Sherry Chandler

On the ritual of voting

Three postcards arrived in our mailbox yesterday, reminding residents of this house that we’re registered to vote in Millersburg #1 at Millersburg Community Park. Millersburg Community Park used to be the Millersburg Military Institute, long famed in this state as Mother’s Milkfed Idiots. MMI closed this year after more than 100 years of operation and so did the Millersburg Elementary School where we have voted for a decade or so, reading announcements on the school bulletin board while waiting for one another to vote. It’s a small precinct. I can’t really say I’ve ever waited in line.

So we will have to get used to a new place to vote, across the road from our old place to vote and a reminder that small towns continue to fade away. But at least we still go to the polls, still have that sense of community, still know that the poll workers will recognize us and we will not have to show i.d.

Out in Spokane, Terry of I See Invisible People has already cast her vote and she’s not completely happy with the experience:

I voted this morning.

Six months ago Spokane County adopted a vote by mail initiative. Now, rather than go to the polls, all registered voters receive an absentee ballot in the mail. I can see where it would save money, and would provide a paper trail missing from voting machines, but I just don’t like it. I miss all the little rituals that go with voting.

It’s a nice meditation on the significance of voting that I urge you to read. It has made me grateful for my early morning drive down to Millersburg.

Be sure to vote on November 7 and remember to appreciate your polling place and your poll workers.

Possibly related posts:

I cast my vote about 9 this morning.

I voted

Hacking Democracy

Protecting the Vote

Please vote

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