Spooky News: Mid-term elections just a week away

Today, the calendar shows, is Halloween.

The celebration of that commercialized holiday for fall, which is just a part of the contraption of the modern calendar, as we know it today, that was fashioned at first, history says, by the Egyptians.

The Egyptians held to a schematized civil year of 365 days divided into three seasons, each of which were four months of 30 days each.

The Byzantine Empire used a year starting on Sept. 1 but went way back to their understanding of the creation of the world -- how they calculated that I am not sure.

My point is that the calendar, as of today, shows us exactly seven days or one week from Election Day -- Nov. 6.

Already Arkansans have been voting, not really in record numbers in the early vote cycle. Those participation totals are significant to the end result on Tuesday night a week from now. The early voting regime does lend itself to the mo-jo of the candidates and the individual issues on the ballot.

The increase in the outrageousness (and frequency) of those on-air and over-the-air commercials are followed very closely by the media handlers in the number of voters going to the polls early in major markets in the state.

An increase in early voters, for say, in a deeply "Red" county may foretell a push for Conservative issues on the ballot. Likewise, a flow of voters flocking to the early-voting polls in a "Progressive" area might signal the defeat of some Conservative issues and like-minded candidates.

Thinking about such ebb and flow a week from the Election Day and on Halloween is indeed a scary thought.

Politicians are a lot like those impish trick or treaters -- not the older kids who are out for looks or pranks or the occasional treat -- but the truly younger set who loves the overall aspect of Halloween.

You, as a politician and/or a trick-or-treater, dress up to look your best.

You knock on doors, ring doorbells, traipse through neighborhoods in all kinds of weather, to hopefully get someone to open the door for your standard greeting.

As the politician (or trick-or-treater) you hope -- at first glance -- you are accepted to deliver your message.

And so you begin.

"I am ... running for...." or "Trick or treat...."

No one -- well very few citizens -- interrupt the trick-or-treaters' spiel. But often the citizens will stop the smooth flow of the political guests at their door.

And just like the trick-or-treaters, citizens at their own doorway -- will ask the candidates, just as they do those cute little tykes with the plastic pumpkins: "Hey, just what are you?"

But candidates, unlike the trick-or-treaters, do get turned away at the mention of their political affiliation.

I've never seen a trick-or-treater turned around just because they were a fair princess, a tiger or batman while not being Superman, Sponge Bob Square Pants or Cinderella.

Politicians, like the trick-or-treaters, sure do love to go house to house.

I mean the porch light was often left on for such visitors, for goodness sakes. The homeowner appears a responsible citizen of voting age.

The bowl of goodies is easily within reach of the homeowner. So why not go door to door.

That is where the voters live. It is the very neighborhood or district where you are seeking to serve.

And those in bigger races, like those state-wide races and even the Fourth Congressional District, come into our home via the television, radio and directed mail pieces over the last few weeks.

And when the group gets your home or cell phone number or email, well it is truly a nightmare.

Almost the same type of intense horror it would be if Halloween lasted two weeks, instead of the one day on the calendar.

Remember Mr. and Mrs. Voter, early in-person voting continues through Nov. 5 with the real last minute deal from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 6.

And just like Halloween, once the dawn of Nov. 7 arrives, except in a very few cases, it will be over -- until next Halloween, uh I mean until the next election cycle begins.

Please vote.

• • •

Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 10/31/2018