Reasons 2012 is special:
- I ran my 2nd full marathon.
- It’s predicted (by some) to be the end of the world. (Happy thought for your weekend.)
- It’s an election year!
I don’t know about you, but voting is a big deal in our house. I love, love, love to vote. It’s one of those things that makes me feel American. Politics can be really mind numbing and frustrating. (I’ve watched so much election coverage this year, it made me want to puke at times.) I know more than a few people who have no interest in voting because they believe it doesn’t make a difference. They say that it doesn’t matter who you pick because all they options are crappy options. Plus you got that whole “electoral college” that might make you feel like your vote doesn’t count (depending on who you vote for and where you live).
BUT I don’t feel that way at all. Voting is my right and just like I exercise my freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I exercise my right to vote for whoever I want with a big ol’ smile on my face. Not so long ago, people were putting it all on the line to earn the right to vote. I feel like it’s my duty to honor them and vote, vote, vote. (Or just vote once per elections since that’s all that is allowed.)
Living in Germany means that the process is a little more involved than just showing up at my polling place on election day. A month ago, Stephen and I applied online to get our absentee ballots. It took about a week-ish to get the ballots sent to us via e-mail.
I then printed them out, and we made our selections. (Fun fact: in 2004, Stephen and I voted for different people in the presidential election. In 2008, we voted for the same presidential candidate. This year, I don’t know; He wouldn’t tell me who he voted for!)
Voting this year was not quite as exciting as the usual waiting in line, using the computer voting system, and rocking out an “I voted” sticker (Yes, I love all those things!), but I’ll take it.
The final step: mailing those suckers.
That part was pretty fun. Knock on wood, those suckers should make it to Texas in time to be tallied with the rest of the ballots. Now I just cross my fingers and hope the people I voted for are victorious in November.
Do you vote? Do you get all jazzed up and geek out about it like I do? Do you and your significant other share the same political beliefs?*
I LOVE politics. I love politics so much, in fact, that it drives everyone else in my house CRAZY. I have very strong, very passionate political leanings; Craig does not. We agree on many key issues, but he likes to play devil’s advocate when he’s feeling particularly ornery, which always ends up with smoke coming out of my ears. He thinks it’s fun. I do not.
I’ve never voted on election day. Since 1996 I’ve voted either early (because I was going to be out of state on election day) or absentee. I already voted for 2012, but I wish I had waited because after the first debate, I was ready to cast my ballot for Big Bird. Alas, Big Bird will not get my vote.
I’m glad I’m not the only one obsessed with politics. I try not to talk about politics with my friends or coworkers (because I don’t want to make them mad and I don’t want them to make me mad!), so Stephen gets to hear all my political ranting and raving. He also gets a kick out of playing devil’s advocate at times. Punk.*
I really don’t understand why people don’t vote. I did miss the primaries this year, but I think it was justified since I was just getting out of the hospital. My husband and I often cancel each other’s votes out.
I did think about voting for Big Bird, but according to the democrats that means voting for Obama. I’m really distressed at my options this year.
Another couple who doesn’t vote the same! I’m surprised that there are so many out there. Are you still on the fence for who you’ll vote for? I waited until after the first debate to vote, but I’ve had my mind made up for a long time.*
I’m pretty sure I know who I’m voting for, but I really hate both candidates, so I may yet be persuaded to the other side. I’m definitely voting for candidates from both parties this year. My husband tends to vote all one party, which makes me crazy.
Um yeah my boyfriend and I pretty much don’t agree on anything political. We have similar values and yet they take us on totally different paths sometimes. Weird!
Do you think Stephen will reveal his choice after he knows whether he picked a winner or loser?
I’d be happy voting by absentee any day. Waiting in line or figuring out what time is the best to go to avoid lines… not my thang.
Regardless, I’m happy you guys voted and happy you posted about this!
Stephen might spill the beans, but he is a frustratingly good secret keeper, so who knows! My little brother is the same way. He hates telling who he voted for. That’s his right and all, but it’s so annoying. I just want to know! And the fact that they don’t tell makes me want to know all the more.
I kind of love that y’all have different political beliefs. If you are really passionate about politics, it can be tough when you don’t see eye to eye. Sometimes I have to put my foot down and force us to stop talking politics, especially if it is hypothetical. I want to debate until I’m blue in the face, but I try to remind myself that it’s not worth debating (aka fighting) over things that are hypothetical.*
I figure if nothing else, it’ll balance our kid(s) out. My Mom & Dad are politically opposite too. My Dad is of the mindset “agree with me or go away!” (pretty much, although kind of jokingly) and my Mom doesn’t mind which way you feel as long as you have educated yourself before making the choice. I am totally my mother’s daughter so I guess that’s why I can tolerate (or should I say respect? heh) John’s opposing political views. Plus, you know, there’s never anything that’s 100% “right” in politics.
Good for you for being so diligent about your voting rights! My husband and I have similar views and intensity when it comes to politics, but my parents had completely opposite views than the other (which lead to some interesting arguments at home when I was growing up). I do vote. But here in Chicago the Democratic Machine is VERY much in play, so I feel like my vote doesn’t really matter anyways. Sad.
My parents had way different views, too. I agree, it was interesting to watch. And I sometimes wonder if it’s part of the reason they divorced. (Kidding…sort of.) I really admire couples who have strong but different views and make it work.
Chicago is strongly democratic, but I thought Illinois was a swing state. Am I way off base? Our votes go towards Texas, which is always republican. The local elections however, are usually a good mix, at least where we are from.*
Um no, political differences didn’t lead to the divorce although I will say your Dad is wrong-headed when it comes to politics! We always had political discussions when I was growing up, and Grandma Furey would never say who she voted for either. Always made more interesting by the fact that Grandpa couldn’t vote (Canadian Citizen) but had no problem whatsoever voicing his opinion on things: ‘I pay taxes don’t I?’ is what he would say if we pointed that out to him.
I don’t talk about politics at work, and I don’t want to see your favorite candidate on Facebook either. I was on the fence for a while, but my mind is made up at this point & I’m ready for the election! I do enjoy going to the polling place and standing in line and exercising my right to vote – it reminds me of how lucky I am to live in this country.
I liked that you and dad had different political views. It made it so that I didn’t just hear one side of things, and I felt like I could make my mind up for myself when it comes to politics. Interesting though that all 3 of us kids vote the same way you do.
I don’t really think the divorce was related to different political beliefs, but I think it can be hard when both people feel very strongly about politics and vote differently. I’m so thankful that I managed to mostly convert Stephen to my side.
It’s so much easier when he agrees with me!*
Show your patriotism with this My Vote Counts election sticker! Not only a fashion statement, the My Vote Counts sticker reminds family, friends and co-workers to vote their voice as well. Election offices throughout the United States distribute My Vote Counts stickers as voters exit the polling site in addition to sending stickers with absentee mail-in ballots. Local schools, unions, and universities also love these stickers for their own elections.