We May Not All Agree, But Democracy Needs Every Voice

There are a lot of people in this country who vote in ways with which I strongly disagree. When their choices enrage me, I understand the temptation to want to silence those voices. But fortunately, my Jewish practice puts the brakes on that notion, reminding me that as messy as it is, democracy is absolutely fundamental. People must have a say in their government, for as Rav Yitzhak teaches in the Talmud, “one may only appoint a leader over a community if one consults with the community and they agree to the appointment” (Berakhot 55a).

And as much as I might grumble to admit it, every single voice in the community is necessary. As I turn through the pages of Mekhilta d’Rabbi Yishmael, I learn that we could not receive the Divine revelation of Torah “if even one person was missing” from Mount Sinai. A people can grow and thrive only when no one is left out.

But the temptation to exclude those with whom we disagree is very strong. Right now, politicians across the country are passing a slew of anti-voter bills, 30 new laws in 18 states this year. They’re taking away early voting options on nights and weekends to make it harder for working people to have a say. They’re restricting the types of IDs folks can use to vote, which is especially hard for older Americans who don’t drive. They’re forcing people who vote by mail to pay money to a notary or have someone else watch them, threatening the privacy of our political choices. This makes it particularly hard for college students who are trying desperately to vote for the first time. They’re removing options to vote on Sunday, a direct attack on the time-honored “Souls to the Polls” tradition of many Black churches.

I’m adamant about having safe and accessible elections, with a transparent process we can trust. But some places refuse to adopt paper ballots, so it’s hard to conduct an accurate recount. And some won’t give the public reasonable notice to changes in voting laws, enacting new restrictions in the dead of night. And quite often they remove some of us from the rolls or toss out our ballots based on trivial technicalities, without giving us any warning or time to correct the issue.

And those of us who have not yet been victims of this should not assume it will never happen to us in the future. The same abuses that may help our side win one election will deny us our voices in the next. The only system that truly gives us the freedom to vote is one that ensures we can cast our ballots freely, safely and equally, enshrining the moral value that every single American is heard.

The only system that truly gives us the freedom to vote is one that ensures we can cast our ballots freely, safely and equally, enshrining the moral value that every single American is heard.

That’s why Jewish communities across the country have been meeting with their Senate offices in an initiative organized by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Hundreds of fellow Jews and allies joined me in meetings with staff members of Senators Feinstein and Padilla. We were upset, we were angry, and we were fired up to protect the freedom to vote. We demanded our senators do everything they can to pass legislation like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, creating national standards for voting access.

Our country needs to guarantee Americans have a say in the laws that affect our lives, whether it’s pandemic relief, health care or spurring job growth. We can’t let some politicians take away our right to be heard. So in the coming weeks, let’s use that voice loudly. Call or write your senators and representatives. Let them know we need to stand up for our freedom to vote.

This needs to be an urgent, top priority—or soon it might be too late.

David Chiu works in communications for a Jewish nonprofit. He is a member of Temple Isaiah, a West LA synagogue, and a leader with RAC-CA.