corrente

Eight ended up voting, but it’s all good. These were folks I’d never really met before except on the phone, and so it was cool just to know that there are other progressive types in the general vicinity I'd never met. Turns out either me or the driver misunderstood and one couple brought their kids, who, sadly, couldn’t vote. And me and him had already voted. But it was fine in the end because the chilluns livened up dinner. These folks all had their own transportation and could and maybe even would have gone to vote, but this made it an event. Plus, now we all have each other’s phone numbers and a friendly face to add to the list within driving distance. In this area, there are five early polling stations open in three little towns in the county—one at an old church annex, one at city hall, two at schools more out in the boonies, and one at a senior center on the rez. We were going to go to the one in town, but on the way in we noticed that the senior center one in the little town on the rez was open, with lots of signs: VOTE---> and so forth. And the door was open, and there were people, and early voting can be done at any open poll no matter your precinct, so we just went there to vote and then on into town for dinner. It was very nice, and that makes eight more darts in the heart of the Weasel.

Cool thing is this: across the street from the senior center, just outside the poll limits in a big old dirt clearing for parking on flea market days, I noticed a little crowd gathered around a steaming pot and a folding table with a big old Kerry-Edwards sign and a sign for some local folks running, and lots of goodies: cups, bottles of drink, napkins and newspapers, and another big old sign that said FREE 4 VOTERS. So, while everyone else was doing their civic duty and the driver and me were babysitting, me and him and the kids walked over there to see what was up. These folks, mostly older Native folk with their kids, had gotten the coolest idea—free hot cider and frybread for anyone who had an “I Voted” sticker. They weren’t asking questions about who voted for who, the consensus being nobody around there was going to vote for aWeasel anyway, but they were sure getting people to stop and eat and vote. The lady frying the bread told me and Hal we had to go vote before we could eat, but the kids could have some, and I told her we had already voted and what a cool idea it was she had. Could I do anything to help?

She said her nephew was one of the local guys running and he was springing for the goodies since he was in an open (no party) tribal election that was close, but that if I wanted I could bring some flour and salt and oil and some more drinks, sure. I told her that I’d be back tomorrow (yesterday) and so I went back after chores today with some stuff, and she must have rooked in 30 or 40 people in the couple of hours I was there. It’s the only main road going through to town, so everybody had to see the table. And who can pass up free food, even if you weren’t planning to stop and vote? She said someone would be there whenever the polls were open.

With turnout the key, maybe it’s an idea that could be transplanted to other places? Just be careful not to run afoul of the law about being too close to a polling place with propaganda. And those "no vending on public right of way" laws. And permits, if any. Don't want anyone getting busted, even if the propaganda is true, free and delicious.