I voted on Tuesday!
After watching over forty states hold their Democratic and Republican primaries, I finally got my chance too. And it was fabulous! On the day of the primary, Justin and I went down to our local elementary school to cast our votes for Barack Obama as well as our picks for the governor and Senate races in November. Justin even spent the rest of the afternoon canvassing for Obama in a few neighborhoods in our town. (I declined to go because knocking on people's doors freaks me out. A lot.) I was just happy to wear my "I Voted" sticker for the rest of the day because I finally got my chance to vote in this historic election.
On my way home from the grocery store later in the day, I heard on NPR that voting in North Carolina doubled this year compared to the presidential primaries in 2004. On one hand this made me really happy, but on the other hand I was sorely disappointed. 35% of North Carolinians voted on Tuesday as opposed to 17% in 2004---yet this leaves a huge bulk of the population that failed to go to the polls!
I can't help but think of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony who worked for their entire adult lives to give women the vote. And I can't help but think of the horrible laws like the "grandfather clauses" that were implemented to prevent African-Americans from voting. For so much of our history, huge swaths of the population have been barred from casting a vote on election day. Yet now that every adult citizen has the right to do so---many of us choose to stay at home. (And I admit it. I used to be one of these people too. I never bothered to vote in 2004 because I figured my vote would be wasted anyway.)
But no more! Voting is so important. This very simple act is the lifeblood of our democracy. Thus, if you still have the chance to vote in the primaries, then be sure to do it. And if you failed to vote in your primaries, then be sure to register and vote in the general election!
If not, then Caroline the voting monster will come out and get you...
