Cast your votes!

 

 

I know that you are all waiting on pins and needles for pictures from my trip, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to blog about election day.

Today I voted at the polls for the first time.  Last election I voted as well, but I used a mail-in ballot and just voted for the candidate who represented my party. 

This year I researched, watched videos, had to actively register in Idaho, and actually took the time to go to the polls and stick my ballot in the box.

I felt like I was going to cry like a million times.

Once when I saw that, at 10:15 in the morning, the parking lot was so full that it was street parking only.  What a turn out!

Once when I heard the patriotic music playing in the background.

(no cameras allowed inside for privacy reasons, so you will just have to imagine.)

Again when I saw an old man with a veterans hat being helped to the polls. (I mean, come on!  Was this staged?!)

When I finished voting, and turned to see my baby smiling at me.

And when I turned in my ballot and the lady said “Caitlin ____ has voted in the 2008 election.”

Then I got a sticker, which I wore proudly to Winco. 

Really, what’s the only thing more American then getting vast quantities of cheap, mediocre food at Winco?  Voting.

I know that Idaho will go red no matter who I vote for.  I know that electoral votes, not popular votes, will determine the election.  But I still feel the need to vote. 

I vote because I can. 

I vote because I know that I would want to if I couldn’t. 

I vote because it is what women have fought for for years.

I vote because I think that it is pretty great that I, as a woman, can vote different than my husband or parents if I so choose.  I should support a country like that. 

And I vote because I want my son to see that I do.  Okay, so he was pretty bored.  But some day, he will notice and, hopefully, it will become a priority for him as well.

(Did anybody else REALLY want to peak over the barrier to see who the person next to you was voting for?  Anybody?)