Could It Really Be So Bad?

Among the things that I didn’t do last night was vote. I know, I know, please don’t yell at me, but let me explain.

In the still single digit years since I have been eligible to vote, I have voted in maybe 4 or 5 federal, provincial or municipal elections and I have come to the conclusion about every single one of them…they are boring.

I am not talking about the leaders nor the campaigning, I am talking about the actual voting process. Here is the story:

Not too long after my 18th birthday, a federal election was called. Excited to be voting in my first election, I prepared. I watched debates, I researched the various parties stance on my issues, I registered to vote and as I entered the elementary school with voter’s card in hand, I felt a surge of pride and duty.

But that is where it ended. We waited in a pretty long line for a while and we finally were given our ballots, and our small golf pencil. With head held high, I walked to the cardboard partition, sat down and studied the ballot.

Now, I know I wasn’t back there for more than 30 seconds when some older gentleman came up to me and ask if I “was done yet.” I quickly filled in my ballot, and went to ceremoniously place it in the ballot box.

My photo opp moment was cut short when one of the voting volunteers said to me, “You are going to have to be a lot quicker than this, we do have a long line to get through.” And then said, “You didn’t bring your pencil back! Hurry up and go get it.”

I raced back to get my pencil and then quickly out of the building embarrassed and disappointed. There were no hanging chads, there was no elaborate voting machine, there was no pomp and circumstance. There was basically just old people yelling at me.

I often wonder of others of my generation have had similar experience. Is this why voter apathy is so rampant? Why not make voting flashier and exciting? What about funny pencils to vote with, voting mascots, free balloons and hot dogs for voters.

Maybe it is important to vote out of civil duty, but would it hurt if you could win prizes?

Looking forward to doing up the next election in style.

March is not starting out with much a bang. I have now lived with my dear Jenny for a year. Although, it does, some days feel as if I have lived with her forever. We really have done a lot in the past year or at least run the gamut of emotions with each other. Here’s to another great year, wherever that might take place.

Although it is only Tuesday, I am already, maybe looking forward to the weekend.

I’m officially taking it down a notch.

Lots of love.