Back in 1976, I turned 18 on March 13th. I believe the primary election was on March 16th. I pre-registered to vote. It was important because my grandfather was running for re-election as Northshore Sanitary District President, and my uncle was running again for precinct committeeman. I received my voter card about a week before my birthday. I was excited to have it.
The next day at school, I had a Sr. Government class in the auditorium. There was a guest speaker-Grace Mary Stern. At that time she was the county clerk. After her talk, I stood up and told her that I was proud to be able to vote on the upcoming election, and held up my card. Much to my suprise, she said that it had been sent in error, and she wanted it back. It was not supposed to be mailed until my birthday. I asked how could I be sure I would get it back before the election? She said that it should not be an issue.
When I told her that I would not give it back, she asked if I could talk to her after the lecture. I did, with my teacher Mr. McPherson. He stood up for me, when again she asked for the card. He said that I would keep it. This was a government class, and he stated the best thing he could do to for involving the youth in government, was to ensure they voted. I had taken this initiative, and he wanted to stand up for me. I kept the card.
My father was precinct committeeman for years. Every election for as long as I could walk, I had to fold sample ballets, and then deliver them to houses. Dad never paid us, it was just what we had to do. When my uncle became precinct committeeman, when I was in sixth or seventh grade, I still had to fold and deliver sample ballets, but he paid me! I was beginning to like politics.
I have a couple of old ballets and election cards:
This election, my dad was in one party, and his uncle (Hayden Bryant) was in another.
I found this sample ballet lining an old jarring cabinet of my mom’s. This was from 1941. My great grandfather running for Assessor in Zion, Ill.
They both won. Their badges are in this shadow box.
Make sure you vote! It is always important to understand, and when possible, be involved in politics-especially local. Those are the offices can do the most good for a community.
P.S.
While my father won in 1965, his party had lost the general presidential election the year before. I have my dad’s book “the Conscience of a Conservative” by Barry Goldwater, published 1960. That election had some interesting events with negative campaigning for those that study such things, especially Lyndon Johnson’s “Daisy” commercial with a little girl and an atomic bomb explosion.
I lastly have the book “The Ungentlemanly Art-A History of American Political Cartoons” by Stephen Hess and Milton Kaplan, 1968.
This shows that political agendas could get ugly throughout American politics. It is not just a recent thing. Nevertheless, please vote.
Librarytomes 