Diamonds For Women

[Sandi]

As some of you may know, I haven't voted for a long time. I think Ross Perot(sp?) was the last guy I voted for.

Anyway, I had been hearing around my office this week how easy it is to go and vote an Absentee Ballot at the county clerk's office. Just tell them you won't be able to make it to your voting precinct on Nov. 4th, show your ID, and they give you a ballot! No lines, no fuss, no muss.

All counties are even going to be open (in Missouri, anyway) on Saturday for a few hours. Monday, Nov. 3rd is available to vote Absentee, too. I don't know if this is a new thing or not, but it beats the heck out of going to the polls on the actual day.

[dodgerblue6]

Good for you, Sandi! I voted too; our polls at the ROV office are always open for several days ahead of time (even a week, I think?).

Since I usually work at an inspector at the polls on Election Day, that is how best to handle it for me. This time, though, I'm passing my supervisory duties on to someone else. I've already worked in two elections this year and am on standby for the third, but am working on other projects too related to the political process.
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"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[stlred]

I lucked out today Sandi. I went at 9 and it only took me 20 minutes but Dave went at 6 and took him 1 1/2 hours. We both went prepared and just wish everybody did.

[dodgerblue6]

I ended up having an excellent night. On my break from work I drove a senior citizen without a ride to the poll so I could feel I was doing something useful on Election Day; then after work I visited my friends at the precinct I usually work at and delivered them some goodies. I cashed in my poll receipt for free lumpia at a local restaurant that was offering it to everyone who voted, then went downtown to Election Central headquarters to keep tabs on how everything was going. Ended up running into Rich from TCP down there and sharing a couple of celebratory beers. TCP was also the scene of one of many victory parties so I stopped there on the way home.

The month of October was extremely busy for me and it's carried over into November. Other than buying Harpo a birthday beer (very brief outing for him), I haven't had much chance to get out lately with all the extra hours I've been working and doing some volunteering for one of our Congressional candidates. So it was good to have some fun last night even if it meant staying up later to get things done at home.

I also received email from some of my friends from England about our results this morning, reminding me of our trip this summer and how the U.S. elections were a hot topic while we were there.

And, I'm proud to say it was Justin's first presidential election. He was legally of age to vote in the June primary, but I'm not sure if he was registered then.

Last, I kept thinking of my dear grandmother (rest in peace) who was living the last days of her life in a nursing home during the 2000 election. Every time I visited her after Election Day, she'd ask me if the presidential race had been decided yet. She died before it was determined who the next president would be--three weeks later, on Thanksgiving weekend. My mom and I shared that memory last night. It was my grandmother who was one of the earliest influences on me to become politically active. She was born in an era when women didn't have the right to vote, and once it was secured, she exercised that precious right as a well-informed and thoughtful citizen. She worked hard in her lifetime to ensure a better future for women who would come after her...including her granddaughters.

Tip of the cap to everyone who worked at the polls yesterday. It's typically a 16-hour workday and can get very grueling by the time that last hour arrives after the polls close.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame