A Minnesota Voting Story

I remember it well. It all started with me shouting, “You are going to vote, right?” to my friend across the busy parking lot of our church. That one phrase had me eventually volunteering to help people understand the voting rules, and helped a small group of women with transportation problems, get to their voting location.  

I was in the South Minneapolis district. Three young women where going to vote for the first time. Two men, who had been playing hoops, wanted to know what they needed to do, and were they could find out where to vote. “Can you show us?” one man asked. I drove and they followed, one on a bike. I got just out the precinct voting location and one the young men asked me more questions about procedures of voting. I was standing in the middle of that location, and as I responded, other people overheard and soon people started to ask questions. I was in one of the poorest neighborhoods in town. (Moving more often usually comes with not having a lot financially). 

A couple of elderly ladies walked by, and stopped. They lived next to the precinct voting location and were nervous that they wouldn’t have all the necessary items they needed to vote “proper.” They had moved a couple of times, and now resided in the towers that had lower rent. “A utility bill, you mean like an electric bill?” she asked me. “Yes, and if you don’t have that, there are other things,” I added. “Who can vouch for a person?” the other elderly woman asked. Wide eyes and thoughtful nods expressed my way, and off they went walking carefully on their mission. People don’t know all the rules, or perhaps they never had to think about how those rules would affect them in the future.

It spread, more people stopped after hearing the discussion. I stopped for a moment, and looked around. I was feeling a little proud of what I was seeing, and a mere bit overwhelmed at the sudden attention. Not a whole mob of people, but a steady stream. "My mom is in the hospital, can she vote absentee?" another asked. "It may be too late to apply," I answered. What I wasn't sure about, I referred them on who to call. I found myself infected with those about me, those who seemed to have so little, planning this as if it were a grand holiday. People where coming and going into the building in front of me and I heard “shouts” of information being repeated to others. 

I soon heard the questions of “can I vote?” and “how to vote” turn into excited mentions of candidates, or what they thought would be “best for Minnesota.” I enjoyed what I was seeing. It was fall. A new name for governor was on the ballot as well. The neighborhood had a diverse culture, from many backgrounds, but they were definitely engaged. 

On the evening of Election Day, I transported the young women to the voting location. One of them asked, “Can you make sure I have what I need to vote?” She just had to be sure she could vote. The poll location was a large hall. People stood in long lines. Those who remembered me a few days before shouted, or waved my way. Excitement was not to be ignored, and I couldn’t help smiling.

“I voted” shouts were heard outside in the parking lot. High Fives were offered, and accepted. I spotted the two elderly ladies who I talked to days before, walking out of the the building. One had raised her fist with a smile in my direction, and they both gestured to “I Voted” stickers presented on their sweaters. The turn out in this one location was more then I could have imagined. I had witnessed determination, excitement and will of those who had not much else. It had the most excitement I had seen at a voting poll. 

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The current voting laws in Minnesota work. Minnesota did not "just" make these voting laws up in one day, after all. They had been implemented over time and with careful consideration and planning.

Rumors, or claims of fraud have been found to be largely untrue, and more then misleading.  It is a bit embarrassing to know that the very people, who should know better, use these misleading rumors to try and change our voting laws. Who will it cost?

If you would like to review Minnesota's current voting laws and procedures, you can find them here.