Tuesday, 07 November 2000
.....
I stood in line to vote this morning.
The polls, as we all know, opened at 7:00 am, and I was there in line at 6:55. Quite a few of my neighbors were there as well.
I've always made it a habit to vote early. This year I felt it was particularly important, as I might have to raise a fuss if it appeared difficult to write in the name of my candidate of choice.
In the end, despite the daunting task of fitting "Ralph Nader for President of the United States/Winona LaDuke for Vice President of the United States" in a three inch line, it all went without a hitch.
I walked to the polls, in the rain. Yes, I could have driven, but it was a five minute walk, and the rain was not that heavy. In a way, I felt that if I was going to vote for the Green Party candidate, I might as well go Green all the way and avoid the car.
And so, trudging to the polling place in the damp, cold autumn, I felt a real sense of what it means to exercise one's civic duty. I had to work to get there! I had to work to write in my choice! I had to work to face the possibility of the derision of my oh-so-conservative neighbors!
But that is as it should be, in my opinion. Internet voting, mail-in voting, bah. I met my neighbors at the commons, and it was good.
See also Online Elections Are Here <http://monkeyfist.com/articles/320>
This is Voting is Hard <http://monkeyfist.com/articles/709>