Well...sealed and sent. My absentee ballot didn't require any type of signature or validation, as Bryan has already pointed out. I assume that the bar-code type of hashmarks along the edge of the sheet provides the bureau of elections with the proper information to ascertain that I am a registered voter and have not photocopied a wad of the ballots to skew the results (as tempting as that may be ;)
As far as "delivered" goes, it was with great faith and fervant prayers that I dropped the envelope into the letter box, because that, and an 85-cent stamp, is what is required for mail to depart Italia and hopefully reach its intended recipient. Me and the Poste Italiane are not exactly best buds, as you know.
Voting just feels good. Filling in the little ovals on the sheet to mark my choices, to select which bond issues I thought were worth supporting, which state consititutional amendment proposals should be confirmed and which should not be...it just feels good to participate even though I am far from home. If you are a citizen, you *need* to vote! It is a right that people fought and died for you to have; apathy is not acceptable. If you think it's a hassle, remember that in many places around the world, people are still dying to try to gain this right that we so easily take for granted.
I encourage you to arm yourself with information. This seems especially important this year with the amount of mud-slinging, half-truths, manipulated sound bites, and outright lies that are flying fast and furious. (How glad am I to not be there to suffer the constant barrage of TV attack ads?) There are numerous sites for you to easily find information on the issues and compare the candidates' stances. A little time perusing them will help you decide who deserves your precious vote. A few to check out:
Smart Voter
Fact Check
Select Smart
CNN's Campaign Issues page
Vote411.org gives information on state-by-state requirements and polling places.
No candidate meets my ideal. I had to weigh the issues, examine their words and positions, and picture each one in the Oval Office. Neither fits my ideas on every issue, so I had to choose the one who came the closest. (In case you're wondering, my ballot was cast for Obama.) I urge you to take some time to check facts, peruse the above links, and weigh their words and ideas for yourself. And then get out there and vote.
As far as "delivered" goes, it was with great faith and fervant prayers that I dropped the envelope into the letter box, because that, and an 85-cent stamp, is what is required for mail to depart Italia and hopefully reach its intended recipient. Me and the Poste Italiane are not exactly best buds, as you know.
Voting just feels good. Filling in the little ovals on the sheet to mark my choices, to select which bond issues I thought were worth supporting, which state consititutional amendment proposals should be confirmed and which should not be...it just feels good to participate even though I am far from home. If you are a citizen, you *need* to vote! It is a right that people fought and died for you to have; apathy is not acceptable. If you think it's a hassle, remember that in many places around the world, people are still dying to try to gain this right that we so easily take for granted.
I encourage you to arm yourself with information. This seems especially important this year with the amount of mud-slinging, half-truths, manipulated sound bites, and outright lies that are flying fast and furious. (How glad am I to not be there to suffer the constant barrage of TV attack ads?) There are numerous sites for you to easily find information on the issues and compare the candidates' stances. A little time perusing them will help you decide who deserves your precious vote. A few to check out:
Smart Voter
Fact Check
Select Smart
CNN's Campaign Issues page
Vote411.org gives information on state-by-state requirements and polling places.
No candidate meets my ideal. I had to weigh the issues, examine their words and positions, and picture each one in the Oval Office. Neither fits my ideas on every issue, so I had to choose the one who came the closest. (In case you're wondering, my ballot was cast for Obama.) I urge you to take some time to check facts, peruse the above links, and weigh their words and ideas for yourself. And then get out there and vote.
My stepdad, John, is a Republican but here outside the Obama headquarters in Alexandria, VA he seems pretty comfortable. He took a little nap...and hoped for better days.
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4 comments:
I sent in my ballot too.
I'm glad I wasn't in the States last week. Reading about some of the things being said at certain rallies made me very upset.
That is not what America is supposed to be about.
This is the first election that my husband can vote (as he became a citizen last year), I WANT to vote so badly, but I am still working on my citizenship (I am going back to the States on the 18th for my interview and civic test!). I will have the blue passport soon, but not soon enough.
I don't like either candiate either but I will vote. It's my right-or in this case my ticket to complain because I think that only voters have the right to complain about whoever is voted into office.
I agree...if you don't vote then don't complain what happens the next 4 years!
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