“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Jesus to His disciples (Matthew 10:16, NKJV)
Conservatives and Republicans
Conservatives and Republicans tend to be individualists and believe in self-government. They are also rule-followers in general and tend to want to follow the spirit of the law, not operating on the fringes. They tend to not do things that don’t seem to line up with the spirit of the law, or which don’t fit into the rules of self-government, even though they may be “technically legal.” They can get fixated on process rather than results.
Because Conservatives believe in self-government, their appeals are often to peoples’ better nature, to describe the moral imperative and trust others to make good decisions. They tend to believe that if we inform people, they will do the right thing so they aren’t as inclined to form organizations to push our positions.1
Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True The Vote, said: “People who value freedom tend not to organize. This does not come naturally to us. We tend to mind our own business. We don’t try to force others to do what we think they should do. That is our nature.” (TTV email, 11/15/22).
Progressives and Democrats
Progressives and Democrats, on the other hand, tend to stretch the limits of the law, to see the letter of the law as just a guide and push the limits. If it can possibly be legal, possibly be seen as within the boundaries of the law, it’s ok to do.
This is because they have a vision and relentlessly pursue it. They “keep their eyes on the prize,” and focus on the goal rather than on the process to get there. They can be so fixated on the goal that they don’t even think about the process.
Progressives also tend to be more group oriented and are both much more inclined to, and much better at, organizing.
Wise as serpents and Harmless as doves
Conservatives are rule followers, striving to always be righteous in matters of the law, focusing on process. Obeying the law is in and of itself part of the plan, making them more cautious and less aggressive. Harmless as doves.
In contrast, Progressives single-heartedly pursue a vision, finding a way to pursue that noble goal, sometimes with little regard to process, since the vision is what matters. Wise as serpents.
In our opening quote, Jesus encourages His followers to be both wise as serpents and harmless as doves. He also puts this in the context of being sheep among wolves. There are natural opponents (enemies) out there and you must be both wise and harmless, in turn, as the circumstances (battles) require.
Ballot Harvesting: Being Wise or Harmless?
There was an article in a publication called “Cal Matters” on October 14, 2020, about a Republican ballot harvesting operation during the 2020 election.2
Ballot harvesting, which was legalized in California before the 2018 mid-term elections, involves collecting legitimate ballots from registered voters and delivering them to the election office or to ballot dropboxes. It can be as limited as a woman turning in her husband’s ballot or as large as a Party effort of contacting lists of voters and picking up their ballots to deliver for them. The California Democrats successfully used ballot harvesting in the 2018 mid-terms.
In the 2020 presidential election, the California GOP took it even further and placed their own “ballot collection boxes” in places where Republicans were likely to go, like party headquarters, conservative churches and gun shops. They then gathered up the ballots and delivered them to election offices. Their effort resulted in a cease-and-desist letter from the Democrat Secretary of State.
A State Republican Party spokesman, Hector Barajas, said the ballot box operation was consistent with the 2016 state election law allowing voters to entrust someone else with their ballot.
“We didn’t write the rules. The Democrats wrote the rules,” he said. “They set up the chessboard. We are just playing with the chessboard that they put in front of us. And now they’re upset about it.”
According to Cal Matters, California law requires that the voter and harvester know each other and that both sign the ballot envelope to establish a paper trail. But even though the law says there must be two signatures on the envelope, California Counties are instructed to count the ballot whether or not there are two signatures. So the California GOP is turning in ballots without the two signatures because even though two signatures are required by law, the California Secretary of State, who is charged with enforcing election law, has told Counties to ignore the two signature requirement.
If Republicans follow the law as written (harmless as doves), they can’t continue this ballot harvesting program but if they choose to follow the law as enforced (wise as serpents), they can continue. There’s the possibility that if they were to follow the letter and spirit of the law, and the Democrats chose to ignore it as they are permitted to do, Republicans would be disadvantaged. But if they follow the official/unofficial public rules, though technically not the law, they will be more successful.
I am not suggesting, and would not support, Republicans becoming lawless and cheat. Nor am I suggesting that Democrats are cheating when they push the limits in this case. But should Republicans operate according to the official rules even though those rules don’t follow the law? Where is the line between being shrewd (as directed) and becoming lawless?
Election 2024
We are now in 2024, a Presidential election year and the debate about mail-in ballots and ballot harvesting is raging in Republican circles. The Democrats across the board have used ballot harvesting to great advantage in recent elections. Should Republicans across the country likewise take advantage of ballot harvesting wherever it is legal? Some Republicans see it as “stooping to the Democrats’ level.” Others say that they should take advantage of the rules as they exist, even if we don’t like them, so we can win.
According to Ballotpedia, only one State (Alabama) prohibits anyone other than the voter returning their ballot, 37 States and DC allow others to return ballots in accordance with certain limitations and the remaining 12 States don’t address the issue.3
California Republicans intend to aggressively pursue ballot harvesting in the 2024 elections. California continues the practice started during Covid of mailing a ballot to every registered voter so ballot harvesting is now an essential part of the process in that State.
“These are the rules that we have been given. And we have to play by those rules,” said Jessica Millan Patterson, chairperson of the California Republican Party. “It doesn’t make any sense to only be Election Day voters. That is like only playing three quarters of a football game.”4
The subject of universal mail-in ballots can be even more controversial than ballot harvesting. Eight States and DC exclusively hold elections by mail and another 15 States permit certain elections to be held entirely by mail. 16 States require an excuse to get a mail-in (absentee) ballot. The other 34 and DC give a mail-in ballot to anyone who asks.5
In States where ballot harvesting is not legal, get out the vote drives and ballot chasing are tools that are available. You can encourage family, friends, neighbors or the people on your County voter registration lists to request mail-in ballots (where legal). You can follow up to be sure they send their ballot in. And you can always encourage them to vote the old fashioned way - in person at the polls on Election Day.
If you have been involved with the electoral process for any length of time, you will have heard many times that all elections are important but often heard that the next election is the most important! Whether or not the 2024 election is the most important ever, it is certainly very important.
Most Republicans have opposed early and mail-in voting and promoted “one-day, in-person” voting. But the reality is, the rules changed during Covid and early and mail-in voting are the rule in many States. Those who oppose these processes can and should continue to work to get them legislatively eliminated. But in the meantime, Republicans need to play by the current rules if they want to win.
Ballot harvesting, encouraging conservatives to vote by mail or in person (whatever is allowed in your State), chasing ballots. Can Republicans and Conservatives lean in, focus on the vision and the goal, and follow the rules that are in effect, and become wise as serpents while not losing the harmless as doves?
We are talking in generalities about Conservatives and Progressives, making observations about each group in general. There are exceptions to the generalities and political operatives (in both camps) who operate on the basis of winning at any cost. There is no intention to lionize or demonize either camp.
Interesting thoughts Jeff. I’m from the old school. Paper ballots - show ID - one day for voting at polls - absentee ballots for special cases 😀