When my maternal grandfather emigrated to America from Austria in 1907, arriving at Ellis Island after passing by a powerful symbol of liberty and compassion, he rightly thought he was establishing a home in a country where he could taste freedom every day. He could vote after gaining citizenship without fear of oppression.
He could have a say in a vibrant democracy.
Like so many immigrants fleeing authoritarian, anti-Semitic regimes, he sought the opportunity to flourish as a person deserving of respect regardless of his ethnic background. What he truly valued was to vote without interference or restriction.
Unfortunately, he now would find a country, once brimming with optimism and possibility, a place where numerous state legislatures are trying to suppress the vote by limiting the number of voting places, compressing the time for early voting and restricting mail-in and absentee voting.
For example, Republican lawmakers in Georgia have passed legislation that limits Sunday voting to one Sunday in each county, limits the use of ballot drop boxes, requires absentee ballots to contain a driver’s license number, state ID number or copy of a photo ID.
Why?
The announced reason is to reduce the possibility of fraud. That is hogwash. Election officials nationwide have found little or no fraud.
So, what is the real deal? Some Republican-led legislatures, incited by former President Trump’s outlandish, unfounded claims of fraud (except none in states where he won), are seeking to suppress the vote, fearful that citizens, primarily persons of color, may have the audacity to select Democratic candidates.
It is a sickening display of outright political bullying. Hope for immediate political gain destroys a basic tenet of a once-better country, one that stood out for its ideals, not its malice and attacks on democracy.
State legislators have introduced 253 bills that would restrict voting access in 43 states. In a different set of 43 states, elected bodies have submitted 704 bills to expand voting access. The Brennan Center for Justice is the source of this data.
Not all is shamefully anti-democratic. There are rays of sunlight.
The 2021 Maryland General Assembly is considering legislation to make it easier to vote and exercise your constitutional right to express your like or dislike for a candidate. As you should.
Voting is a right. It is not to be a logistical challenge made more difficult by politicians focused on control and power, the democratic process be damned.
Led by Maryland’s Congressman John Sarbanes, the U.S. House of Representatives is debating legislation to broaden the processes for voting freely and easily. It should not be a novel idea.
It should not be necessary, but it is.
My grandfather would be aghast at the current political misbehavior, as defined by voter suppression dressed up as a supposedly legitimate attempt to fight fraud. The stalking horse, however, is non-existent, except in the misguided minds of ill-informed Trump loyalists.
He would wonder what went wrong. When did hatred replace reconciliation? When did it become acceptable to disenfranchise our fellow citizens by placing roadblocks in their pursuit of democracy?
My grandfather would be disappointed. However, he was not naive. He had confronted religious bigotry. He had closely monitored and grieved the inexcusable murder of six million Jews during the horrific Holocaust.
Puffing away on his ubiquitous cigar, he would barely recognize a country that he loved and respected. He would see blatant attempts, some successful, to impose a shroud of unethical interference on the voting process. He would discern the mischievously deceptive reasoning used to curb democracy for political advantage.
He might wonder: did I not flee the “old country” to thrust aside authoritarian and autocratic attacks on freedom and justice?
As we would gather his loving grandchildren around him were he alive, reveling in his financial and familial success. perhaps he would pause and reflect on the sad state of our democracy. The cigar smoke might disguise his disgust of today’s America.
His grandson would share his despair. It is unavoidable.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
robert siegfried says
Another excellent commentary on the unfortunate present sad state of the United States and raises the question whether the system that has evolved since the Reagan era is truly one of a representative democracy. In addition to the points Mr. Freedlander raises, the efforts now actively underway to suppress voting also further the tactic skewing political power away from the large urban oriented states which have much greater multi cultural voter profiles and larger populations to the predominantly smaller white aging population states. So let’s call these efforts for what they are: voter suppression – yes! Racism- for sure!
It is sad that the United States has devolved from a nation built on strength to a country driven by fear
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Robert, Your last line, that the United States has become “a nation driven by fear” may indeed be correct. Though I have never been particularly fearful of much, I have ” concerns”. Perhaps my greatest concern is the shockingly rapid , tragic transformation of this once great Republic. Seeing the assault on our southern border by so many thousands of “migrants”, to me, is appalling.
These penniless, tortured souls are encouraged by a man well into his second childhood to head north. No thought or interest with the impact on resident citizens. Biden claims they are fleeing oppression and violence,seeking a better life. I agree, but we have a process for that.
