But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Episode Summary: "How Do We Vote?" Release Date: October 18, 2024
Hosted by Jane Lindholm from Vermont Public, this episode of "But Why" delves into the intricate processes of voting in the United States. Aimed at demystifying federal elections for young listeners, the episode features insights from election experts Bridget King, Holly Reese, and Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas.
1. Understanding the Voting Process
Jane Lindholm opens the episode by highlighting the significance of the upcoming federal elections scheduled for November 5th, 2024. She emphasizes the range of positions voters will be choosing, including the president, vice president, senators, congressional representatives, and various local offices. Jane points out the often tense nature of political discussions during election seasons, clarifying that the podcast aims to focus on the voting process itself rather than the candidates or political issues.
Key Quote:
"Our goal is to help you, and maybe your adults too, understand how and why we vote and today what kinds of safeguards are in place to make sure our voices are heard and our votes are secure." – Jane Lindholm [00:00]
2. Ensuring Election Integrity
To shed light on the security measures in elections, Jane introduces Bridget King, a political scientist from the University of Kentucky. Bridget elaborates on the multiple layers of processes designed to protect the sanctity of votes and ballots. She explains the importance of maintaining a paper trail and ensuring bipartisan oversight at every stage of the voting process.
Key Quotes:
“There are processes upon processes to ensure the sanctity of our votes and the sanctity of our ballots so that when the outcomes are announced at the end of an election, they truly reflect what it is that citizens have marked on their ballots and submitted.” – Bridget King [02:05]
“There are layers upon layer of processes that are in place to ensure that when I or you or anyone else goes to cast a ballot that that ballot in the total is reflected the way I marked it or you marked it or anyone else marked it.” – Bridget King [02:05]
3. Local Election Procedures: A South Burlington Case Study
Jane transitions to a practical example by featuring Holly Reese, the city clerk of South Burlington, Vermont. Holly invites the podcast team to observe the preparation for voting day, likening the process to a "soccer practice" where poll workers familiarize themselves with the equipment and procedures.
Key Quotes:
“I kind of think about it as like a soccer practice, right? So you're getting ready for the big game...” – Holly Reese [04:17]
“It's a dry run, right? So it's making sure not only that the tabulators are testing accurately and that the system is working...” – Holly Reese [04:58]
Holly details the testing of optical scanners—machines that read and count ballots—as an essential step to ensure accuracy and efficiency. She explains the pre-processing days where early votes, whether cast by mail or in person, are tallied ahead of election night to expedite results.
4. Vote Counting and Technology
Jane provides a visual description of the optical scanners used in South Burlington, comparing them to thin black printers. These machines swiftly process ballots, flagging any irregularities for manual review. Holly underscores the reliability of these machines, noting their speed and accuracy compared to manual counting.
Key Quote:
“They're looking for the paper to be lined up. And if the oval in front of one person's name is filled in, then that vote is counted.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [11:03]
5. Voter Registration and Security Measures
The conversation shifts to statewide election oversight with Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont's Secretary of State. Sarah explains the role of the Secretary of State in ensuring fair and efficient elections across Vermont. She elaborates on the voter registration process, emphasizing the centralized database that prevents individuals from voting multiple times across different communities.
Key Quotes:
“Every state has to have an entity that oversees their elections.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [10:07]
“We have one statewide voter registration checklist... if you were to mail in a ballot, then try to show up on election day and cast a second ballot, the clerk would say, no, I see that you've already voted.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [13:28]
6. Consequences of Voter Fraud
Addressing the serious topic of voter fraud, Sarah outlines the stringent penalties for attempting to vote improperly. She reassures listeners about the low incidence of such fraud and the robust systems in place to detect and investigate any irregularities.
Key Quotes:
“Voting twice would trigger this. 13vsa 2901. So that is Vermont statutes annotated, and it is a punishment that shall be not more than 15 years in prison and fined not more than $10,000 or both.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [16:58]
“Researchers say there are only a handful of cases of voter fraud each year and never enough to change the outcome of the election.” – Jane Lindholm [17:32]
7. Promoting Accessibility and Voter Participation
Sarah highlights Vermont's commitment to making voting accessible. She discusses convenient registration methods, such as online registration and automatic voter registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Sarah emphasizes that accessibility is prioritized alongside security, transparency, and fairness to ensure all eligible voters can participate without undue barriers.
Key Quotes:
“We work really hard in Vermont to put accessibility up there, even with security, transparency, and fairness of our elections.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [18:07]
“We allow you to register on the day of, because we have found ways to use technology and use those people and processes that I was talking about to make sure that we can still have fair and secure elections and we don't have to stand in front of your right to vote.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [18:07]
8. Challenges to Voting Rights
The episode also touches on the broader national landscape, acknowledging that while Vermont prioritizes ease of voting, other states are introducing more restrictive measures. Sarah expresses concern over arbitrary barriers that hinder voter participation, advocating for minimal obstacles to uphold democratic principles.
Key Quotes:
“When you live in a democracy, it is your way of telling your leaders what you want them to do... it is only right and fair that every eligible person should be able to vote and shouldn't have arbitrary barriers put in front of them.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [19:09]
9. Encouraging Civic Engagement
Jane underscores the importance of voter participation, noting that despite high turnout in some elections, a significant portion of eligible voters remain unrepresented. She reinforces the podcast's mission to make the voting process transparent and accessible to encourage more young people and their families to engage in the democratic process.
Key Quote:
“People are really worried about voter fraud because of a lot of misinformation out there about the prevalence of voter fraud. But it is far more likely that a legal eligible voter is denied the ability to cast a ballot.” – Sarah Copeland Hanzas [22:47]
Conclusion
In this comprehensive exploration of the voting process, "But Why" successfully demystifies the complexities of federal elections in the United States. Through expert insights and real-world examples, young listeners gain a clearer understanding of how their votes are protected and counted, the importance of accessibility, and the ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of democratic participation.
Closing Note: Jane Lindholm encourages listeners to engage further by submitting their own questions, fostering a community of curious and informed young voters.
Notable Contributors:
- Jane Lindholm: Host, Vermont Public
- Bridget King: Political Scientist, University of Kentucky
- Holly Reese: City Clerk, South Burlington, Vermont
- Sarah Copeland Hanzas: Secretary of State, Vermont
Produced by: Melody Beaudet and Jane Lindholm
Video Producer: Joey Palumbo
Theme Music: Luke Reynolds
Distributed by: PRX