efratti (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} efratti) wrote,@ 2008-06-24 20:23:00 |
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Defender of US Democracy
Last week the Circuit Court in Montgomery County, Maryland summoned me for jury duty in July. Even though I've been a registered voter since 1996, this is the first summons I've received. They were bound to find me sometime...
I called the number on the summons form to report that I am overseas and unable to serve. Since I do not have definite return date and do not plan to be back in the US this calendar year, I received a two-year deferral.
But, how did they find me? The woman answering the phone said that my name was pulled up because I had filled out a questionnaire in April. I have no recollection of filling out any questionnaire, but I did perform my favorite civic duty while visiting my family in April: I voted! Coinciding with me three-week visit in Maryland, there was a special primary election for a county council seat that vacated mid-term. Marilyn Praisner, who represented District 4 of Montgomery County, for nearly twenty years passed away. Apparently, she wasn't that sick, but quickly took a turn for the worse.
Due to the vacant seat, a primary election was held to determining who would run in the general election to replace her. As is the case in many districts dominated by one party, the primary determines the winner. Marilyn's widower won the democratic primary and went on to win the general election.
As someone on vacation with no bona fide conflicts, there was no way that I would not vote. When living in the US, I voted in all elections, big and small. In truth, this election was less glamorous than the others, and it kind of reminded me of voting in Israel: There was only one contest on the ticket. At least, this contest involved voting for candidates and not parties. Voting for individual candidates is so much better than casting a vote for a party. I exited the voting polls with the standard bilingual English-Spanish "I Voted" sticker and felt very proud.
Given that it was a special election and a primary, turnout was very low. It was something like 11% county-wide. Supposedly, my jurisdiction has disproportionately higher turnout than others, but there was no per-jurisdiction reporting. Hence, the low turnout means that my vote carried even more weight. For those who are suspicious of overseas voters flying in for elections or stateside voters who turn up at the polls uninformed, fear not. I researched the respective candidates before I cast my ballot and cast an informed vote.
In summary, in April I performed an act of civic engagement by participating the a special primary election. This democratic act lead to my being summoned by the circuit court for jury duty. I suppose there is a limit to my civic activism in Montgomery County given my current location. Nonetheless, I count myself to be among the Defenders of Democracy.
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Last week the Circuit Court in Montgomery County, Maryland summoned me for jury duty in July. Even though I've been a registered voter since 1996, this is the first summons I've received. They were bound to find me sometime...
I called the number on the summons form to report that I am overseas and unable to serve. Since I do not have definite return date and do not plan to be back in the US this calendar year, I received a two-year deferral.
But, how did they find me? The woman answering the phone said that my name was pulled up because I had filled out a questionnaire in April. I have no recollection of filling out any questionnaire, but I did perform my favorite civic duty while visiting my family in April: I voted! Coinciding with me three-week visit in Maryland, there was a special primary election for a county council seat that vacated mid-term. Marilyn Praisner, who represented District 4 of Montgomery County, for nearly twenty years passed away. Apparently, she wasn't that sick, but quickly took a turn for the worse.
Due to the vacant seat, a primary election was held to determining who would run in the general election to replace her. As is the case in many districts dominated by one party, the primary determines the winner. Marilyn's widower won the democratic primary and went on to win the general election.
As someone on vacation with no bona fide conflicts, there was no way that I would not vote. When living in the US, I voted in all elections, big and small. In truth, this election was less glamorous than the others, and it kind of reminded me of voting in Israel: There was only one contest on the ticket. At least, this contest involved voting for candidates and not parties. Voting for individual candidates is so much better than casting a vote for a party. I exited the voting polls with the standard bilingual English-Spanish "I Voted" sticker and felt very proud.
Given that it was a special election and a primary, turnout was very low. It was something like 11% county-wide. Supposedly, my jurisdiction has disproportionately higher turnout than others, but there was no per-jurisdiction reporting. Hence, the low turnout means that my vote carried even more weight. For those who are suspicious of overseas voters flying in for elections or stateside voters who turn up at the polls uninformed, fear not. I researched the respective candidates before I cast my ballot and cast an informed vote.
In summary, in April I performed an act of civic engagement by participating the a special primary election. This democratic act lead to my being summoned by the circuit court for jury duty. I suppose there is a limit to my civic activism in Montgomery County given my current location. Nonetheless, I count myself to be among the Defenders of Democracy.
******************************
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