{"id":62801,"date":"2018-10-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/foxtail\/2018\/10\/04\/election-genevieve-valentine\/"},"modified":"2021-02-02T23:10:13","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T23:10:13","slug":"election-genevieve-valentine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/firefox\/election-genevieve-valentine\/","title":{"rendered":"Hello, I’m Your Election: Speculative Fiction by Genevieve Valentine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mozilla invited science fiction and fantasy author Genevieve Valentine to describe elections in the future, given advances in technology we see every day. Hello, I’m Your Election<\/strong> premiered as an audio piece on Mozilla’s IRL podcast<\/a>. The full fiction text is below.<\/p>\n

Hello, I’m Your Election<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hello. Welcome to Election 2040. I’m Betsy Ross, your Ballot Assistant. Thank you for coming out to vote. Let’s get started! Please transmit your citizen ID number. <\/b><\/p>\n

JeffJacobs19800514<\/p>\n

Welcome, JeffJacobs! Thank you for being a citizen. Confirming facial recognition. Please look into the camera and repeat: “For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain.” <\/b><\/p>\n

For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain<\/p>\n

Okay, got it! Thank you. Please indicate your political party.<\/b><\/p>\n

Old Faithful<\/p>\n

Great, thank you! Before we get started voting, a few questions to verify your identity. Please list your city of residence.<\/b><\/p>\n

Madison, Wisconsin<\/p>\n

Okay, thank you! Did you file taxes for calendar year 2039?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes<\/p>\n

Great! Let’s check some receipts to verify your activity. <\/b><\/p>\n

Did you make a purchase from BLUEBIRD CAFE ROCKFORD ILLINOIS on AUGUST 15, 2039?<\/b><\/p>\n

Uh<\/p>\n

Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Please repeat. You can say “Yes,” “No,” or “I don’t know.”<\/b><\/p>\n

I don’t know<\/p>\n

All right, let’s look closer. Did you purchase EGG SANDWICH CHEESE MAYO and COFFEE MILK SUGAR DECAF from BLUEBIRD CAFE ROCKFORD ILLINOIS on AUGUST 15, 2039? <\/b><\/p>\n

I guess?<\/p>\n

I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Here is a photo of the BLUEBIRD CAFE in ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS Does this look familiar?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sure<\/p>\n

Okay, great. Thank you! Did you attend any demonstrations of dissent against the current administration in 2039?<\/b><\/p>\n

No<\/p>\n

Thank you, patriot! Did you attend any demonstrations of dissent against a third or miscellaneous party?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes<\/p>\n

Details please?<\/b><\/p>\n

Protest against Coffee-Coffee Cafe<\/p>\n

What date?<\/b><\/p>\n

Uh. Late July? Whenever they started covering gay insurance.<\/p>\n

I’ve found a protest that took place in MADISON WISCONSIN on JULY 29, 2039 with a facial recognition match to your citizen ID number. Is this your protest?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yeah<\/p>\n

Okay, great, thank you! Did you attend any demonstration of support for the current administration?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes<\/p>\n

Details please?<\/b><\/p>\n

“A Decade of Progress” pre-election rally<\/p>\n

I’ve found one “A DECADE OF PROGRESS” PUBLIC RALLY in ROCKFORD ILLINOIS on OCTOBER 6, 2040 with a facial recognition match to your citizen ID number. Is this your rally?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes<\/p>\n

Okay, great, thank you! Please hold while I cross-check this information for you, and then we\u2019ll get you set to vote. This might take a few moments. <\/b><\/p>\n

Why would it take so long? I voted in the last election.<\/p>\n

Please hold. Your vote is important to us.<\/b><\/p>\n

It usually doesn\u2019t take this long.<\/p>\n

Hi! I have your results. Treasonous activity detected. <\/b><\/p>\n

What?<\/p>\n

Booth has been locked. Arrest beacon activated. Please remain calm.<\/b><\/p>\n

Wait, what? No! I didn’t do anything! What are you talking about?<\/p>\n

Undisclosed travel across state lines for purchase of goods on AUGUST 15, 2039: Smuggling. Class E felony. <\/b><\/p>\n

Unauthorized boycott of COFFEE-COFFEE CAFE, a Forbes 500 corporation: Larceny. Class A misdemeanor.<\/b><\/p>\n

Unauthorized travel across state lines on OCTOBER 6, 2040 for political purposes: Sedition. Class C felony.<\/b><\/p>\n

But I went there for the president! I got an email about the rally!<\/p>\n

Criminal activity lifetime limit exceeded. Citizenship revoked. <\/b><\/p>\n

What the fu–! You can’t do that! I want to \u2013 manager! Manager! Speak to a manager! Supervisor!<\/p>\n

I’m sorry. Managerial assistance is not available to non-citizens.<\/b><\/p>\n

No! I have the number! Let me speak to a manger! I’m a citizen!<\/p>\n

Citizenship not found.<\/b><\/p>\n

But I just need to speak to a supervisor! Somebody!<\/p>\n

Arrest beacon activated. Remove and detain. Remove and detain. Remove and –<\/b><\/p>\n

Confirmed pickup, voice ID Delta Charlie Foxtrot seventeen.<\/p>\n

Thank you Delta Charlie Foxtrot seventeen. Arrest confirmed. Thank you for removing and detaining a traitor. America depends on you!<\/b><\/p>\n

Voter record deleted.<\/b><\/p>\n

Next voter, please.<\/b><\/p>\n

Hello. Welcome to Election 2040. I’m Betsy Ross, your Ballot Assistant. Thank you for coming out to vote. Let’s get started!<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

What to Expect When You’re Electing<\/h2>\n

How close is Genevieve Valentine’s speculative fiction to the truth?<\/p>\n

Election interference has been happening for centuries, but the misinformation spread online adds a new level of meddling opportunity. In the Season 3 finale Mozilla’s IRL podcast<\/a>, Veronica Belmont and Baratunde Thurston explore how social media campaigns, online propaganda, and data mining are all racing to impact the way we vote. Have a listen:
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