It's Election Day in the U.S.
Here in Tennessee, we have early voting, which means we can vote for about two weeks leading up to Election Day. I would guess I have not voted on Election Day in 15 years.
While I don't get nearly as emotional over politics as I used to, I still have great interest in the political process and have a sense of excitement today.
Here is my column that ran yesterday:
4 comments:
This year is the first that I voted early when I was in town on Election Day (other years, I've voted early, but always because I was away). There's just too much going on and I certainly wanted to vote. Let's see how this comes out. I touched on the election in my last sermon--but like you did not say who I voted for.
Iowa doesn't have early voting but we do have no excuse absentee voting which is similar in that we can vote but it has to be done with a mail in ballot and not at a voting machine. I cast my ballot three weeks ago that way, the first time I have not voted in person on election day since I was in college.
I agree with all of your sentiments in your article although I don't think we are any more divided than we were say 100 years ago in the Harding - Cox election. We have always been a divided nation politically but for me, I think that is what sets us a part. I look forward to having the balance of power swing back and forth because it ensures somewhat balanced legislation in the long run. A recent example is the ACA bill which was very lopsided when it was passed but had some of the lop sided-ness taken out with the next administration and will possibly yet change again with the recent Supreme Court rebalancing. Ten years from now we may have something that is somewhat appealing to both parties and we will be focusing on whatever else it the hot topic issue of the year.
I will probably stay up as is my tradition and watch a lot of the results come in though I am not optimistic that I will see a winner declared tonight or even tomorrow. I ended up voting third party yet again so I do know that whomever wins, I will not have voted for them. But I will be able to sleep soundly with my decision. I have already for the last three weeks. I will also support whomever wins and hope that perhaps some useful legislation will come out of their administration and it isn't just revenge legislation as has been the trend the last few "current occupants".
You have a good outlook, Ed. To clarify a bit, while I agree we’re probably no more divided than ever with regard to candidates we support, issues we are concerned about, etc. (and I agree that diversity is a good thing), there have been times in history when the nation as a whole has put differences aside and at least superficially demonstrated a sense of unity. The most recent example would be 9/11/2001. I think the pandemic could have provided an opportunity for the same thing, and for the first few weeks, there was perhaps a sense of that. But it soon became a divisive political weapon and I lay blame for that at the feet of the current administration. And if Trump loses, I believe that will be the main reason.
My husband and I were just talking last night about how long we'd been taking advantage of early voting. I think it began in AR in the mid 90s and I'm not sure I've been to my actual polling location since then. Our polling place has moved farther out of town than where we use to vote, so it's more convenient to use the location in town during the early voting period.
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