作者：大學城市議員Lynn Ricci
這是8月5日期中選舉我在投票所看到的真實故事……
在這個投票所，有幾個不平的台階通向門口，當我站在人行道望著這棟建築時，我看到一位中國老人，手拄拐杖及手拿一把陽傘，一步一步走向投票所台階前，我趕忙上去攙扶他，老人握住我的手時，以帶有腔調的話告訴我15年前他由共產中國來到美國，他在共產中國生活超過70年，在共產中國時他不能投票，他很想要投票，但是不能。
當他到了美國，他用盡一切方法成為一位美國登記的選民，因為美國是一個最好、最好的地方，今天為了投票，他從North & South路和Delmar路路口搭公車，然後走到(以拐杖和雨傘)這個投票所來投票，投票對他來說是那麼的重要。
現在，當我看到聖路易郡8月5日的選舉祗有18%的登記選民投票時，這位中國老人真讓我感動。這位公民，在我看來將近90歲，用著超乎尋常的毅力，在95度以上的炎熱夏天中，搭公車到投票所完成投票使命，這還祗是期中選舉的初選，並不是決選呢，選舉投票是那麼的重要。
如果您沒有投票，我要用什麼方法鼓勵您去融入、去參與、去登記、去投票呢？
編按：本文作者Lynn Ricci是大學城2選區市議員。畢業於哥倫比亞密蘇里大學，芳邦大學進修並畢業於Rutgers大學法學院，是一位執業律師。本文是她在8月5日投票日當天所看到一位中國老人前往投票之真實故事，有感而發(原文請見英文版)。
據初步統計，8月5日初選，在人口580萬的密蘇里州，登記選民有4百萬人，但祗有70萬人投票，人口一百萬的聖易郡，登記選民有65萬2千人，但祗有11萬7千8百人投票，投票率祗有18%。在這次選舉中民主黨檢察總長選舉票數接近(相差不到800票)到要重新驗票，可見提高投票率是多麼的重要，這完全可以改變選舉的結果。
Primary voting
By Lynn Ricci, Councilmember, Ward 2, U. City
On the day after the Primary I write to share an experience I had yesterday outside my polling place.
At this location, there are some steep, unprotected steps outside leading up to the building. As I stood on the sidewalk looking up at the building, I saw an elderly Chinese man walking away from the building and heading toward me to those steps. He had a cane in one hand and a sun umbrella in the other. I saw him teeter as he got near those steps so I ran forward to lend my arm. He grabbed my elbow and with an accent proceeded to tell me ... he came to the US about 15 years ago ... from communist China. He lived in communist China for over 70 years. In communist China, he could not vote. He wanted to vote. He needed to vote. But he could not.
So when he came to the US, he did whatever it took to become a registered voter of the United States of America ... because he said, America is the best place .. the very, very best place. He then told me that today in order to vote he took a bus from North & South and Delmar, and then walked [with his cane and umbrella] to this polling place. Voting was that important.
Now, as I look at the statistics depicting yesterday's 18% registered voter turn out in St. Louis County, I am inspired by him. This citizen, a man I estimate is pushing age 90, made the out-of-the-ordinary effort to take a bus in 95+ degree weather to his polling place to vote, not in a General election, but in a Primary election. Voting was that important.
How can I inspire you to be engaged, to participate, to register if you have not done so already? How?
===========================================
Rough voter numbers on 8-5-08
State of Missouripopulation 5.8 millionregistered voters 4 millionvoter turn out 700,000
St. Louis Countypopulation 1 millionregistered voters 652,000voter turn out 117,800, or 18%
U. City, Ward 2polulation 13,000registered voters 8,000voter turn out ? [it was 550 in the April 2008 election]
The Democratic Attorney General Primary election is so close that a recount is required. Voter turn out more than the troublesome 18% could surely have made a difference, whether it be by sealing the victory of Chris Koster, or by making Margaret Donnelly the victor.As it stands now, the recount will take weeks.
Chris Koster 118,648 [34.3%]Margaret Donnelly 117,862 [34.1%]
The difference is 786 votes.
|
