tomorrow and tomorrow
So - I got myself re-enfranchised.
I left the polling place incensed, after tearing up the "affidavit ballot" (which I assume a vote-counter would have torn up anyway later.) Then I hauled ass to a computer to check my registration - printed it out, and stuck it in my pocket, so I could seethe all day until I could go back to the polls.
I went back, and it turned out they had told me the wrong district in the morning (Not the wrong polling place - around here, you go to your polling place, and then you tell them your address, and they send you to a table that's specific for your district, and they look you up in the district book and off you go to the little cubby.)
I told myself that the problem was they were just overwhelmed in the morning with how ludicrously many more people were there than there usually are - but when I was back in the afternoon, arguing my case, it was basically deserted, and I saw the same thing happen to someone else! (I ended up chasing her down, and showing her the website to check and whatnot.)
Anyway - I voted! And we won! And of course we won my district (I assume unanimously) but man oh man, am I glad I am one of the numbers next to his name.
I cried some, when they called it, and I am still more moved than I can say. I can't believe this happened in my lifetime. I can't believe how it feels to be hopeful again.
I almost cried again when I saw what happened in California. So heartbreaking. I can't imagine my friends and neighbors turning around and telling me that my marriage doesn't get to exist.
But...we saw last night what some might consider the culmination of the last great civil rights battle. In spite of yesterday's defeat, I have hope that the next one won't take as long.
I left the polling place incensed, after tearing up the "affidavit ballot" (which I assume a vote-counter would have torn up anyway later.) Then I hauled ass to a computer to check my registration - printed it out, and stuck it in my pocket, so I could seethe all day until I could go back to the polls.
I went back, and it turned out they had told me the wrong district in the morning (Not the wrong polling place - around here, you go to your polling place, and then you tell them your address, and they send you to a table that's specific for your district, and they look you up in the district book and off you go to the little cubby.)
I told myself that the problem was they were just overwhelmed in the morning with how ludicrously many more people were there than there usually are - but when I was back in the afternoon, arguing my case, it was basically deserted, and I saw the same thing happen to someone else! (I ended up chasing her down, and showing her the website to check and whatnot.)
Anyway - I voted! And we won! And of course we won my district (I assume unanimously) but man oh man, am I glad I am one of the numbers next to his name.
I cried some, when they called it, and I am still more moved than I can say. I can't believe this happened in my lifetime. I can't believe how it feels to be hopeful again.
I almost cried again when I saw what happened in California. So heartbreaking. I can't imagine my friends and neighbors turning around and telling me that my marriage doesn't get to exist.
But...we saw last night what some might consider the culmination of the last great civil rights battle. In spite of yesterday's defeat, I have hope that the next one won't take as long.