A new type of civics education
Overheard:
“What are you planning on doing for voting with this coronavirus?”
“I don’t know – I hear you’re going to be allowed to vote absentee? I’m thinking of doing that?”
“Oh, I heard that they don’t count absentee votes in some elections?”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah, only if it’s close. They don’t end up counting them unless it’s really close.”
“Oh, no way. I’m not going to vote if it doesn’t count. I’ll have to figure out where to go to vote.”
Also heard:
“I couldn’t vote for Obama. As much as I like him, he’s pro-choice.”
Both statements reflect an area I believe we must do better on, and that’s civics education. I think we must do a better job of informing our citizenry of their democratic responsibilities and privileges and the role of different parts of government.
The first conversation stems from a common misconception. Absentee ballots are still counted in the days and weeks after an election, and thus may be counted after a winner has been declared. But, for that matter, a winner may be declared in a presidential election before the voting booths even close in Hawaii. That doesn’t mean the votes in Hawaii count any less. In this year, with the pandemic wreaking havoc across the country, it is more important than ever that people understand the practical elements of how to cast a vote and how votes are counted. Of course, this is separate from the significant issue of fighting voter suppression led by initiatives like Fair Fight 2020 and More than a Vote.
The second conversation also involves a major misconception in presidential elections. Let me be clear: this is not about who you vote for. (Full disclosure: I voted for Obama in 2008, not 2012.) Many people vote based on the strength of their personal beliefs, not in examining which of their beliefs most matter for a President (or any other office, for that matter). Your views on abortion may be your most deeply held beliefs, but that doesn’t make them the area that an elected official is most likely to influence.
The purpose of voting is to elect officials that will best represent and stand for your interests. But not all of your interests should be thought of equally when it comes to electing officials. You may care deeply about the rules of baseball, but those interests are irrelevant to our elected government. With only a fixed set of options for any elected office (often just two), it’s important to understand how that office influences our lives. Sure, a President can influence abortion…they may get to nominate one or two Supreme Court justices that may shift the balance on Roe v Wade or they may try to regulate Medicaid funding to restrict abortions…but for the most part, there are much bigger ways our president affects American life. In fact, I would appreciate deeper knowledge on the areas of influence for various levels of government – from the President to Senators to members of Congress to state officials and local officials. What should I care about most when I vote for each level or area of government?
I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
Abraham Lincoln.
This is not about pushing people towards one side or another. This is about pushing people towards a deeper understanding of the functioning of our government and our elections. With all the information in the world at our fingertips, we take it for granted that people should be able to come to informed conclusions. Unfortunately, with so much information and the proliferation of misinformation, it is more important than ever to lay a solid, unshakeable civic foundation in each citizen of our country.