Tuesday, February 6, 2018

How Exercising My Right to Vote Led to an Audience with the Judge

by Jill Printzenhoff

“I’m sorry. You’re name isn’t here.” The lady behind the table smiled. “When did you register?”

“When we moved here, over a year ago. I applied for my state drivers license at the same time as my husband and daughter,” I said as I tried to mentally piece together the mystery of my missing signature on the voter registration list.

“And their names are here?” She asked.

“Yes. That’s my daughter’s and my husband’s,” I said pointing to their signatures on the pages.

“Hum,” she murmured as she flipped the pages, checking the one prior. She turned to the lady to her left. “Is her name on your sheet?”

The second lady shook her head. “She’s not listed.”

“Would you mind stepping over there?” The first lady waved her hand indicating where she wanted me to move.

I shifted right and stood at the edge of the table.

“We have a situation,” she turned to a third lady and stated, pointing my direction.

“What happened?” questioned the third lady.

“I don’t know. My name is not on the list. But I’m sure I registered when I got my license.”

“I’ll call these numbers, but this might take a bit.” She punched a series of numbers in her phone, hung up, and dialed another set of numbers. “I just have to try them all until I get someone. They are really busy over—“ She turned her attention to the person on the line and repeated my information.

I glanced at the ceiling tiles.

She ended the call. “Here’s what you can do,” she said. “You can go down to see the judge and get an affidavit.”

“I’ve got to go see the judge?” I questioned.

Nodding her head she asked, “Do you know where South Side is?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’ve heard of it.”

“Well, you go across the bridge . . . if you are interested.”

“I’m listening.”

“Go across the Main Street Bridge to the Board of Election. The judge will be there at 4:30. You can see him for a court order to vote.”

As I left the building I contemplated what to do. What should have been a twenty-minute process would cost me another hour or more. “Was it worth the extra effort?”

I walked across the parking lot and mulled over that information. By the time I reached my vehicle I had made up my mind. “I’ve come this far, I might as well see this through,” I mumbled to myself.

Thirty minutes later I entered the Board of Election building.

“Can I help you?” The lady behind the desk asked.

“I’d like to vote.”

‘You’re not registered?”

“I guess not,” I replied.

She handed me a legal form. “Fill this out.”

After completing the form and being buzzed in to the back area to wait for the judge, I occupied a space with nine other individuals who took turns shuffling their feet and shifting in their chairs. Finally, my turn came to see the judge.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“I’d like to vote.”

“Raise your right hand,” he ordered.

After I was sworn in and explained my story, he glanced over my driver’s license and proceeded to fill out and sign a court ordered affidavit.

Gripping the document I exited the building, crossed the street, and climbed into my vehicle. As I sat in the drivers seat I thought about the future and what will occur once I’ve taken my last breath and find myself before a different kind of judge.

When one’s life is over and they stand before God that is not the time to plead one’s case. No story, no excuse, and no amount of begging will persuade Him to make an exception and allow someone to enter His Kingdom if a prior relationship has not already been established. Or, as Revelation 21:27 (TLB) states, “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” will be allowed to enter.

For some, that particular scenario invokes uncertainty, confusion, fear, or a host of other emotions. Perhaps it also raises some questions. Maybe you are on a trek to find the answers to those questions. To assist with that endeavor I’ve included a link to Billy Graham’s organization. This link is to a page titled “Begin Your Journey to Peace.” That page is a guide through 4 short steps on finding peace with God.

Begin Your Journey to Peace – Billy Graham’s Organization

My prayer for each who read this post is this: May you intimately know the God of the universe who sacrificed himself on our behalf. Also, while He may be known in some instances as The Judge, He is not without compassion or mercy, He is approachable, and He truly wants a relationship with all mankind.

Today, may you find the “peace that passes all understanding” that’s described in Philippians 4:7 ESV – Jill

• background photo is compliments of pixabay.com