I❤️Voting

​I❤️Voting

     This past Friday afternoon I early voted for the issues on the ballot of the upcoming Ohio November election. I've read that around 36% of Ohioans vote in general non-Presidential elections. In  Presidential elections closer to 66% of us vote. I don't get  why so many folks don't vote.  I always vote in every election. And not just because I'm a good citizen who cares about the issues. I mean, I'm probably an okay citizen as citizens go, and I do generally care about the issues, though some issues more than others.
         The two state-wide issues on the ballot this time around are Issue 1, which would guarantee abortion rights in the Ohio constitution, and Issue 2, which would legalize marijuana in our state.  I care more about Issue 1 than Issue 2, though I don't mind sharing how I voted on both: I voted yes on Issue 1, no on Issue 2.
          As to why I voted as I did on Issue 1, I suppose I could break down my reasoning into all its moral, philosophical and practical constituent parts; or else I could just agree with Jay and Silent Bob, those two addle-brained but good-hearted stoners who in the movie "Dogma" were standing outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in hopes of meeting loose women:​

        And I voted no on Issue 2 because I think there's way too much drug use in this country.     

     But besides all that, the thing is, I really like voting. I mean, I like the voting process, especially the early voting process.
         I like traveling to the Franklin County Board of Elections, a fifteen minute drive from my house, to whence one from my locale must travel to vote early. 

      I like all the hustle and bustle there, the political signs lining the street and the parking lot,

...all the people coming and going,

...all the activity outside and inside of the building,

...so much more than one finds at the church that is the voting site for my ward, and where I would go to vote if I waited until election day,

...which I seldom do any more. Me, I wanna be where the people are. 
       And  the Franklin County board of elections was they were last Friday afternoon. ​

      I like the feeling of gemütlichkeit that I've always found to be pervasive inside the Board of Elections building. The roster judges who sign us in are friendly and helpful,

...as are the election judges who escort us to and assist us at the ballot printing machines and the ballot counting machines.

        (To read about my experience as an election day machine judge, see post from 8/10/2023, https://www.ailantha.com/blog/i-machine-judge).
       Even when there's a line, the voters always seem in a good mood. Or mayhaps I just project my good mood onto everybody around me.  But the thing is, it does feel good to vote, to go up to that ballot printing machine and make one's choice, making one's voice heard, so to speak, on paper.
        It's then so gratifying to slip one's ballot into the counting machine, and after I've inserted my ballot I like watching the ballot counter screen go round and round until the  picture of the flag pops up. Because then I know my vote has been counted and added to the tally. It makes me feel that I'm part of something important. That I belong.

         The thing is, voting gives you a good feeling. I can't understand why anyone would deny themselves the pleasure.