When my youngest son was really small, I used to take him with me when I voted. For him, waiting in line and then waiting while I used the machine was more than worth it if he got to push the big green "vote" button at the end. When he was a little older, I decided to show him how ballots and voting worked by holding a mock election in our home. I wanted something a little less abstract for him than presidential politics, though. Since Election Day came just a few weeks before Thanksgiving, I decided the family could vote on the main dish. Doing this was such a hit that what started out as a simple civics lesson is now a much-anticipated yearly tradition. Would it be Ham or Turkey? Or perhaps the perennial underdog - Cornish Game Hens, known in our home as TPCs (Tiny Personal Chickens)?
But this year I will be voting by absentee ballot. (I'm throwing away my vote to the fringe party candidate - Duck.) That's because a few years ago I was asked if I would be willing to work at the polls. My husband insists that the volunteers there must have noticed that I was just too darn cheerful about being there. I suspect that it was because I looked like someone who might bring homemade cookies. Whatever the reason they asked, I thought it would be a neat experience. Little did I know then that I would end up working in a swing state in an election with historic turnout rates!
As much as I like voting, I don't generally like politics. It's the one topic you are unlikely to read about on this blog. But I would like to urge everyone to vote. Whatever your party or position, I think high turnout rates are a hopeful sign. Making your voice heard is never pointless.
And if you happen to be in Charlotte, Precinct 128 has cookies. I've brought enough to share!
4 comments:
Dang! That precint is too far away to get cookies! and has anyone mentioned that you're a saint for working the polls at all!?
Electoral District 106 had SMILES on today!!! (ITS A MIRACLE!!! wooo) You must have infected them! THANK YOU!!! BUT....no cookies or ANYTHING free for that matter, but I'll take the smiles over treats any day!
Well, this year was the first year I actually voted...ever. Some old dogs can learn new tricks. :-) Even wore my oversized Uncle Sam hat, which was a big hit at the polling booths. Mine's a swing state too, so it will be an interesting race.
Woo hoo! I just got back home and it was an amazing experience. We were told that our precinct had one of the highest turnouts in the county. (We estimated it was somewhere around 85%.) And no drama - just lots of people really jazzed about voting.
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