The last thought I had last night before dropping off to sleep was that I needed to be up early today, Election Day, 2008. The thought must have had the desired effect, because I awoke, sans alarm, before the break of dawn. I had plenty of time for a cup of coffee and a quick look at e-mail before heading out the door into the crisp morning air.
I arrived at the appointed voting place 15 minutes before the doors opened. Given the number of people who took advantage of early voting in our community, I was a bit surprised, but pleased, to find 21 folks ahead of me in the line outside the door. By the time I voted (the 29th ballot cast at this precinct), there were probably 50 or 60 persons standing with ballots in hand waiting to vote. We don't have voting machines here, just paper ballots marked with black ball point pens, and run through a machine which, I assume, tallies the votes as they are cast.
The two people behind me in the waiting line were a woman and her daughter who, I learned, was participating in her first presidential election. That reminded me of the first time I voted. I remarked to the mother that today would be the 15th presidential election in which I had voted, the first being on November 4, 1952. She had the gall to say "Wow, that was before I was born!" LOL :) Nothing like a little candor to make me feel my age!
I remember how excited I was, being allowed to participate in an activity that I considered an "adult" thing! Yay! I was an adult! At least as far as the election was concerned, anyway. The poll tax was still in effect in Arkansas at the time, and I had duly paid my $1 (as I recall) to register to vote shortly after my 18th birthday in September that year.
The Democratic candidates for President and Vice President in 1952 were Adlai Stevenson, II and John Sparkman. Republican candidates were Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. Although Stevenson/Sparkman carried the state of Arkansas, I proudly cast my vote for the Republican ticket. I was a true 'I Like "IKE"' girl, and had a big metal, pin-on badge that said so. I wish I still had it.
I very likely will not stay up to watch the election returns this evening. There's nothing I can do to affect the outcome beyond what I have already done. I'm quite sure that I'll be able to read all about it tomorrow morning. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." - Matthew 6:34
Have YOU voted yet?
