Election Day

Today is the day when we elect people to hold various positions in Federal, State and Local governments throughout the country. It's a big election, or so we have been told by the President, the media, and tons of political commentators on both sides of the aisle. 

Here where I live the polls opened at 7AM EST, not that it mattered much to me, because I did not arrive at my polling location until 8AM.  When I walked up to the polling location there were two men hanging around outside the door with a plastic bag of pamphlets. I ignored them. I went into the polling place, and told them who I was, and they found my record and I signed my name.  No ID is necessary to vote, which I always found odd...

SIDETRACK: Why is it that you don't have to prove your identify? I get pulled over for a traffic violation I have to produce ID. If I want to buy cigarettes or alcohol ID is required. If I want to deposit or take money out of my bank account ID is required. If I forgot to sign the back of my credit card while making a purchase, my ID is questioned. I cannot enter my building without my employee ID. I cannot count the number of times in my daily life that I have to produce some form of proof of who I am... but not when I vote.

At my polling place they use touch screen computers that are in a suitcase, and the suit case is propped up on some legs like a TV dinner tray stand.  The top of the case opens to provide a "privacy shield" so the person next to me can't see my vote... However, the people walking behind me can see perfectly fine.

The polling worker placed a cartridge into the suitcase computer, and gave me a quick overview of how to cast my ballot.  It was simple. Touch the name of the person I want to vote for (insuring it was selected), and then clicking "VOTE".  It gave me a confirmation screen, which I accepted, and I was done. 

The whole process took me less than 5 minutes. I placed my "I voted" sticker on my shirt, and left the polling place with a smile knowing that I had helped decide the future of my state and country.  Of course, while I walked back to my car, I had to update my Facebook status to let everyone know I voted!

So all that is left today is to find out whether or not enough people in my district and state joined me, and voted for my choices, and whether or not we spend the next two years with the same or new people in our government offices.

Since it's a big election, I am betting the screens at the bowling alley tonight are tuned to the election results instead of the normal "sporting events".