Civic Engagement

Someone has to do it

In order to live in a civilized society, there must be rules and people to oversee the rules are observed. The most important of these oversight duties fall to the responsibility of the average woman and man in America. Jury duty is one of those responsibilities that governs our judicial system. Juries are selected to hear cases of crimes and torts committed or omitted in this country, and it is the private citizen that has the final determination in innocent versus guilty and right versus wrong. The only time a jury does not have the ultimate last word is in a trial by court instead of jury. The defendant has the power to exercise this right, not the prosecution. One overlooked civic responsibility we have is working the polls during an election. It is a process Americans undergo biannually, and one that is taken for granted, in my opinion. The rules in which we live by are determined by who we elect. It is of the utmost importance that we have accountability in our elective process. One way to ensure the polls work according to the regulatory process is to check voters as they check in. Poll workers ensure only valid registered voters get a ballot, so voter fraud does not happen. Another important function of working the polls is to ensure no one is intimidated from participation in voting. Protecting privacy at the ballot box is important. Last but not least, polling locations need observers.

Observers are just that, they watch the poll workers as well as the people in line to vote.