The Day I Voted!>

	It is November 2nd, 2004... Today is Tuesday. As I am sitting at my computer typing, I am wearing a sticker I have never worn before. I will save this sticker forever, taped neatly in my diary. What does the sticker say? I VOTED! It was grey and drizzling when I woke up at 6:45 this morning. I quickly dressed myself in a red turtleneck, blue button down shirt, and white jeans. I wanted to be as patriotic as I could. I even had a red, white, and blue bow to match. I am eighteen years, three months, and twenty-six days old. I am also a proud American. For the first time, I was able and to stick a foot in for helping elect our next president. My dad and I got to the Senior Retirement Center at 8:00 am. In the car we talked about Hall, the only Republican going for Congress. We really didn’t want to vote for him because he had just recently changed over from the Democratic party, but we knew nothing about the other democrat to vote for him. Neither of us want to be limited to voting for one party. We want to vote for the man or woman we think best. We want to vote for those that uphold our liberty, that follow God’s commands, and do what is right for the people. Sometimes it is a very hard decision. Many times there are no Christians or God-fearing people running for certain positions. Then it is best to ask the Lord to show you whom to vote for. I was in a constant state of prayer this entire past month for these elections. I was praying that everyone would take the time to vote. Not voting is simply laziness in an anti-patriotic form. Christians, especially, who do not vote and then complain about the authorities elected have no right to whine and gripe. If all Christians went out and stated their opinion in ballot form, we probably would not have the problems we do. There were a single line of little tables with dividers. I must admit that I was slightly disappointed to see that Texas had already switched over to electronic voting. I wanted to do it the old-fashioned way: the way people had been doing it for years. I really wanted to punch holes in a paper! Putting my feelings aside (:-P), I inserted my small, hotel key-like card into the slot until I heard the satisfying click. The screen was touch-sensitive and the names appeared before me. President George W. Bush/Richard Cheney. My finger jabbed at that one first. Immediately, there was a red “X” on that box. Woops! I thought, since when you see a red “X” you think: “No. Cross out.” But I wanted to vote for Bush! I pressed the “X” and it disappeared. I pressed Bush again. Red “X” it was, I guess! It turns out it meant “yes” in this case! After I understood, it was fairly easy. Texas, especially Collin County, where we live, is very Republican. Most of the time, there was only a Republican to choose from! Then there was a whole half a page of unattested positions where the candidates were simply declared elected because there was no one to run against them! I was satisfied beyond measure to know that I had done my part as an honorable citizen and that I was now an adult and had the privilege to partake in voting. I have to be grateful to my great, great, great… grandfather John Adams for helping to start this beloved country and for assisting in forming our excellent constitution. Even though I am not in any way a feminist (:-)), I must also acknowledge the suffragettes who made it possible that I, as a young woman, can vote. All people are created equal. And each vote matters. Have you cast yours today? BACK

It is November 2nd, 2004... Today is Tuesday. As I am sitting at my computer typing, I am wearing a sticker I have never worn before. I will save this sticker forever, taped neatly in my diary. What does the sticker say?

I VOTED!

It was grey and drizzling when I woke up at 6:45 this morning. I quickly dressed myself in a red turtleneck, blue button down shirt, and white jeans. I wanted to be as patriotic as I could. I even had a red, white, and blue bow to match. I am eighteen years, three months, and twenty-six days old. I am also a proud American. For the first time, I was able and to stick a foot in for helping elect our next president.
My dad and I got to the Senior Retirement Center at 8:00 am. In the car we talked about Hall, the only Republican going for Congress. We really didn’t want to vote for him because he had just recently changed over from the Democratic party, but we knew nothing about the other democrat to vote for him. Neither of us want to be limited to voting for one party. We want to vote for the man or woman we think best. We want to vote for those that uphold our liberty, that follow God’s commands, and do what is right for the people. Sometimes it is a very hard decision. Many times there are no Christians or God-fearing people running for certain positions. Then it is best to ask the Lord to show you whom to vote for. I was in a constant state of prayer this entire past month for these elections. I was praying that everyone would take the time to vote. Not voting is simply laziness in an anti-patriotic form. Christians, especially, who do not vote and then complain about the authorities elected have no right to whine and gripe. If all Christians went out and stated their opinion in ballot form, we probably would not have the problems we do.
There were a single line of little tables with dividers. I must admit that I was slightly disappointed to see that Texas had already switched over to electronic voting. I wanted to do it the old-fashioned way: the way people had been doing it for years. I really wanted to punch holes in a paper! Putting my feelings aside (:-P), I inserted my small, hotel key-like card into the slot until I heard the satisfying click. The screen was touch-sensitive and the names appeared before me.
President George W. Bush/Richard Cheney.
My finger jabbed at that one first. Immediately, there was a red “X” on that box. Woops! I thought, since when you see a red “X” you think: “No. Cross out.” But I wanted to vote for Bush! I pressed the “X” and it disappeared. I pressed Bush again. Red “X” it was, I guess! It turns out it meant “yes” in this case!
After I understood, it was fairly easy. Texas, especially Collin County, where we live, is very Republican. Most of the time, there was only a Republican to choose from! Then there was a whole half a page of unattested positions where the candidates were simply declared elected because there was no one to run against them!
I was satisfied beyond measure to know that I had done my part as an honorable citizen and that I was now an adult and had the privilege to partake in voting. I have to be grateful to my great, great, great… grandfather John Adams for helping to start this beloved country and for assisting in forming our excellent constitution. Even though I am not in any way a feminist (:-)), I must also acknowledge the suffragettes who made it possible that I, as a young woman, can vote.

All people are created equal. And each vote matters. Have you cast yours today?

BACK