3 November 2016
Montana Democratic absentee ballot minders
need to stop interrogating voters at their doors
Operatives of Montana’s Democratic Party, which preaches and practices the gospel of the absentee ballot with the zeal and fervor of the lately come to Jesus, are knocking on the doors of voters who have not yet returned their ballots — and after scolding the voters to stop procrastinating and vote, are interrogating those voters on their choices for governor and Congress. Here’s part of a note I received from a reader this evening:
…great day was working outside and a fellow came by said was from Montana Demo party. Asked me 2 questions. Who I would vote for for governor and Congress. He had a list of voters who had not turned in absentee ballots. As I just turned mine in today was still on list.
This is not the same as being approached by an exit poller after you have voted. The exit poller does not know your name, and does not ask for it. But these Democratic operatives do know your name, and they’re going to make a record of how you voted.
I always vote in person on election day, but if a get out the vote representative of any political party or campaign came to my door to remind me to vote — I’ve voted in every election starting in 1968, and do not need to be reminded to vote — and then wanted to strip away the privacy of the secret ballot and learn of my choices, I would be tempted to bust him in the nose or give the squirt a bit of seasoning with a whiff of bear spray.
Getting out the vote by knocking on doors is aggressive, but effective, and within bounds. Trying to violate the privacy of the secret ballot during the same encounter with the voter is not. Back off, Democrats, before you start suffering broken noses and bootprints on your butts.