I went to the library this morning and just outside the main door, as has been the case on most days recently, was a pleasant older lady with a clipboard and paperwork asking people if they were registered to vote and, if not, please take a moment to fill out the form and register. Very good-citizeny and the epitome of positive local activism.
Except.
As I walked on past (being already registered and thus immune to her civic blandishments) I heard her say to the gentleman she was just finishing up with as he turned away, "Oh, by the way, if the election were held today, who would you vote for?"
Now, perhaps I am too cynical. Perhaps I am paranoid. Perhaps she was just expressing friendly curiosity.
I narced her out to the head librarian anyway.
It seems some of the people doing sidewalk registrations are from the county clerk's office but some are volunteers from the two major political parties. And, if you are a partisan in the political process, it is extremely inappropriate to ask, when you are registering a new voter, ". . .(W)ho would you vote for?" It can certainly leave the impression that, if you answer "incorrectly," you're registration just might not get filed.
Usually, on these sorts of expeditions both parties are represented at the same time (no doubt to keep each other honest) but, when I went by, there was only the one woman active. I'm sure it was just a coincidence the librarian thought it was the Republican.
(The gentleman in question refused to answer the canvasser's question and the head librarian is filing an official complaint.)
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