Joke the Vote

I took quite a bit of time away from blogging, due to other priorities in life. Now, though, seems like as good a time as any to begin writing again.

First up ... the controversy over the use of the Great Seal of Alabama in north Alabama last week.

In summary, a radio show host mentioned on his show and published on his web site a bogus press release regarding the special Senate District 7 election held this past Tuesday. The press release stated that due to an expected high voter turnout, one candidate's supporters should appear at the polls on Tuesday, June 9th (the actual election day) while the other candidate's supporters should appear at the polls on Wednesday, June 10th.

Much has been said about whether the radio host was intentionally attempting to supress voter turnout and whether or not he violated state law through his misuse of the Great Seal. Some have alleged that the State of Alabama overreacted when Secretary of State Beth Chapman issued an advisory clarifying that the time period for voting had not changed. Further, some believe that the Alabama Attorney General nor the U.S. Department of Justice should investigate, much less prosecute, what may have been a violation of state and federal law, claiming that the bogus release was merely a joke and within the bounds of acceptable satire - and should have been recognized as such by the voting public.

I will leave speculation that the radio host violated state or federal law to others who are better equipped to make that decision. However, as an election administrator, I think the radio host committed a grave error in judgement in fashioning an elections document that included the Great Seal - apparently with the goal of increasing the likelihood that the document would appear authentic.

Election officials strive to ensure that voters are provided the best information possible on election procedures. When there is a gap in knowledge or understanding, problems arise that can affect a person's ability to cast her ballot in a way that is legal and effectively represents her choices.

Elections are an important mechanism in legitimizing the government that sets the rules by which we must all live. They are so important that individuals should think twice before spreading what they contend are just good-humored jokes - at least when they go to such efforts to make it appear that their jokes represent official governmental policy.

A jokester should not be afforded the luxury of posing as a governmental official when his or her actions promote the purposeful distribution of false information that can lead to voter confusion - no matter how obvious the falsity is to the perpetrator and some recipients of the information.