Money for Ballots

Once Fernando had left to go back to whatever fetid hole he’d crawled out of, Juan began packing up his portable voter registration booth. He was almost finished when he heard an angry man shout, “Hey!”

Juan flinched. He’d stayed too long at the park. Some of the neighborhood busybodies had started to gather. He turned and saw a small elderly man moving aggressively towards him, demanding loudly, “What are you doing here?”

I can handle one old man, Juan thought. What he was really worried about was people with cell phones. He looked up and down the street but didn’t spot anyone taking a video. With difficulty, he visibly relaxed and presented his best smile. “Hey, buddy,” Juan held his hands apart in a non-threatening way. “Sorry about all this. Let me introduce myself...”

“I don’t care who you are!” The man seemed jumpy, but Juan didn’t think he was in any real danger. “You’re not supposed to be doing business here. This is a public park!”

“Like I said, I’m really sorry about all this,” Juan held out his hand and spoke in rapid Spanish. “My name is Juan. I’m with Voz de la Gente. We’re a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the voice of Latinos to our civic discourse.”

“Kids are trying to play here! Do you have a permit?”

“I didn’t mean any harm, señor,” Juan realized that this man wasn’t going to shake his hand, so he dropped it back to his side. “But you probably didn’t know that more than over seventy percent of our community failed to vote in the last three major elections. Do you think that’s right?”

“Who’s your supervisor?” The old man wasn’t buying Juan’s story. “Does he know you’re doing this?”

Juan pursed his lips and cocked his head dismissively, “Can I ask you a question?” Then, without waiting for the old man to answer, he continued, “How long have you lived here? Ten years? Twenty?”

Juan’s friendly indifference unbalanced the man, causing him to answer Juan’s question cautiously, “Yeah, about that long.”

Works every time, Juan thought, sizing the man up. “And in all that time, you’ve never voted, have you? Not once?”

“Well, I can’t. I’m not a citizen,” the man confessed, then nervously added, “I’ve got a green card, but I can’t vote.”

“That’s what I’m here to talk about!” Juan’s eyes lit up enthusiastically. “This year, you can vote in the federal elections, even if you’re not a citizen!”

“I told you, I can’t vote,” the man stiffened, waving both hands at Juan as if to shoo him away. “I’m not a citizen. That’s illegal too.”

Juan rolled his head like he was listening to an old story he’d heard a thousand times before. “That’s what everybody thinks, but it’s not true,” he said smoothly. “That’s why Voz de la Gente sent me out here, to educate people about their rights.”

The man’s face was a mask of confusion, “What are you talking about?”

Juan beamed benevolently, “Don’t worry, friend. I can explain it all to you.” He produced the computer tablet he was holding. “Arizona law allows non-citizens to vote in federal elections. And if I can have just a few minutes of your time, I can get you all set up. Come over to my table and I’ll show you.” Juan beckoned the man to his half-packed-up voter registration booth.

Juan quickly set up his tablet on the tailgate of his pickup. “Now, señor, what is your first and last name?”

“Jaime Garcia.”

Juan knew that he was playing with fire. This guy could call the cops any time. He could tell Jaime was still angry that he’d caught Juan registering people to “vote” at a public park. Nevertheless, Juan had managed to sweet-talk his way into registering this guy to vote. I’ve got to smother him with courtesy and respect.  

“Jaime Garcia. Great.” Juan typed into the tablet slowly. His mentor, Hector, had just given it to him a few weeks ago and he was still learning how to use it. Fortunately, most forms were pre-loaded before he even went canvassing for ballots. “What’s your street address?”

“I knew it! I told you it was illegal for me to vote!” Jaime exclaimed angrily. “What are you doing, trying to bring me trouble?”

“Hold on, settle down!” Juan pleaded, “Voz de la Gente is just trying to give you a voice in your own community. A chance to vote for the first time. A chance to make a difference!”

Jaime pointed down the street. “I think you better get out of here right now!”

Juan turned slowly. He nodded his head and obediently turned to go. Then he said, “Señor Garcia, I sincerely apologize if I have offended you.”

“I don’t want any trouble,” Jaime said, somewhat more mildly now that Juan was preparing to leave.

“I understand that voting for the President is not important to you,” Juan added with feigned nonchalance.

“No. I don’t want to do that,” Jaime agreed.

Juan gave him a sly smile, “No, but would you want to do it for two hundred dollars?”

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What Will Jaime Garcia Do Next?

Choose Option 1: Take the Money

Choose Option 2: Call the Cops