methinks

Post Votum Syndrome

Today was my first time to vote at the polls. What a let down.

I didn't get to punch any holes or pull any levers. I only got to complete arrows with a "ballot pen." My "booth" was essentialy just a fold up counter. No doors or curtains. There were no lawyers at my poll, no one challenging my identity. All I had to do was say my name. There weren't even other voters except for one old lady.

Then there was the ballot itself. Half way through the ticket it became clear why people vote along party lines. Who do I want to be school superintendent? County coroner? City councilman-at-large? I have no idea. I've never even heard of these people before. I voted for one guy because he had a cool name. I voted for another because I recognized his name. I split my three choices for councilmen-at-large between the democrats, republicans and libertarians. Diversity is good, right? Should Judge So-and-so be retained? Sounds good to me. Should we pass a referendum to lower certain property taxes? Heck yeah, get rid of them taxes. Half my "votes" were really just fickle fancies of the moment. Am I bad citizen?

What's really scary is that I think I might've chosen a few high-level people (like governor) because of what the TV ads said. I looked at their names and the tag lines from attack ads popped into my head. I've been brainwashed.

Now that it's all over I want to go back down there and have another try. Now that I know what to expect, maybe I'll vote more responsibly.