Editor,
I voted at the SUB on Tuesday afternoon, and I'm glad I did, but I had an experience while waiting in line that I need some assistance with from your readers.
As I was talking with my friend about a current newspaper editorial, one of the SUB's poll workers said, "No political discussions in line." I asked why, and he said it again, this time louder so that the whole line could hear. He left, but I began to wonder about this decree, so when he came back my way, I waved him over and asked for clarification.
Is the "no political discussions" idea an actual law, or is it merely UNM policy, or perhaps his own personal code of conduct? He stated (forcefully) that it was the law. I told him that I knew it was illegal to campaign within a few feet of a polling place but that I was unaware that it was actually illegal to have a political discussion with your friend, and I asked him if I could see a copy of the relevant law or if he could quote it for me.
He stated that although he was unable to quote the law, he was a presiding judge and the boss of the polling station for the afternoon. He gave me his name, but I have been unable to find it using Internet searches of New Mexico judges.
He was clearly angry with me, and I was afraid I was going to get thrown out of line, so I let the matter drop. But the more I think about it, the more I am convinced I had my First Amendment rights repressed right there in that waiting line. Since when is it an offense worthy of arrest to discuss the morning's newspaper with your friend? And if political discussions are truly out of bounds by law, then who gets to define "political"?
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Could I have discussed the resignation of David Schmidly's son, or the health of Kim Jong-Il or the promotion of our mutual friend without ramification? If the prohibition of political speech is merely a courtesy that we wish to extend to others during this contentious election, then so be it. But please don't try to paint it as any more than that. Since there are two more weeks of voting left to go, this scenario will likely be played out again. I urge the Daily Lobo to clarify the rules for those of us who have to stand in line.
Mark R. Burge
Daily Lobo reader
