This year Trick or Vote went down in Spokane and enjoyed a respectable showing for such an unconventional first time event.
Despite the descriptive title, most people’s first reaction is “Trick or what?” The idea of adding political engagement into a holiday festivity is just not intuitive for most. Once people grasp the novelty and purpose of this approach, they tend to warm up to the idea. “Well that could be fun…” is a common second response.
Some would-be volunteers expressed concern about this activity being taken as a little too “tricky.” On the west side such worries don’t seem to crop up. Could this be a side-effect (no pun intended) of the visibility and spin lent by their media partners? Or does it say something deeper about Spokane’s ideological and social culture? The ever-astute Inlander was keen enough to comment:
“[Trick or Voters] will dress up in their most blood-curdling outfits and try to win people over by making them think they’re harmless trick-or-treaters. After the initial shock, most people will be relieved to find out that the adult-sized Batman standing on their stoop doesn’t want candy, just political chat.”
*Gasp!* To some Spokanites it seems that nothing could be more petrifying than “political chat.” We pride ourselves on having a “tight-knit community” where people deeply value their social and professional relationships, but sometimes this “tightness” becomes a bit strangling when people feel dread at the prospect of engagement for fear of ruffling a relationship – even one with a perfect stranger.
We’ve heard it said by several state-spanning political folks that Spokanites are less likely to divulge the direction of their vote when asked over the phone or in person than people on the west side. While we don’t have any hard evidence to substantiate this claim, there is a documented difference in views about the need to retain domestic partnerships between Washington’s western and eastern voters. According to the Washington Poll, while people in Puget sound are approving Referendum 71 by 25%, we in Eastern Washington are rejecting it by 3%. This is a difference we are not proud to boast.
Despite the attitude disparity, for every ten Trick or Voters in Seattle this year there was one brave volunteer right here in Spokane beating the pavement for Yes on 71 and No on 1033. Thanks to all the college students, parents and everyone else who turned up to turn out the vote!
Tags: Breaking Boundaries · Political Surprise · Shock Value · Social Observations · Videos · Young People4 Comments
4 responses so far ↓
Trick or Vote was a great first step in helping increase connectivity between emotion and civic duty. Little by little, people are starting to realize that they are part of something bigger, or that they can be part of something bigger. Little by little, people are starting to stake a claim in their future. And it’s all about emotion. You have to feel a sense of pride, a sense of belonging, you have to feel something towards the place you’re in – otherwise you don’t give a shit. And I think people are starting to find things they like about Spokane, enough so that the emotional hook is set. And Trick or Vote was a great first tug of the line to reel that emotion in and to move people beyond talk and into action. Now this is all my outside perception as I wasn’t there, but that’s what I feel about this whole last two or three months in general.
King5 covered Trick or Vote 2009 in Seattle:
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Trick-or-vote-in-Seattle-68328527.html
KHQ 6 showed up to take some footage in Spokane, but we haven’t seen it published or broadcast anywhere yet.
You totally rocked it! Thanks for bringing the Trick or Vote love to Spokane.
R-71 was rejected in Spokane County by a 60% of the voters.
Some voted for religious reasons others voted because they were concerned about change. Some voted because they are sycophants. A smaller minority of voters in Spokane County were concerned it was just bad legislation.
(If King County is subtracted out of the R-71 vote, R-71 is soundly rejected statewide.)
Whatever the reason, we will be feeling the aftershocks of R-71 for years to come.
Congratulations and kudos to all whom to part in this privileged mostly peaceful example of democracy.
A pox upon those who used threats and intimidation on other voters in order to forward their own political agenda.
May you die a long drawn out painful. hideous, death as did other Nazis a generation ago.