Dear Editor,
I have no doubt that Senator Obama will win the election. I say this as a student-volunteer for his campaign in Michigan, because I am lucky to see a very small part of an expansive, exciting, and most disciplined election campaign in decades, if not ever in US electoral politics.
Still, Democrats face critical challenges ahead whether it is the ‘Catholic’ vote in Pennsylvania, or the ‘Jewish’ vote in critical Florida, or combating mounting TV ads from right-wing groups heavily funded by oil tycoons, etc. This election has become a war of necessity.
Caribbean Democrats must show faith and engage the process to ensure Caribbean nationals in the US, particularly in ‘swing’ or ‘battleground’ states (eg, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, etc) vote properly. This is more than an election; this is a war. I say this because there is, as usual, a potent plan by Republicans to use disruptive tactics in the swing states to prevent or tire Democrats from voting.
These tactics include but are not limited to the provisional ballot, photo ID, need for affidavit, and for Democrats who lost their homes due to foreclosure, this will be used to challenge their ‘residency’ status.
In Michigan, the Secretary of State (chief election officer), a Republican, ordered that ‘provisional’ ballots be used for multiple reasons. While federal law allows for the use of a provisional ballot, it is only supposed to be rarely used.
This is because a provisional ballot is not counted until a voter returns to the county clerk within a certain time, and provides some missing information that save rise to its use in the first place.
Many voters simply never return, which is precisely what the Republicans anticipate. They want Democrats to turn up, see long lines, and go home. Young voters are most vulnerable, as they hate to wait to vote. Republicans will try to get certain voters (eg, minorities) to leave the line to answer questions. Voters must understand that one need not leave a line.
As a student-member of the independent American Civil Liberties Union, amassing election information for out-of-state students, I know for a fact that there are grave concerns about elections day, because of the influx of millions of new voters, new laws, disruptive tactics, and the fact that Senator Obama is not white.
This last concern in particular has resulted in the US government sending hundreds of officials to polling precincts to ensure voters enjoy their rights. Also, hundreds of law students, paralegals, and lawyers will volunteer to help voters.
Caribbean nationals with legal experience are encouraged to volunteer with the Obama campaign through its Obama Voter Protection Program (see http://my.barackobama.com/ CounselForChange). Its goal for Michigan alone is to get 2,000 legal folks to be on the spot.
But all of this aside, the best antidote for trouble is for voters to be timely informed and prepared. If one is prepared, help others (especially older voters). Many are not net-savvy, and much election information today is posted online.
Know that October 6 is the last day to register to vote. Pay keen attention to the new rules required by federal law (the Help America Vote Act [HAVA] of 2002), enacted after the mess of the 2000 Gore-Bush elections. Know the location of your polling precinct; prepare to go early and cater for delays.
Ensure ex-felons are informed on their current voting rights. Some states allow for it and others do not. Florida has many Caribbean nationals.
Florida is one state that recently (2007) changed its law and now allows ex-felons to vote. Sadly, many ex-felons are unaware of this. We need Florida!
We should not wait to be asked. Instead, “Do something” (Richard Gere). Take up the kinds of information here and pass it on. In safe democratic New York, Caribbean folks can still canvass on the streets to raise funds.
That said, Caribbean Democrats must stay the course. We are a small but important part of a massive movement led by Senator Obama and his wife. It is mind-boggling to see how a vast network of people can operate with such discipline — the kind that does not allow for complacency.
Perhaps it is just hard work. Twice in the past few weeks, luckily, I sat close by and listened to him speak in person. Two Mondays ago, he looked very tired. Now, there are more grey hairs! Yet, something continues to stir. People are on the move.
The senator continues to energize people in a rare display not limited to people of my generation, some of whom take notes during his speeches as if they were in a class. But other people are also taking note.
This explains the massive Secret Service detail, policemen in every nook and cranny, K-9 dogs, etc, that are needed to safeguard Senator Obama. My favourite is the snipers on rooftops.
Nothing puts this experience into perspective as do the snipers, because if one listens to Senator Obama speak in person in this electric atmosphere, the fear of the violent sixties is always very near.
This is why I am not troubled by a ‘close’ race, because it may be a buffer against any attempt to assassinate Senator Obama.
Yours faithfully,
Rakesh Rampertab
