Archive: Opinions

Lansing residents showed up to the polls and cast their ballots this past Tuesday.  It was an off-year election.  Turnout was low about 30% according to the Tompkins County Board of Elections, but to those who voted, we feel that we have taken part in a very important process, a true sign of patriotism and love for country.

Unlike recent elections in other parts of the world, there were no armed guards at the polling stations.  No sandbagged bunkers protecting the entrances.  No one was coerced to show up and vote for a particular candidate or asked to boycott the elections.  There were no reports of violence, vote tampering or fraud.

Breaking with my own tradition of voting around dinner time, I drove to the Town Hall on my way to work and cast my ballot 7:30 AM.   The election officials were polite, courteous, patient, and friendly.  When I finished voting, a few of them thanked me for voting and placed one of those neat stickers on my jacket “I Voted.”

Later that evening, I returned the Town Hall to witness the tabulation of votes.  It was about 8:55 PM.   The same election officials greeted me in the same manner as they had nearly 14 hours earlier, politely asking if I had come to vote as the polls would be closing promptly at 9:00 PM.  With smiles on their faces, they heard me respond that I was there to hear the vote count. 

As an official declared the polls closed at 9:00 PM, I watched a modern day miracle.  Ordinary citizens, duly sworn to carry out an honest and accurate count of votes tabulated on the machines, performed a 130 year old election night ritual. 

First, the curtains were folded inward on their collapsible metal rods.  Then the metal doors, which provide both privacy and support, were folded inward and, with the turn of latch, closed tight.   The front of the voting machine was secure.  Certification numbers were read off the machine and matched with those printed on the official election results form. 

Next, one election official read out loud instructions on how to turn the various knobs and keys, located on the back of the machine.  When done in the proper sequence, the back panel of the machine slides off with ease exposing the inner counting mechanisms, and vote counts row by row in a blue ink reminiscent of those days when mimeograph machines provided worksheets in schools and offices. 

There was complete silence as the vote tallies began.  No candidates name was ever mentioned.  The vote reader would simply count across each row, “1 A” 379 votes, “2 A” 349.  The recorder would write down the number in the appropriate space on the official election sheet.   When they reached the last slot in row A, they would repeat the same process along all the lettered rows that had votes.  Since it was a small ballot, the rows only went to the letter “F” for this election.

Within a few minutes, individuals from both the democratic and republican parties were phoning in the unofficial election results from the Town Hall.  They were situated in various corners of the room.  Some spoke in hushed and somber tones while others could barely contain their enthusiasm as they reported the numbers.  By 10:00 PM, the unofficial results were posted on the Tompkins County Board of Elections Website, and the celebrations were beginning in Lansing and throughout the county.

Local elections are exciting.   Those who are running for office are our friends, neighbors and loved ones.  We work with them, share meals with them, and stand by them in times of joy and sorrow.  Most of those on the slate in Lansing are either friends or acquaintances of mine so I feel both joy and a tinge of sadness with the results of this year’s election.  They are all fine individuals whose campaigns in this year’s election will make Lansing a better, stronger, safer, financially more solvent, and more vibrant community.  And that is to the point.

----
v5i44