Secretary of the State explains voting and more

Gerrymandering, inclusiveness, foreign intervention — and bots — all came into focus last Sunday afternoon when Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill spoke at the Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum.

With the American consciousness being hammered by the whirl of political information, in advance of a presidential election it was useful to have Secretary Merrill sort out the “the important stuff ” regarding Connecticut. Referred to as “the land of steady habits,” Secretary Merrill opined that Connecticut is “midway” within U.S. states on the spectrum of progressive, voting initiatives.

Gerrymandering, rampantly popular with whichever party is in power, is reasonably controlled here because both parties are equally represented in districting decisions. This contrasts sharply with states like North Carolina where the party in power is free to redistrict to its own advantage. This is especially concerning in the Information Age, where technology makes it possible to identify voting inclinations, house by house.

Inclusiveness? A Hartford study showed that, in some districts, citizens who registered to vote and actually voted did so only after being twice invited to participate in the election process. The need to feel “invited” to participate in a consequential act of citizenship raises stunning questions over a basic understanding of civic responsibility.

Foreign intervention in the election process? Secretary Merrill was clear that firewalls are the first line of defense against foreign intervention and went on to say the federal government allocated $5 million to support technology upgrades to Connecticut’s voting mechanisms. Will these monies be used in the way intended in other states, as in Connecticut under the leadership of Secretary Merrill? One wonders.

Bots? Bots are here to stay. Previously a tactic enlisted by foreign governments, now individuals and other entities within the U.S. have embraced the bot system of influence. This can be read as “expect an onslaught.”

In the “land of steady habits” Secretary Merrill does Connecticut proud as a cogent, responsible, sensible and seasoned official. In her designated role of overseeing the state’s election process, she may face some new challenges in 2020. She is a marvelous speaker and welcomed questions after her talk and gave this attendee confidence that Connecticut’s voting system is in good hands.

The event was arranged by LMMM Director Susan Gilgore and sponsored by the Connecticut Bar Association. Both can be commended.

Sallie Marsico

Norwalk