The Voting Experience

Today I voted. I try to always vote. I actually like the experience.

It is one of the rare community things I do. I've lived in my house for 14 years and I barely know my neighbors. I get to see many of them only twice a year. Once on Halloween (which is a story unto itself) and the other is when I vote. I don't actually talk to any of them when I'm voting, but it still seems like some form of bonding. I hear them say their names and addresses to the poll workers and inside I'm screaming, "Hey, you live there? I know that house. I pass it when I'm hiking through the neighborhood. Why don't you invite me in? We could be best friends."

Today they had me vote at a new place. New in the sense that I had never voted there before. Usually I vote at a Ranger's station or a school cafeteria. But today it was at another location. Doesn't really matter. It might be a few blocks away but the scenario is always the same. And I love that.

The polls open at 7am and I usually get there around 8:30am, on my way to work. Today was no different. When I got there, there was one person in front of me. Seems no matter how important the election, there is always only one person in front of me. Yet somehow it still takes 15 minutes for them to get me a ballot.

If you vote, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

There are 3 people working at the polling check-in table. I will try to be delicate and not go into discriminating demographic details. Let's just say that the most nimble people in Los Angeles do not staff these polling stations. It takes all three of these folks to check each person in. One has to look up your name in one huge stack of papers and another has to do the same. Each of those people has to say your name out loud as they are doing it. Each has to look down at the paper and then up at you at least three times and ask you to repeat your name. The third person is usually called over at this point to "help."

Here I am. The most popular person in the polling station. Everyone working for me. Trying their best to make my voting experience as time consuming and hassle-laden as possible. Convincing me that voting is a privilege and not a convenience.

I calmly point to my voter pamphlet with my name and address on it and say my name very slowly. They look down again, and there is my name, line number two. But somehow they don't see it. I point to where it is on the paper and they put their nose right into the paper and exclaim, "There you are!" and then ask me to sign my name on the wrong line.

Like biscuits and gravy, voting is comfort food. An experience unlike any other. A 232 year old tradition that has seen very little updating since George Washington cast his vote.

Ahh, the simple things in life.