As you know, if you've read some of my earlier diaries, she is very old and infirm. I brought her a sample election ballot (given to us by the trailer court owners where me and Sis live, I've got to hand it to them, as rabidly Republican as they are, they do NOT try to influence anybody's vote. The sample ballot was a straight up sample ballot. )
She studied it for a long time. Asked me a couple of questions. Her and I don't agree on EVERYTHING, but a lot of things. I told her my opinions, but also told her that she had to vote the way she wanted on everything.
We get to her polling place. I had to park at the door, take her walker out, take her inside, and then tell her I would come back for her once I parked the car.
So I parked the car, then went inside, helped her up to the door. The election judge that was there said "are you pre-registered"? meaning me. He thought I was there to vote. I said no, I was there to help my Mom, I was actually voting across town later. I asked if it was ok to help her a bit. He smiled and said yes, so I helped her get her ballot, and then helped her to a sit-down booth and then backed off. Went back out and chatted with the election judge. People kept coming up and assuming that I was standing in line, so I backed off and went out in the lobby. Election judge says, no, no line.
I waited, watched her, (she took a long time, and seemed very thoughtful about her choices) when she was done, she started limping across the room to go the voting machine where you put your ballot. I asked permission from the election judge and then followed her. There is a blue line at the machine you're not supposed to cross unless you're a voter.
I came up to the blue line. She was having some trouble inserting her ballot. She looked at me, wanted my help. I looked at the election judge ( a different one). I asked him if it was ok for me to cross the blue line and help her. He nodded, said it was ok. I inserted her ballot. I very carefully did not look at it. Then we went and got our "I voted" sticker and left.
My point is, this is Minnesota. They don't try to keep people from voting. If this had been Texas or someplace, who knows what would have happened. I have already seen a diary (excellent) on here today about how they are trying to suppress the voting process down there.
I think the point is, you can either try to help people vote, as here, or you can try to make it difficult, as there. My Dad made a joke about my Mom's and my's vote cancelling each other out. I wouldn't be so sure, Dad. She told me a few of her opinions. But I don't know, because I'm not going to try to keep ANYBODY from voting.