A (somewhat) Political Post

Every time I formulate a blog post in my head, I worry about what others will say when I actually post it.  This is one of those posts.

Dave is continuing to travel to California for work.  November is looking ugly.  He is gone 2-1/2 weeks this month.  We discovered last week when we were thinking about his next trip that he was going to be gone on election day.

Yes, we live in Ohio, a battleground state.  There is not a single commercial on right now that is not political in some way.  Dave and I enjoy politics.  We talk about it a lot, but only between the two of us.  We know that not everyone agrees with us, which is totally okay.  We listen to what others say, however, we prefer to do our own research and vote for the candidates and issues that we think are best and not necessarily align with a certain political party.

Anyway, when we discovered that Dave was going to be gone on election day we decided it was important for him to vote early (which is something we can do here in Ohio) since we actually live in a state where your vote matters.  Today we went to the one and only early poling place in Columbus.  There was a line outside that went was probably 30-40 people deep.  What we couldn't see inside the building is that the line wound around and around like a ride at Disney World.  Rumor had it, the weight was around an hour to vote.  (Dave made it in and out in 45 minutes.)  Outside, what a freakin' madhouse.  All the crazies were out.  There were representatives for every candidate under the sun, along with decorated trucks.  There were freaks dressed as Abe Lincoln handing out sample ballots.  There were people being reprimanded for wearing candidate paraphernalia (there was a presidential candidate rally in town earlier).  And there were lots and lots of police making sure that order was being followed.

I did not go into the building with Dave.  I was not voting (I'll vote on election day), so I did not want to go in.  Afterwards he told me about his experience.  You had to fill out a paper with your address, last four digits of social security, and maybe some other information.  One inside they verified nothing.  Dave had out his driver's license and they said, no they didn't need it.  (Hello, what?  Voter fraud?!)  Although they gave him a ballot (I believe it was electronic), voting early was basically doing an absentee/provisional ballot in person.

Here's where I'm going to get nasty comments.

I don't know what happens in other states, only what happens in Ohio.  We recently had a court case trying to overturn early voting in Ohio.  The judge basically laughed at this and threw it out.  Early voting would continue.  I, personally, do not like early voting.  I do not like absentee ballots  (I should say,  I think there's a certain person who should be using this, but there are LOTS of people using absentee ballots who don't need to be).  I think if you are able bodied and registered to vote (and everyone should register to vote), then you get yourself to your polling place on election day and do your civic duty.  Otherwise, you have no voice to complain.  (Side note, this is my opinion and only mine.  I know not everyone agrees and that is fine.  We are allowed to disagree.  I'm not looking for you to change my mind.)  Back to this whole early voting and absentee ballot thing.  In Ohio, the way we understand it, you can vote absentee or provisional, but your vote is only counted if the election is so close in the state that they need to count those ballots (the stuff I read online says they are counted on election night, although tens of thousands are often thrown out because of errors.).  So, there's been a lot made about early voting in Ohio, but in the end your vote probably means nothing.  Let's be real; the election is not going to be that close here.  Why not go to the polls on election day and actually cast your vote?

Please don't leave me nasty comments.  This is my blog and if I want to voice my opinion, I have every right to.  I also have every right not to publish your comment.  :)  Take your frustration out on Tuesday.  Go vote.