Over the past month, I’ve had a number of conversations about the upcoming election that left me shaken. If they are indicative of a general trend, there’s reason to be concerned not only about the outcome of Tuesday’s primaries, but the future of our democracy. 

The first encounter occurred after I lured my son and his music partner (aka The Jazzberries) to hold their weekly jam session at my house with the promise of a home-cooked meal. After enjoying an hour-long private concert of jazz standards, we sat down to eat and my son’s friend noticed my mail-in ballot, laying on the counter nearby.  

“I could use your help,” he confessed. “I know I need to vote, but I don’t have any idea of who to vote for. Well, except for one.” 

When I asked who, he named an incumbent senator. I was surprised by the choice but interested to know what had driven it, so I asked, “Why him?” 

“Well, we went to the same high school,” he said. I waited for him to continue but he didn’t.  

“So you were friends?” I assumed.  

“No, not really,” he shrugged. “He wasn’t in my class. But we went to the same school.” 

Did he know anything about his candidate’s well-established voting record? Well, no, he admitted, but he knew the man was a notable alumni – even if he wasn’t sure what he was notable for. 

A day later, a friend’s car pulled up as I was putting out the trash barrels. “On my way to the post office,” she said, holding up a couple of absentee ballots.  

She confessed she hadn’t known who to vote for in many cases. She mentioned her choice for a county commission seat (“Wasn’t he the mayor at some point?”) and said she’d picked “a neighbor” for city commission – not because she knew him, or anything about his history or intentions, but because “I figured it couldn’t hurt to have someone who lived close by, right?”  

Then I started getting phone calls – from friends and readers – who simply cut to the chase and asked me to tell them point blank who they should vote for. One reader expressed irritation that I didn’t make political endorsements; I told her write about local issues, not candidates and my views don’t represent those of the paper. 

I know there are plenty of local activists and party operatives who would see these openings as manna from heaven. And I guess some people must think telling people who to vote for is their civic duty, because this week I received a “Crib Sheet for the August 2022 Primary” from a Facebook friend who not only provided a full slate of names in easy-to-read capital letters, but some select commentaries as well. (“Both candidates are awful.”) 

However, when I’m asked directly to dictate who someone should vote for it makes me uncomfortable. It makes me think of that old Freddie Prinze comedy sketch where he protests in an intentionally forced accent, “Ees not my job!” Instead, I try to point the inquisitors toward resources – the nonpartisan League of Women Voters’ Guide,  videotaped candidate forums and newspaper articles on obscure races like the hospital board. More often than not, they respond: Just give me the names.

It makes me wonder: When did we abdicate the responsibility and privilege to make the choice ourselves? We seem to find endless time for scrolling through rants on Facebook, watching stupid videos on TikTok or binging on Netflix series. But listening to a candidate debate or attending a neighborhood association meeting? I’m too busy.  

I know not everyone is political by nature. I know following local issues and monitoring elected officials isn’t part of everyone’s job, as it is mine. And I know that sometimes, in the lesser known races, obtaining information isn’t always easy or sometimes even possible. (I’ll even admit, with some shame, there have been a few times in my life – notably, when I was a single, working mother a very full plate – when a local election simply escaped my radar.) 

The default used to be to vote a straight party ticket. But today’s stratifications – Are you a Trumper, a Reagan Republican or a RINO? A centrist, a progressive or a liberal? -- make it not so simple. Even races intended to be nonpartisan, like the upcoming School Board election, involve behind the scenes manipulation and money. 

Given today’s extreme divisions and the stark differences between opposing candidates, it’s more important than ever to vote with intention and intelligence  Not voting – or voting carelessly – has never been more dangerous. 

If you’ve already cast your ballot, I hope your decisions were informed by more than the familiarity of a name, a past high school connection or an unsubstantiated post on Next Door. If you’re a “vote at the polls” kind of person and you still have no idea of how to mark your ballot, think of a person in your life you consistently respect, admire and agree with and ask them to walk you through the ballot. (And if  you’re thinking of me, don’t forget the times you thought.  “Well, she sure got it wrong this time!”) Then make a commitment to do your homework before the general election rolls around. 

Like anything worth having, enjoying the fruits of good governance requires doing your part. Your vote is all you have. Don’t treat it like a multiple choice test you forgot to study for. 

Contact Carrie Seidman at carrie.seidman@gmail.com or (505) 238-0392.