Thoughts from a First-Time Absentee Voter
Oct 11, 2020
On the morning of my 18th birthday, I walked into the office at my high school and registered to vote.
I have voted in every primary and general election since that time. In fact, save for a recent school board election that I wasn’t aware was happening on a random Tuesday at the beginning of September, I don’t know that I’ve missed voting in an election since law school.
Voting has always been important to me. A valued right. A sacred privilege. An honor, really.
To me, free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. They are a given. My right to vote is not questioned because I am a white woman registered in an affluent district. Despite the promise of the right to vote, I realize not everyone in this country enjoys such a privilege. And because of that, I view voting as a duty. It is a given. It is something that I do without question.
For as many years I can remember, I would vote first thing in the morning because the polling place was on my way to work. I could generally judge voter turnout by how many people were in line to vote when I arrived. When it was my turn, I’d hand my driver’s license to the poll worker and sign my name on the line next to my printed name and address. Then, I’d be handed a ballot and directed to a private cardboard voting booth. With a black pen in hand, I’d cast my vote by carefully marking the oval by my chosen candidate’s name. After slipping the completed ballot into the privacy folder, I’d feed it through the tabulation machine. The poll worker would declare: “Laurie Reynoldson has voted!” and hand me an “I VOTED” sticker. I affixed the sticker on my jacket, and wore it proudly all day.
And that same scenario played out every year on Election Day. That is, until this year.
This week, I cast my ballot for the general election by absentee ballot.
I deposited my signed and sealed ballot in a drop-box at the County Elections office. I smiled when I saw the basket full of “I VOTED” stickers next to the drop-box.
I wouldn’t have missed voting in this election for any reason. There is so much at stake this year. I know that each presidential election is billed as the most important of our lifetime, but this one actually lives up to the hype. This one feels different. This one is important.
While I will miss the ceremony of voting in person on Election Day, I am relieved to have voted early. It means that I can tune out the campaign negativity and the political divisiveness for the next several weeks. I will not watch another debate during this campaign. I do not need to answer any questions when I receive campaign calls. I will not follow the polling numbers or listen to prognosticators about which candidate is leading by how many points in which swing states.
Whether you choose to vote by mail or vote in person, I urge you to make a plan to vote. To exercise your right. To cast your ballot to elect the next President of the United States.
Even if your perfect candidate is not on the ballot.
You don’t have to agree with a candidate on every issue to vote for him. This is an election; not a marriage. You’ll get the chance to vote again in another four years. Pick the candidate who most closely reflects your own values, regardless of the letter behind his name.
This is not the time to “sit this one out.” This election is an important one. Indeed, this election is the most important in our lifetime. Make a plan to vote, and then vote like your life – and the lives of so many others around you – depends on it.
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