My Experience with Voter Suppression
“I’m NOT Dead!”
A s we approach Election Day, there is much effort to ensure that all who wish to do so have the opportunity to vote. I have never missed an opportunity to vote and this year would be no different. Like so many Americans, I had requested my ballot to be delivered by mail the first day we could make the request. We’ve all heard the issues with the Postal Service and difficulties with ballots being received. Talking among my neighbors, I’ve found that members in a household sent requests in at the same time, only to have one receive a ballot and the other in the same house not receive it for days or in two cases, a week or more later, for no apparent reason!
I have been waiting … and WAITING for the arrival of my ballot. In checking online it said “Processing” for quite some time and then finally, about two weeks ago the status was changed to “Ballot Sent.” So I thought it would only be a few more days for my ballot to be delivered. But NO, that hasn’t been the case. So now, in just a few days, early in-person voting will begin in my home state of Maryland, and I still have yet to receive my ballot. I knew if I went to vote early, they would see a ballot had already been issued to me and I’d have to vote with a provisional ballot, something I did NOT want to do. In a conversation with my local Board of Elections office, the mystery of my ballot was finally revealed.
T he Board of Elections informed me that both my mother’s and my own ballots were returned, marked “DECEASED.” Sadly, my mother died in August, but CLEARLY, I am NOT Dead! Luckily the helpful worker at the Election Board has reissued my ballot so that I can vote in person … not going to the Early Voting location, but rather appearing before the Board of Elections Office and casting my vote there.
Trust me, I will be making an appearance in person at the Post Office to see what other mail they have returned due to my “untimely death.” Just before Halloween, being considered “dead” when in fact I am alive and fairly well, is a TRICK I am not appreciating. But what I DO appreciate is that the mystery has been solved. I am very grateful for the assistance rendered by the gracious employee at the Office of the Board of Elections and most importantly, I am extremely appreciative that I WILL indeed have the opportunity to VOTE and have my ballot counted!
I was grateful to be able to be my mother’s caregiver over the past 5+ years, assisting her in here battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Here is an article I wrote about the challenges and rewards of caregiving.
T he flurry of activity that took over immediately following my Mom’s passing were detailed in this “50 Days” article, that may interest you.
