Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Obligatory Election Day Post

Before you get you hopes up for a potential explosion of political views, I should tell you that I will not be discussing who I voted for.

Instead, I will be making a confession.  This year, at age (almost) 27, I voted for the very first time.  I feel almost dirty saying that.  I had the opportunity to vote in the 2004 Bush v. Kerry election and chose not to.  I was off at school which is totally NOT a good excuse.  I went to school in the same state I grew up and I went home every weekend.  I wouldn't have even needed to worry about an absentee ballot or any of that other fun stuff.  I just didn't want to vote.

I didn't vote in the 2008 Obama v. McCain election, one of the most monumental elections our country has experienced.  This actually came down to laziness, as pathetic as that is.  I registered to vote online and, apparently, it didn't work.  I found out about a month before the election that it didn't work.  I didn't fight to fix the issue, I simply didn't vote.  It wasn't until I renewed my license in 2011 that I registered to vote.  Even at that, I didn't vote in the primaries.

This morning, though, I voted.  For the very first time.  Chalk it up to becoming a mother or realizing that I really do have an opinion in how my country is run.  Maybe it's because I firmly believe that, unless you vote, you can't complain and, darn it, I want to be able to complain!

Up until last week, I had no idea who I was going to vote for.  I watched (some of) the debates, I read up on the candidates, and I reflected on the last four years.  Still, I was undecided.  In the end, I chose who I chose - and I wasn't swayed by celebrities endorsing one candidate or the other, I wasn't swayed by my husband's political leanings, I wasn't swayed by friends or family.  I chose MY candidate, the man I thought could lead this country successfully for the next four years.  I had a say, I voiced my opinion.  And, tonight, we'll find out if my guy won.


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