Democracy * Update

As of November 3rd, ballot has still not been received. It appears, according to the Supervisor of Elections website, that my ballot has been sent to a NY address with a FL zip code. I called several democratic support hotlines and volunteers to get guidance on where to go next. I ended up speaking to the Office of Supervisor of Elections again (yet a different employee) and she told me that it was only mailed out Oct 31st!! However, she believed that it was sent to the proper address. Hmph! Now look @ all of this drama! I now have to try to leave work early so I can go home and check my mail and then speed over to the USPS to send this overnight for a good $20. In the end, if all of that happens, I will have to *hope* that my vote got counted! Wow....Democracy in America, where are you?

Interestingly enough, my political trials and tribulations have inevitably made me very participative in current politics. I have read about voting rights among other democratic "freedoms", becoming exceedingly interested in American law and politics, social justice, and the history of government. I must also highlight that my political victimization has made me realize how super it is that I am currently an MPA student, ironically studying the subjects that are related to the very politics and government that I am questioning as a citizen presently. I do not know where this experience will take me but it has bestowed a great deal towards my political education and has developed somewhat a fervor in me to serve the politically underserved somehow. Maybe that JD is in the works after all...or is it a PhD in social justice/social policy I doubt the latter as I have recently had the perception that a philosophical degree would not induce enough activity although it would involve much thinking and empirical contribution; I think I am a practitioner at heart, a doer for a cause, not simply a pensive researcher.

I close with this thought: my experience in the historical political process of the 2008 elections has forever changed my life....for the good. Through this I may now consider working as an advocate in the political arena, which I would have never considered before my public administration graduate studies and which I hardly thought of even after my academic program began. I am excited about my new future in politics. Will I now consider being a volunteer for future (perhaps even the current) elections? Yes. Will I now speak out with even more passion about voting and its importance to my family and friends? Definitely. Will I feel as though I have contributed to democracy even if I am denied my right to vote this year? You bet.

Even if this experience leads ONLY to my leisurely reading a book on US democracy, my person and its education toolbox is better for it. I am forever changed as a US citizen and happily so.

For further reading:
Marchette Gaylord Chute, The First Liberty: A History of the Right to Vote in America, 1619-1850 (New York: Dutton, 1969).
Linda K. Kerber, No Constitutional Right to be Ladies: Women and the Obligations of Citizenship (New York: Hill & Wang, 1998).
Alexander Keyssar, The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States (New York: Basic Books, 2000).
Donald W. Rogers, ed., Voting and the Spirit of American Democracy (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1992).
Charles L. Zelden, Voting Rights on Trial (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2002).