Often when I’m canvassing, someone will take my literature, read it, turn it over and read the back, then look at me with narrowed eyes and say, “So . . . what are you?”

That’s why I don’t have my party affiliation on my lit. I want to make it hard for voters to dismiss me—or accept me, for that matter—without knowing my platform first.

When I was 18 and first registered to vote, I did not like the idea of party affiliation. In my mind, voting for a letter, whether it represented a political candidate or a piece of legislation, was the laziest form of democracy. It led to bad lawmakers and bad laws. I still believe that.

It’s going to take serious people power to push back, reverse the slide, and tip Tennessee back toward the side of democracy. That’s how a stubborn GDI like me ended up joining the Democratic Party. Honestly, it was a long time coming. I can’t remember the last time I voted for a Republican.

Well, let me qualify that. I can’t remember the last time I voted for a Republican who could potentially harm people in the course of their work.

I know nothing about the Republican who renews my car registration, except that he gets me my license plate stickers super quickly. That’s excellent public service. I’ll keep voting for him as long as his job description doesn’t change so he suddenly has control over, say, reproductive rights.

Allison
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