How we voted is totally unimportant, but HOW we voted mattered ever so much. You see, about two weeks ago I received my voting card, however and despite having submitted her form, Denese did not receive her voting card, though we checked the mail daily.
So, today and without a seconds thought, the two of headed off to the polls. I had my card and Denese had a utility bill and a hope.
Arriving at the poll, I was in and done in under three minutes. Denese found her self at the "Problem" table. Without so much as a hesitation or even a peak at out utility bill, Denese was registered and voting less than two minutes after I.
Once we had that "done and dusted", we were given a sticker commemorating our votes and a gummy (lolly) by one of the poll staff and off we went.
But at the door, we paused just long enough to consider how exception this country really is. New Zealand wanted us to vote and did what it could to insure we did so.
In The States, Denese would have been turned away. Why, good question with a short answer. In The U.S. the Republican party only wins national elections, when voter turnout is low. Thus, the Part of Abraham Lincoln has been reduced to suppressing voter turnout, in an effort to win what it could not win otherwise.
The techniques are many, ranging from not allowing last minute voter registration to reducing or eliminating after hours and weekend voting, to requiring a driver's license or equivalent, even from adults who live in CBD's and have never driven. All this to "even the playing field".
Of course it is most certainly discrimination, but fancy names are applied to justify the practices.
So, when next you vote, pause and realize just how significant our democracy is, here in New Zealand.