Today is Election Day in the United States.
I try to vote in every election. Call me corny, but I feel like it’s my duty as an American citizen.
Plus, I’m a big fan of having my voice heard. The way I look at it, I have no right to complain about the way our government is run if I don’t tell our elected officials where I stand on the issues of the day.
And I try to make it a point to actually contact legislators when I feel strongly about something. Particularly, if it affects my community. Yesterday, for example, I emailed the Portland (ME) City Planner to urge him to support a proposal that will help local homeless youth. It took less than 5 minutes to send the email. And I know many of my friends did too because they shared the same info on Facebook.
Contrary to what some people may think, our elected officials do want to hear from us.
I voted via absentee ballot in my first presidential election while I was studying abroad in London. I felt so important.
I still get a rush from voting. Maybe I’m weird.
We may not agree with everything – or most, it seems, lately – our government is doing, but we put those elected officials in office. And voted for and against hot button issues like gay marriage and casinos (that’s an actual hot button issue here in Maine).
At least we get to vote.
That freedom still counts for something, right?
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