So many indigent pregnant women with small children trailing behind. How does this benefit the United States? Certainly we must welcome all of the oppressed souls of North Korea, Cuba, Haiti and other S…hole countries. Press access denied? Lies and deception daily from Biden and company? I am not fearful, but certainly concerned.
You know, had you not, as you must, shout Racism, you might have had a point.
These migrants are being raped, extorted and threatened by the drug cartels. This is moral , ethical treatment? A tragedy all around.
I do not write to offend or insult. Just sharing a concern.
Glenn Baker says
Hello Howard,
The current American Legion Magazine features a story about how we allowed God to be removed from the classroom, In God We Trust, then removed Civics Classes from our schools. The recent coming of age generation knows little about our organization of government and the trust our government had in our grandfathers time. Maybe we will see it again.
Kristina Herold says
Hear, hear – we need to
Shout it out longer and louder without stopping even once until we are back to who we used to be: motivated by the Constitution and all State legislators, with firm ethical and moral standards representing who we really are: immigrants, invited by the Statue of Liberty and all that she stands for!
Barbara Denton says
Our right to vote by our citizenship is a sacred trust. It is not something that should be trivialized by mail in voting, early voting and the like. When your grandfather voted he had to sign a poll register and say who he was, where he lived and that he was a citizen of the United States. We longer have that. Any Tom. Dick or Harry who takes someone else’s utility bill can register to vote and not have any burden of proof that they are who they say the are. The 2020 election was full of fraud and with a compliant press who hated the current president they got away with it. Voting laws were changed without the consent of the people over a phony pandemic that hyped fear and resentment. There should be one voting day (election day). Absentee ballots should only be granted to those who cannot come to the polls due to physical disability or illness You know when elections are and you do not have to schedule a trip during that time period. Absolutely every person should have a voter ID. If you do not then you do not vote. It is really simple. If you do not have the proper ID you cannot get on a plane, see a doctor or pick-up your medicine. You cannot buy alcohol, cigarettes and other items without an ID. Studies have shown that minorities like voter ID and that it does not suppress voting but increases it as the voter feels assured illegal voters will not be able to vote. It is very hard for a dead person to have an ID when they come to the polls. Civics and truthful history should be reintroduced in our schools so that our children realize the responsibility they have to pick the leaders of our government. Many young people do not register to vote as they are afraid they will be picked for a jury and they do not want to serve. HR-1 is an abomination to our Republic. Its passage will guarantee one party rule from now on with no hope to save our Republic and the Constitution. Speaking of which is it absolutely unconstitutional. The states via the Constitution are to make the laws concerning the elections not the Federal Government. In reality, all the Federal government is supposed to be doing is providing a common defense and securing our borders. How far we have fallen into the pit of the Federal bureaucracy by letting Congress bureaucrats take our rights away bit by bit.
John FISCHER says
It is indeed a sad time when citizens resort to assigning base motives to others with whom they disagree. Who’s the bully here, Howard?
John Fischer says
Yes, it is indeed a sad time in our country when citizens resort to assigning base motives to those with whom they disagree.
Howard Freedlander says
John—Do you think the “base motives” are mistaken? Do you think it is coincidental that the Georgia legislature is limiting voting on Sundays to hamper the voting of Blacks urged to vote at Sunday church services?
Mary Hunt-Miller says
I appreciate your article, Mr. Freedlander and share your concerns about the state legislatures that are attempting to make it more difficult for people to vote. My suggestion for anyone concerned about this issue to become involved in fighting back. Organizations such as Fair Fight Action and the New Georgia Action Project are working to encourage politicians to vote down these voter suppression laws. They are also encouraging corporations, which financially support such politicians, to withdraw their funding from any who support anti democratic, anti equality voting bills. People can donate to these and other like minded organizations, make phone calls, text and, therefore, show their concern through action.
Stephen Schaare says
There are more ways to vote today than ever before. You mention suppressing the vote. “Reducing the time window for early voting, only one day for Sunday voting , so forth and so on. Do you also believe a “poll tax” is being demanded of certain groups?
This may come as a shock, but for just about all my life, I have voted on Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. There was no early voting, no mail in(other than absentee), etc. If I failed to show at the old St. Michaels firehouse by muskrat park on that Tuesday, I did not vote. Just that simple.