I voted this morning. I was at my polling place before it opened, standing in line with a bunch of other conscientious citizens at ten minutes to eight. I waved at my youngest daughter as she drove by in her bus, even.
I had my name checked off the list, chose a party, took my ballot, properly entered my vote, went back to the Supervisor of the Checklist to re-register as an Independent, and looked in vain for a sticker to serve as proof that I’ve done my civic duty. Then I went home.
Despite all that, I’ve been called, so far, SIXTEEN TIMES today, and I expect my phone to continue ringing until the polls close. FIVE people have come to my door, and they don’t seem put off by the fact that it’s dark out already.
I understand that they have no way of knowing that I’ve already voted and that their breath is wasted on me, and I know that it’s vital to get to as many voters as possible to make sure everyone who CAN vote DOES vote, but I’ve had enough.
I’m exhausted. Saturated. Stuffed. Fed up. Sick to death. Stick-a-fork-in-me done. If I were a weaker woman, this would enough to put me off the process altogether.
Dear Candidates; I take my citizenship very seriously. I’ve paid attention, I’ve read and listened and watched and, more importantly, I’ve voted. Please, for the love of all that is good and right about this experiment in democracy we’re perpetuating today, LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!
Amen sister! As I was reading this, my phone rang and it was my candidates people. I told him I voted and I voted for our candidate. I thought the kid was going to cry. “You don’t know what this means to us.” Yes, I do. That’s why I voted. LOL I am done though. I thank God every day we moved from Manchester though. It was brutal.
It will be eerily quiet tomorrow.
Maybe they should give out post-it notes for your door that says “I Already Voted, So Buzz Off.”
I am sick of hearing about it, but not as sick as you.
Next time I’d add a big poster to your front door saying, “I VOTED” and consider a corresponding answering machine message. We don’t get “I Voted” stickers in my area but I wish we did, I dodge people on the street all day long after having voted at 6 in the fucking morning.
I was actually MAD that we didn’t get stickers this year. I might bring that up in the next election…
You tell ‘em sista!
girl, it’s the curse of the early primary in an important state. you’re important, girl. get over it.
Smart women vote. Good for you!
Oh, it’s great you voted, especially in the primary. Ten years ago I got involved in the convention process and the primaries in a way I hadn’t ever done before, and I’ve gotten myself in a jam.
First I just wanted to go to a local convention. Then a state convention. Then repeatedly to state convention. Then I became secretary of the district convention. If that wasn’t enough, I’m now a precinct chair, and I’m running elections.
In Texas it’s a little more laid-back, I guess, simply because our primary comes so late there’s no push to keep momentum going by the time we vote. Nobody haunts the neighborhoods as much to get out the primary vote. I worked for a candidate one year for Congress and did the blockwalking, but we did it way in advance, and the phone calls I made the day before were all done by election day.
I wish people were more informed and involved in the process. I get asked a lot by friends and neighbors to tell them who to vote for. One recently asked me which party HRC belonged to, and which one GWB belonged to. It took all I had not to cry.
I get that people have the right not to care. I just wish they did. Bravo for you getting out there and doing it, and for doing it bright and early. I’ll have to start a collection to get you a “I voted already, stay the hell away from me” flag to fly for future elections.
Fishy, if you get me that flag, you will be my HERO!