A paler shade of voter suppression, it goes beyond I.D. & the historical poll tax and literacy tests

I live in a Red state with the obligatory wingnut I.D. law in place, where there are significant numbers of minorities in the demographics. I remember how my parents told me about the discrimination of the poll tax in their younger days and I submit, when wingnuts claim I.D. is just natural because it is required in all kinds of places, that it is just a subtler type of harassment than the poll tax and literacy tests and the rest.

So years ago when I lined up to vote, there were three dudes in their 30s, who were White and office or businessmen wearing long sleeved white shirts with ties. And they were being all fratty, turned sideways to the line, laughing and talking loudly. I was behind them facing forward, toward them and they were obviously playing to the gallery. Their joking was about the turnout, which didn’t extend much further behind me, and they said things like, “They must be paying good these days!1” Since there were three of them who probably were voting the Rethug way, why were their numbers less payable than anybody else’s in line?!1

So that was then. It’s only been twice now that the I.D. suppression law has affected me, and I have chosen to use my passport as I.D., the other time replying to the question, “Which primary?” with “Democratic, that’s why I’m using my passport,” not adding, “because I feel I’m in a foreign country!1" The poll worker laughed, but said, “Careful now, don’t get us in trouble!1” There was a scowling White poll watcher standing behind her.

I forgot to mention that I always wear one of my Navy/Vietnam ballcaps and one of my dogtags. So today there was an older, White male in the first chair accepting the documents, and he looked like the New Hampshire police commissioner who just resigned for using the n-word, and just at the sight of me, but more when I said “Democratic,” he was all tense and hostile, scrunched up his eyes looking at my passport picture and then at my face and back again, then asked the routine question, “Do you live at this address?!1” – routine that is asked all the time but his tone was of interrogation and oppression. I said yes and the poll worker next to him, who was not White, smiled at me and chatted me up about how long I served and telling me he was career military. So the dude with my documents couldn’t do more and passed me on, then crossed his arms with utter rigid detestation.

So I went on to the Elections office and filled out an incident report. I can’t prove racial or partisan discrimination, but even if it wasn't that and the dude just was in a foul mood or lacks people skills, he then shouldn't be in a position dealing with the public.

I asked a lot of questions about whether the poll workers are paid or volunteers or are from the parties or whether the poll watchers are from the parties. I should have gotten a copy. Nothing will come of it, except I hope he’s told about it to finish off his day.