The late John Fehsenfeld, superintendent of the Barry Intermediate School District, once told political forum candidates that government exists for the benefit of the people, not for the convenience of public officials.
His admonition was about both candidates opposing a proposal that would make their jobs more tedious or difficult, but might have benefits for common everyday folks.
I thought about this not long ago when I overheard yet another area municipal clerk grousing about having to comply with provisions of the new law that was Proposal 3 last November.
For those who may not remember, Proposal 3, which makes voting much easier to do for us common everyday unwashed masses, earned landslide proportions of approval, better than two-thirds (66.9 percent). Its support number was more robust than the ballot victories for recreational marijuana and against gerrymandering.
For the record, the language of the proposal on the ballot last November:
“This proposed constitutional amendment would allow a United States citizen who is qualified to vote in Michigan to:
- Become automatically registered to vote when applying for, updating or renewing a driver’s license or state-issued personal identification card, unless the person declines.
- Simultaneously register to vote with proof of residency and obtain a ballot during the 2-week period prior to an election, up to and including Election Day.
- Obtain an absent voter ballot without providing a reason. Cast a straight-ticket vote for all candidates of a particular political party when voting in a partisan general election.
Should this proposal be adopted?”
I understand clerks’ frustration with a new law that makes their jobs more difficult, particularly as the election draws near, but the tradeoff makes it more than worth it.
There is so much hype over the July Fourth holiday season every year about how our freedoms have made America great. I call it hype because there are limits to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, etc.
The most important right American citizens have is the ability to vote, to choose those who shall govern them. As I have said in this space before, it is the only real power we common everyday folks have in a system of government that is ruled by the rich and powerful, who have very clever marketing and advertising to help them win.
The rulers understand this, and have been very skillful in attempting to limit that exercise. The number of elections each year in bygone days was much higher until the State Legislature mandated there can be only four election days — in February, May, August and November. This made clerks’ jobs a bit easier.
Long-standing tradition established rules in which voters had to show up at the polls on a workday Election Day between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Under those regulations, those who have nine to five jobs have very small windows of opportunity they can set aside time to vote. The advantage on this goes to the boss man (or woman) or the self-employed, not to those “workin’ for the man.”
Permitting people to vote by absentee ballot for no reason will swell the numbers of voters, as will allowing same day registration. It will create added headaches for clerks and election officials.
However, as Judy Collins sang more than 50 years ago, “But if that’s freedom’s price, we don’t mind.”
