Today, as you should all be aware, is Election Day. Blake and I went out and did our civic duty this morning and cast our votes before we headed to campus. I got to feel all high-tech and stuff because our state/county/city/whathaveyou, as many of yours have, has moved to the new electronic system of voting. Seriously, though. I literally voted with the press of a button. (An informed press of a button, mind you. I'm not a reckless voter, or at least I try not to be.) So, that was kinda cool.
This reckless abandonment of the old punch system has worked people into a frenzy. First people are freaked out that their votes will be manipulated. And then, come election day, the whole network decides to work only when it feels like it. Though we personally encountered no technical glitches as we voted, the polls in Delaware County, Indiana (of which Muncie is the county seat) have had enough problems to make national news. From USAtoday.com's front page story:
"Election officials in Delaware County, Ind., planned to seek a court order to extend voting after an apparent computer error prevented voters from casting ballots in 75 precincts. Delaware County Clerk Karen Wenger said the cards that activate the machines were programmed incorrectly. "We are working with precincts one-by-one over the telephone to get the problem fixed," Wenger said."Apparently, they got the court order. At least now the polls are going to remain open until 8:40 p.m. to make up for the 2 hours and 40 minutes missed this morning during the technical difficulties.
Indiana's making election news in other ways as well. Long known as a conservative state, often forgotten during election time, the races in Indiana have moved to the forefront of the excitement. Three seats in Congress, currently held by Republicans, are being contested even as I write this, and it's making everyone anxious as to whether or not they'll get to keep those seats. It's brought a lot of political big-wigs here to campaign on behalf of both parties. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Laura Bush was here stumping for her husband's party. Also, it's resulted in ugly, mud-filled commercials belittling the various candidates. Good grief, people! I've never seen anything this bad! Ever heard of the golden rule?
As for me, well, I've done my part. I researched as much information as I could regarding the candidates and their stands on the issues and I went out and voted this morning. And now I can sit back, put my feet up, and watch non-painfully-fierce-mudslinging commericals on TV (because, geez, those were getting annoying!).
Anyway, guys, if you haven't already, be good citizens and GO VOTE!
(Thank you.)
1 comment:
I'm with you--I've had enough of those dumb commercials. Now we can get back to all those wholesome commercials for beer and slutty underwear for women! Yay! :)
I must hang my head in shame here though...because we have procrastinated registering our car her in NV, we are not able to vote this election. We suck, I know. I promise we're gonna get a jump on it next year though.
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