How I Vote
If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been sharing a lot of political stuff for the last few months. (And if you haven’t blocked me for doing so, thank you!) Today’s post responds to a query from one of my sharing groups:
“What’s your voting plan? Do you grab Starbucks beforehand? Take a selfie outside? Go before work, bring the kids, or get in line towards the end of the day? Do you watch the results at night (with popcorn or with a stiff drink)? Did you already vote early? Mail in a ballot? What will Tuesday, the 8th, look like for you?”
I have not been to my assigned polling place in at least eight years. I’m not even sure where it is. But that doesn’t mean I don’t vote! California has long offered the option of voting by mail as a “permanent absentee” voter. I signed up as one over a decade ago. Here’s why:
- I can vote at home.
- My state is insanely attached to voter referendums and ballot measures. We have 17 statewide ones in 2016, plus some locals, With all that, it’s a huge plus to be able to take as much time to vote as I need or want.
- Voting is like an open-book test, with any references I might need right at hand as I go through the ballot.
- I don’t have to vote early–I can hand-deliver my ballot to any open polling place on Election Day if I’d rather–but I can, and usually do.
I mailed in my completed California ballot on October 15, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been more grateful to get that task checked off my list than I was this year.
Voted! Now What?
Since I don’t have to be at the polls on November 8, I expect to spend it nervously monitoring news reports all day. Paul and I will be on the couch in front of the TV after we get home from work–California polls will still be open, but East Coast results should already be coming in by then. This year, we will probably be stress eating and yelling at the TV a lot.
We are #WithHer. We hope enough others voters are with us to turn the tide.
I can see how that would be beneficial to vote by mail or even just dropping it off with all of those referendums. I prefer to vote on the actual day; I like the vibe at the polling place. The sense that we all decide it together (even if I don’t agree with some people), but this year, I think that sense of camaraderie will not be there. I fear that this is an election that will fracture our great country and that makes me deeply sad.
I think you’re right to fear that. There’s going to be a lot of cleanup no matter what the outcome of this election, and the recovery will be rough. It’s been eye-opening, to put it mildly
Yes. Eye-opening, indeed.
We have all voted now and I just so want it to be over. I had intended to be a driver on Election Day but have had to take other days off recently and don’t want to have to take the time off. I can’t decide if I want to keep track of the results or just be surprised in the morning. And then decide if I ever want to get out of bed again.
“And then decide if I ever want to get out of bed again.” I think you just nailed the universal sentiment at 6 AM, 11/9/2016 :-).