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"Funny Thing Happened on My Way to |
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"Funny Thing Happened on My Way to |
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Today is Primary Day in Maryland. And I went to vote. But I almost didn't. Or couldn't. The voting place is at the school just behind the apartment complex, a short four-minute walk away. I got home, check the mail and the cats, and went the back way to the school. I entered the voting place, and the school is being used for two precincts, one on each side of the local main drag. I was on the east side of the road, so directed onto one line. Could I spell my name? Sure. And like a transplanted Bostonian with five years of Mid-Atlantic twang, my name begins with an "Ah". It's "Ah-Ee-Ess".... Nope couldn't find it. Maybe the other line? Okay, try the other precinct? Sure. I'll just pop over here. Looked it up. Spelled it up. Nope, not here. Definitely wrong street. Went back up to the election official, and we double checked my street and precinct. Yep, 2-4. Looked it up in the main book. How to spell it again? "Ah-Ee-Ess". Hmmm. Not here either. Okay, let's call downtown. Try one number. Hmmm. Busy. Try another number. Nope, that's my home number.... I want to note that I am entirely calm and in good spirits throughout all this. I get out my driver's license, which in Maryland is as good as proof of identification as they get. I also know that if worst comes to worst, I can run right back, grab my voter's registration card, and come back. Ah! Got downtown! Okay, yes, "Ahrrrr-Eee-Ess-Tee..." read it off my driver's license, along with birth date. Yep. I'm registered. I should also be in the main book. We go back and check against my driver's license. Yep. There I am. Okay, let's see if I'm in the polling list... We head back to the line, and -- what do you know? I'm there! We all missed it. Methinks my Boston accent betrayed me, and after 10-15> minutes, I get my ballot and proceed to the booth. Why am I in such good spirits even after all this? Many reasons. First, a core belief that I *would* be able to vote. If not then and there, then by some other means of appeal. Like I said, I had my voter's card back home. Secondly, it's my patriotic side. It's my right to gripe. My say in running things on a county and state level through my party. Unfortunately, due to the closed primary system, I am locked into a list of candidates. However, I *do* have my say. I heard a political ad asking me to exercise my _privilege_ to vote. *EXCUSE ME?!?* It's a right, not a privilege. It's not an extra hour out after curfew or a scoop of ice cream for being good. It's my fiat as a citizen to determine those who will lead the body politic. Too many places in the world do not have that right. I am keenly aware of it. Lastly, there was another reason why I was so calm -- and it's just the time I hit it. It was not busy. No lines going out the door like lottery hopefuls at Powerball. At the most, two people ahead of me at any line. I know most people vote after 5 PM when they finish work, and a primary does not generate that much interest. But it was still a little disheartening not to be THAT inconvenienced. So, I did get to vote. No bullets to dodge, no goon squad to bloody my carcass. Just a few calls and bit of running around. But I did it. In the next CQ will be a ballot for a Vote of Confidence and the new Constitution. Take a look at both and mark your ballot. Obviously, I advocate one position, but overall, I advocate voting, period. It's your right to gripe. If you think the current Administration is doing a good enough job to run STARFLEET the next two years, vote "yes". If you think they are all a bunch of pinheads and the sooner they get out the better, vote "no". The same deal with the Constitution. The main thrust to all this is that you vote. It's your personal voice in how STARFLEET should run in the coming years. If you don't get a ballot and think you should, go through channels and "hop in lines" until you get a ballot. Believe me, it's worth the effort. I speak from experience.
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