Select an issue concerning voting rights or practices and briefly tell us your thoughts about it.
Voter intimidation is a dangerous and growing aspect of in-person polling places. When coupled with the increasing polarization in the political sphere, this problem only worsens.
It is a right to feel safe when casting your ballot. Individuals who are taking the time to go in-person and vote should not have to fear violence and harsh comments as an accompaniment to their civic engagement. Political efficacy trending downwards does not help. Overwhelmingly conservative or liberal states and districts become potential grounds for voter intimidation to take place.
When you feel as though your vote does not matter, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to either mail in your ballot or be physically present at the polling place. Negative comments pertaining to your beliefs and political party are not drawing-factors to the average voter either.
As a Vermonter who identifies as progressive, I see a lot of parallels between my ideals and those around me – especially coming from Chittenden County. But, I know that this seemingly uniform vision is not present in many rural areas in Vermont.
Recently, I spent the day before my 18th birthday at the Vermont State House. I was there on behalf of the organization Students Demand Action, a gun violence prevention coalition of young voices. The group I was with campaigned for S. 209. This bill, if passed, would ban “ghost guns” (unserialized firearms). These weapons are untraceable and respective to their known presence show up a lot more often as the firearm of usage in homicides and suicides alike. Added on to this piece of life-saving legislation was an amendment to ban firearms in polling places.
My group met with the Senate Pro Tempore, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, and numerous representatives for discussion. It was enlightening to see either truly dedicated responses to the movement of this bill and also contrasting claims that S. 209 would not be needed in the first place. Those who claimed it was unwarranted stated that the implementation of the law would be the issue. How could you be sure Vermonters actually would follow this law? My response was, How can you be sure Vermonters will follow any law put in place?
The government does not put laws in place in hopes of them never being broken. We enact legislation in order to help society. Claiming that S. 209 would be ignored and therefore we should not pass is counterintuitive. Not everyone wears seat belts, but yet our state regulates car passengers to do so.
As a first-time voter this year, I was thankful to feel safe in my polling place. I desire my feeling of comfort to populate all other voting booths across the country. Starting with Vermont, we need to reduce voter intimidation by outlawing firearms in polling places. No one needs a gun to vote. Ever. I believe polling places should feel safe. Every person should be able to vote uninfluenced and in peace.
