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How to Become a More Democratically Engaged Citizen in 2020

01/13/2020 12:00:09 PM

Jan13

by Bobbie Malone

As many TBE members know, Jim and Nan Youngerman are active volunteers within and beyond the Jewish community. They have proved tireless in their efforts to register voters, focusing their efforts on registering students to vote on the UW campus and then volunteering at polls on Election Day. As they continue to do so in 2020, the Youngermans suggest that others step forward as well, since this year is especially critical.

Nan views voting “both as an invitation to participate in governing decisions and an opportunity to let my voice be heard,” and she finds that her role in encouraging others to vote is essential as an interpretation of her commitment to tikkun olam. She enhances her small, but potentially powerful contribution by building her understanding of the electoral process and making time to support those registering to vote. She says that she derives a great deal of satisfaction from helping others “join the conversation.”

By assisting 18-year-old first-time voters, Nan feels she’s “supporting their passage into adulthood.” When she’s working with a new citizen, she sees the experience as “a welcoming action to our society, where every person can express a choice without fear or penalty.” Even in less dramatic situations, such as when a person has moved or has a name change, she acknowledges that just by “offering my time and knowledge of the process,” she is doing her part to increase voter participation. With voter suppression such a major obstacle, everything we can do to increase the percentage of those voting helps ensure that our democracy can continue to flourish. And, she affirms, “If I can do something that assists others as they vote, I have contributed to the well-being of my community.”

Jim notes that when he assists voters in processing or completing their voter registration, he is “helping the voter to fulfill their right to vote, which is fundamental to our democracy.” He devotes much of his volunteer efforts to registering UW students at on-campus sites. Like Nan, he feels especially “privileged and gratified to have played a small part in assisting first-time voters,” since that’s the case for many of the students he has registered. And, similarly, he’s glad to guide others who may have voted previously in other in-state or out-of-state locations, but who are now required to register in Wisconsin for the first time or reregister in Wisconsin due to an address or name change.

Jim is “always struck by how polite and appreciative the students are for whatever assistance I provide. It is rare that a student won't thank me, and in turn, I try to always thank the student for voting. I find the experience very rewarding and very positive.” Even though Jim has been involved in many other political volunteer efforts, he consistently finds that “assisting with voter registrations for me has been the most gratifying and rewarding experience of all.”

Since we are blessed with outstanding resources in Madison, it’s not difficult to be trained in helping the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) effort. The city clerk’s office and the League of Women Voters, in particular, supply the necessary training and resources to educate and empower potential volunteers. Other agencies also make it easy to volunteer. Please keep attuned to the ways the Social Action Committee at TBE can help you get involved.

To be trained to register voters in the city of Madison, you can contact the city clerk's office at https://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/elections-voting/election-officials/training. On the website, you can sign up for training on various dates. Because each training is limited to 50 participants, you simply select the date you can attend (monthly Monday evenings 5:00–6:30 pm at the clerk’s office in the City-County Building), and register.

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Dane County is looking for volunteers, and you do not have to be a member to do so. Jim says that you can easily find out about upcoming events and opportunities for outreach by getting on the League’s email list. All you need to do is send a request to be added to their email list to office@lwvdanecounty.org.

May 3, 2025 5 Iyar 5785