.authored by something.of.substance.
.silenced by slight-of-hand.
The state of Ohio requires one to apply, by mail, for an absentee ballot. In the electronic age, this process seems cumbersome at best and foolishly liberal with your personal information at worst. An absentee ballot was what I required, however, and I was determined to obtain one. While waiting for the rather slow-moving .PDF file to load and print, I checked out other areas of the Board of Election website. Were I in-state, I could easily find my polling location online as well as any number of telephone numbers to assist me with all my enfranchised needs. Still waiting for the application for an absentee ballot to load on my overloaded computer, I decided to check my “Voter Registration”. Clearly this function was designed for those newly registering; I had been registered since early 2002 (at least). I had voted in both Primary and General Elections for the state of Ohio. I proudly utilized my right to vote. Seeing my name displayed on the webpage was only going to excite me more for this next election!
I searched my name, last name first. Nothing in my county of residence. I searched my name in my old county, last name first. Nothing. I searched for my name in the state of Ohio. Nothing. I searched just my last name and found my family registered at my old address- without me. I didn’t exist as a voter! I had been disenfranchised!
Trying to quell the panic in my voice, I hastily dialed the Board of Elections in my current county of residence, F. County. I was greeted by a kindly sounding woman who attempted to search for my name, but was cut off by a dropped signal on my cell phone. Where is that pervasive Verizon network when you need them? I call back and get a different woman with a harder tone and distinct warble to her aged voice. She roughly informs me that the voter registration deadline in Ohio was yesterday and so I “should have checked sooner”.
