Voting is still a privilege... Even if it shouldn't be.

In the summer of 2013, I had just graduated college. I went to a small, private, Christian, conservative college in the suburbs of Rochester, NY. Before that, I went to a small, conservative high school in a rural town only 40 minutes outside Rochester. Needless to say, I had not experienced much diversity. The summer after I graduated college, I still had a few degree requirements to finish up, including a full time internship. I was placed in a program for teenage parents in Rochester and Monroe County. After a few weeks of being there, my supervisor decided to "throw me right in." I was to offer the parents on the program's wait-list short term services: anything from a ride to a doctor's appointment, to walking them through the steps to get an internship/job experience. I was eager, and dove right in. I began internship processes with two girls. I drove them both to interviews; they were accepted and the paperwork began... But the paperwork came to a screeching halt because I had neglected to check one thing: I failed to check if they had government photo identification. My clients didn't, and therefore we had to stop the internship process and start the process of getting a state ID card. This hadn't even crossed my mind: that someone might not have a photo ID. Something I had had for 5 years at that point. These girls were my age, some even older, but their lives were very different. This was one of the most meaningful lessons in privilege I have received. Something I had so easily taken for granted: a photo ID. 

When I was a little girl, my parents' polling place was my elementary school. My mother also worked at the same school. She would come into my classroom, and sweep me away for five minutes so I could go with her to vote. Sometimes (I'm not sure if this is legal or not, so I hope I don't get my mom arrested or something), she would even let me pull the levers and push the buttons for the candidates she wanted to vote for. This was always valuable to me. I loved voting and what it stood for. I loved the smell of the auditorium. I loved seeing the people lined up. I loved that crisp sense that only comes with the possibility of change that comes on Election Day. I loved standing on my tip-toes to see the names lined up on the ballot, each representing a hopeful candidate or proposition that would bring a fresh point of view to our government.

In 1920, white women won the right to vote. This will always be a meaningful victory in history, and I am so grateful and am proud to be able to fill out my ballot tomorrow. I am excited. Many women fought for years to earn the right to vote, and I am honored to join their ranks as a voting member of society. With the passing of the 19th amendment, white women were no longer fined (or jailed) if they tried to vote, or fought for the cause. Most could get to their polling places with ease and cast their vote, proudly. Black women, however, weren't able to as easily. It was a victory for the white, middle class woman. It wasn't until well into the 1960s that voting became mostly uninhibited for black people. Some still want to make it difficult again today for people like the clients I told you about above with Voter ID laws. This would force people to have to pay to vote (it costs money to get a photo ID... I hardly realized that because my parents paid for mine). That is not right.

Another time I had to reflect on my privilege during the summer of 2013, was during a day long conference on poverty. The speaker gave the example of a mother who lives in poverty that needs to do laundry. I'm going to try to recreate the example for you: This is a mother of two who lives in an apartment with her children. She works during the week, so the only time she has for laundry is the weekend. She can't afford childcare on the weekend because she needs it during the week, so she has to coordinate how to take her children to the laundromat with her. This means she needs to push a stroller, walk with a child, and carry laundry to the laundromat. Feasibly, she can only carry 1, maybe 2 loads of laundry, so this means she either has to do the whole process (most likely 3-4 hours) twice in one weekend, or choose what she washes carefully. I had never thought about how a task like laundry (which I hate with a passion, but is generally easy for me to do), could be so difficult. As I was reflecting on voting in this election, the story of this mother struck me. It must be difficult for some people to take the time out of their day to vote, let alone find their polling location, coordinate transportation, decide whether or not to take their children with them, and learn about the issues. 

I guess I am saying all of this because as I learn more about our society and our world, I become increasingly aware of my privilege in it. I believe that when we are aware of our privileges, we have the responsibility to both educate others who don't see their privilege, and to speak/act out against injustice (which is really based in allowing those in the margins to tell their stories). I am still searching for ways to do that in my life. But, I do know that voting is still a privilege. Yes, it is technically a right in our country, but until we are all equally able to vote, it will be a privilege. The way getting a photo ID is, the way doing laundry is, the way knowing you are probably safe around a police officer is, the way clean drinking water is.

I am so excited to vote tomorrow, which is why I am making Election Day choices not only for myself, but for others who most likely can't, and I encourage you all to do the same!!!