Silk blouse: thrifted * Jeans: Gap, remixed * Boots: c/o Sperry Top Sider (want your own? click here!), remixed * Wool swing jacket: Gap, thrifted, remixed * Belt: thrifted, remixed
It's Election Day! I'm up a bit earlier than usual so that I can stop by my polling place on the way to work. I know it's getting easier and easier now to vote by absentee ballot, especially now that you can do so even if you're not "absent" from your voting district, but there's something so old-school and satisfying to me about voting in person. I love seeing other people who have also taken the time to get up and go vote, and I love the weird little cubicle booth things that don't seem to change no matter where you're voting. I love the energy and electricity that people have when they vote in person. I know this isn't the case everywhere, and it isn't the case in every election, but I've had the good fortune of voting in very exciting and important elections for most of my adult life so far, and there's always been the distinct feeling that what we're doing matters.
I don't talk about politics much here, and that probably won't change. And in fact, I probably won't really talk about politics today, either. But I hope that all of you understand how important it is to cast your vote. As imperfect as our system can be, right now it's the one we've got. And as it stands right now, the way to make change in this imperfect system is to vote. If you're unhappy with the way things are going, or, dammit, if you are happy with the way things are going, the only way to make sure that the choices that are made by the government reflect your own preferences is to vote for someone or something that you believe in. I really don't want to get all soap-boxy on you, and I'm sorry if this isn't the Tuesday morning reading you signed up for. I'm the first to admit that there are flaws in the system, and sometimes it seems like your one, single vote doesn't count. But it does. And it's your way of participating in our governmental system.
Anyway, that's not entirely the point. I don't want to spend this whole post ranting about how important I think it is for you to vote. That's your decision, and your participation. I wanted to talk about how excited I am to vote. The last time I voted was in the 2008 presidential election, and I had the good fortune of casting my ballot in a district only blocks away from Obama's home. When I said it was electric, I meant it. It felt like the whole city was coming together to do something good, and make a change (I know how overused the "change" rhetoric is, and I know it was a couple of years ago now, but that moment will always stick with me). This election is different, for obvious reasons, but I'm still excited to go in and cast my ballot and do my part to encourage the people and legislation I believe in.
Plus, I'll get a sticker. Update: I did not get a sticker. Please disregard this post. (Just kidding! I didn't get a sticker, but I bought myself a pastry to make up for it! Goooooo democracy!)
Are you voting? Have you already voted?
Title song: Van Halen, "Ballot or the Bullet"
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