Editor’s Note:
I am busy this week still revising my manuscript, so I’ve asked a local writer to substitute for me. Dani Pistole is an Arkansan from Van Buren County. She has a degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of Central Arkansas, and is currently preparing for law school. She is passionate about civil, environmental, and animal rights issues. She currently lives in a cabin on the Cadron Creek where she cares for her herb garden, four cats, two dogs, and husband. Dani is working on her newest project, a podcast about current issues facing our state and our country. To donate to help fund her podcast visit here or subscribe to this newsletter!
Recent conversations on Facebook with relatives and friends have unveiled a variety of reasons why some people do not feel the need to vote. My little brother Shelby is afraid that close contact with others at a polling site might increase his COVID-19 risks. Others feel voting is useless, claiming distrust of the two-party system, wealthy politicians, and the electoral college. Jacob, a former classmate of mine from the University of Central Arkansas, mentioned that he does feel it is important to vote in local and state elections, but that the presidential election is skewed due to the electoral college. (Trump is overwhelmingly expected to win in Arkansas, where we live.) Many other friends of mine have mentioned that even if they felt their vote for president did count, they distrust the two-party system because they believe that Democrats and Republicans are one in the same—both represent the rich and are more interested in protecting their wealth than caring for their constituents. Finally, a former classmate of mine from UCA, Austin, who is a professional musician, is planning to vote for Kanye West because he is the most relatable. Austin feels that the position of president is just a figurehead anyway, so it does not matter who he votes for. There is no shortage of strange voting behaviors this election cycle, and the reasons for them seem to be endless.
Why don’t people vote? Part of the reason is that misinformation has been rampant during the last two presidential election cycles, and the current president is a prime source of it. A perfect storm of social media opinions, faulty leadership from President Donald Trump, and now, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to confusion among potential voters. This helps drive down the desire to go to the polls, especially among people I know, such as my younger brother.
Some voters also worry that mail-in votes will not be counted, because of problems with the postal service and challenges to ballots filled out incorrectly. False claims made by Trump about the potential for mail-in ballot fraud also discourage potential voters, so it is easy to understand how the public could be misled about mail-in voting safety.
But voters preferring to sit it out is not unique in this election. In fact, American elections often have low turnout. With as many as a third of registered voters failing to show up at the polls, and even more eligible adults who don’t even bother to register, people who don’t vote could decide the election if they decided to show up instead. Other than issues of corruption and distrust of the government, there are some who do not vote because they feel it is too difficult. According to a Pew Research study, young adults tend to skip voting because it isn’t “convenient” or “exciting” while people of color face other challenges to voting, such as an inability to make it to the polls or conflicts with documentation. Others find that voting is difficult because of work schedules, confusion about polling sites, or simply because they feel that ballots are hard to understand. This is similar to what I hear from people who say they won’t vote in my corner of the world. One of the most common reasons I hear from those who won’t vote in my community is that they have work obligations which interfere with voting times. While this is an issue, there are other ways to vote, including absentee and mail-in ballots.
According to the Arkansas Secretary of State, only 65.5 percent of registered voters in my home county, Van Buren County voted in the 2008 elections, which seems bleak, but that number is still higher than voter turnout in the entire state, which was only 64.5 percent. This was the most up-to-date data I could find on the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website, but it does line up with national voting trends. That number does not include those who are eligible to vote, but not registered.
Today, Arkansans face different issues, like the fact that we are currently the second highest state for new COVID-19 deaths per capita, according to the Whtie House Coronavirus Task Force. Why is it that some Arkansans are worried about getting infected by going to the polls, but do not seem to be worried about getting infected elsewhere? Our COVID death toll is unusually high for a rural state, which makes no sense, especially when huge cities like New York are able to subdue the virus so well. Voting is not the problem here; the problem is that people are not following suggested prevention measures, like mask-wearing and avoiding gatherings.
Regardless of what a rich man in Washington, D.C., would have you think, Arkansans, and rural voters everywhere, stand to majorly benefit from participating in democracy by voting. It is actually city folk who tend to be under-represented due to the electoral college, while rural votes have more weight. There is so much more on the ballot than the presidential election, including the local races that have a much greater impact on day-to-day life. It is important to vote in more than just the Presidential election, as local governments are more likely to impact voters directly and quickly.
Because the electoral college does put more weight on rural voters, it would be so much more effective for rural Americans to get out and vote, rather than wait for the government to abolish the electoral college, which might never happen. It is especially important that young people get out and vote, as they tend to be more progressive. Arkansas has voted Republican every presidential election since Bill Clinton last ran, in 1996. If Boomers dominate the polls, we will continue to see conservative voting trends. The law moves slowly, and it will take much longer to reform or abolish the electoral college than it would for younger, rural Americans to start voting. According to a Pew Research study, only 13 percent of voters in the 2016 Presidential Election were under the age of 30. Young people's voices are not being heard.
Those who are registered should grab a mask and some hand sanitizer, and head to the polls on November third. To find out more about your voting precinct, how to register, and where to vote, visit your local county clerk's office.
What I am reading/recommending:
Right now I have been reading one of the most important works of my favorite philosophers, Soren Kierkegaard, Either/Or, which offers a unique take on Christian philosophy, society, and humor. Though I may not agree with everything he writes, I can't get enough of his poetic and comical style. Even if you don't have time to read the whole book, I recommend flipping through it, as it is full of bites of wisdom and proverbs.
Cute Pet Picture of the Week:
This is my new puppy Jasper, a blue heeler/beagle mix and my mother-in-law’s dog Ellie, a dachshund. Ellie was rescued from a puppy mill and Jasper was rescued from a crossroads on the highway. Ellie is not sure how she feels about Jasper just yet, as you can likely see by the suspicion in her eye.