The following is an article I wrote and was published in the Whittier Daily News in 2004. The article describes a wonderful experience I had voting in the late 1970s and early 1980s and I used the experience to encourage people to vote:
Many years ago, I lived in West Los Angeles. During the three or four
years I lived there, the local polling place was in an old house. One of
the poll workers was a tall and thin elderly black man who stood by the
ballot box. After voting, I would hand my ballot to this elderly
gentleman, who would detach the stub and hand it back to me. As he
handed it back, he would ask each voter his or her name.
The first time this happened to me, I was taken aback and was
reluctant to answer. Nevertheless, I told him. He then took my ballot
and, with an air of finality, he proceeded to stuff it into the ballot
box with a resounding thump. Then, with a loud and resonant voice, he
would say "Mr. Becker done voted.'
When I heard the thump of the ballot box and those words, I really
knew that I had done something very important. After that, I really
looked forward to hearing those words, and they provided me with the
motivation to vote in each and every election since then. Eventually, I
moved, but in my mind I hear those words every time I exit from my
polling place.
My wife is a naturalized citizen. After we married, we would discuss
politics and, thankfully, we are in general agreement on most issues.
However, she had never voted. After much encouragement, she finally
registered to vote. I told her that she needn't worry about how I vote
and that she needs to make her own decisions.
I am really proud of my wife because she reads the voter pamphlets
from cover to cover and studies the pros and cons of each proposition on
the ballot. Sometimes she asks me to explain terms and issues. I try
very hard to put aside my strong opinions on many of the issues and give
her an unbiased explanation of both sides of the issues.
In studying the issues and voting, she has shown that she is a true,
patriotic American. Thousand of Americans have died defending our
country and our right to vote in free elections. The least we all can do
to honor their sacrifice is to vote.
I urge everyone to vote this coming Nov. 2. If you aren't registered,
you still have time if you act quickly. As I exit from the polling
place, I am looking forward to hearing that booming voice in my head say
"Mr. Becker done voted,' and once again, I will know I have done
something very important.
I only hope that when you exit your polling place you will also hear
that voice and proudly know that you too have done something very
important. Show your patriotism by voting on Tuesday, Nov. 2.