I voted

It is strange, because I am really not all that polictal. I have always voted in the presidential elections, but that was about it. Before I turned 18 I swore to myself that I was going to do my research and vote in every election. I took my voting right very seriously.

Unfortunately, it didn't work that way. The first time I voted there were all the OTHER things on the ballot to vote on that I had never heard of and knew nothing about. I chose not to vote on these items because I didn't want to unknowingly pass something I wouldn't have been happy about.

Every year it was the same thing. THIS was the year I was going to learn everything I could about the people and propositions on the ballot and make an informed decision. Every year I never took the time to educate myself and the stuff I did know how I wanted to vote, I would forget what it was because I couldn't keep all the damn propotion numbers straight and I didn't want to cast the wrong vote.

This was all VERY discouraging.

Then I moved to AZ. They gave me the option to receive my ballot early in the mail. I could either mail it back or turn it in on election day. SWEET! Then, one day shortly after I received my ballot in the mail I got this HUGE pamphlet. It was full of everything you wanted to know about the candidates and the propositions. THIS IS AWESOME! All the information I need to make an informed decision, and it is sent directly to my mailbox! It doesn't get any better than this!

I set aside an evening every year a few days before election day (this year it was last night) and sit down with my ballot and my info booklet. I got down the ballot person by person, proposal by proposal and read up on them, then mark my vote on my official ballot. No worrying about forgetting, no worrying about not making it on time. I then seal my ballot in the envelope and drop it off at the most convienent polling location. (This year's location was actually across the street from my apartment complex. I stopped during my morning Lucca run.)

Even though I still don't feel like I am very political, I am proud, not only that I voted, but that I made an informed decision. I CAN make a difference.

It also makes listening to the election results a LOT more interesting. I actually have an opinion about how things are decided instead of being annoyed that it is the only thing on. :)