V-O-T-E-D

Last night I tore open the envelopes and sat down with the voters guide to get this voting thing happening. I usually wait until the last week -- or last few days -- before sending off my ballot. This election year I have been thinking about how absolutely important it is to vote that I wanted to get this shite in the mail as soon as possible. I don't think it gets counted early or anything. Not sure that it EVER gets counted. I'm a registered Independent and I will vote on every election without even considering party affiliation.

4 years ago I voted for Nader. My thoughts at the time were, "No way in hell I'm voting for Bush", but I also didn't see Gore as being my President either. A better choice than Bush, yes. By a landslide? No. I couldn't bring myself to vote for Gore. Nader probably wouldn't have been a great leader in office, but at least he had a different stance on the issues. The other two candidates were saying the exact same things (with a few small differences). I agreed with much of what Nader was proposing. I just wanted to see Nader get enough of the vote to bring about some real change in the way these elections are handled. A third party? Maybe. Choices are good.

This election is so important this year. I fear for our country in the same way I fear for a group of ducklings crossing a busy street. It's in this detached way that I think about how my vote doesn't really count. Sure, it gets thrown in to the big gigantic pool of votes that will get "counted", but many, including myself, got the feeling that this election process sucks nuts if the person who receives the most votes doesn't always win. What the hell? Yeah, I know it happened to President Hooverclevenvelt or whatever way back in musket and petticoat times, but that crap should have been revised by now. When the election comes down to one effing judge making the swing decision, then I demand a recount. All I'm trying to say is that it seems like when I'm ready to vote, I might as well write my candidate selection in piss on the pavement outside my house. Will that get counted?

I finished up my ballot, put it in the secrecy envelope, then the mailing envelope, signed it, stuck it in the mail, and got on with life. No "I Voted" sticker for me, but I feel like I've accomplished something. It would be great if somebody counts it.

Result: Kerry / Edwards
Go Ducks!