Leonard decides to vote early

There’s an old saying, … probably somewhere in South Texas … during some questionable times politically, which said we should “vote early … and often.” We all laughed, but we weren’t facing a pandemic at the time. We were just facing some overzealous politicians.

With government computers tied to each other, it’s almost impossible to vote more than once in an election. Although those old stories have people registered not only in the voter’s list but the cemetery, it’s an extremely rare event for an election to be “rigged.” In the past thirty years, there have been less than two thousand convictions for voter fraud. However, this is not the only kind of vote tampering.

When foreign countries and politically evil groups from our own shores spend billions of dollars sending out false statements, horrible accusations, and just ridiculous “news” stories, then we should be aware of how important an election can be. Few other countries have the freedom that we have to choose our leaders, speak openly about who we support, and vote without threat in person or by mail.

My friends Wanda June and Leonard have decided after much prayer and study to vote by mail. Leonard was a little worried about voting early until Wanda June reminded him that if he were to die before the election, he wouldn’t get to vote. Whether it was early voting, absentee voting, or by mail, Leonard’s mark would be made on history … living or dead.

“What if they find out I’ve died before they get through counting?”

“They won’t know how you voted … what could they do?”

“Well,” he said as he filled out his practice ballot, “if I understand it right, you’ve got to sign somewhere … and those poll watchers will be checking the papers … to make sure we don’t die and cheat. We could go to jail.”

Although Leonard had no way to know this, he was afraid the socialistic liberal poll watchers would be checking out his health. Wanda June assured him that there would be watchers from both sides … and no one was watching him for health problems.

“Just who do you think is taking your temperature when you go into the store? It’s probably somebody who is too lazy to have a job. … They just hide there behind their masks and keep a record of those of us who have to use a cane or have a temperature over 98.6. That way they can keep an eye out for our death notice … and take away our vote.”

“Rubbish!” Wanda June rolled her eyes, shook her head and left the room. Wanda June didn’t remind him that her vote usually canceled his out, anyway.

However, the next day, Leonard spent the morning on the internet checking out the names on the ballot. Although he was pretty decided on the presidency and upper state-wide offices, he was concerned that he would vote for some judge who disagreed with him. “They sure have a lot of women on here and one of those men looks like he’s foreign. “So do you,” Wanda June mumbled under her breath.

Leonard filled out his mail-in ballot, put it in the “carrier” envelope, and then put that into the mailing envelope. He was a little concerned about signing the back of the big envelope, but Wanda June assured him that the President, Vice President, and the Attorney General were all voting by mail. Grudgingly, Leonard took his ballot inside the post office. Wanda June stuck her envelope in the box outside. She waited in the car.

When Leonard returned, he said, “Well, it’s all in God’s hands.” Wanda June smiled.