So I guess as Americans, it's our duty to like, vote? Or something?
I never exercised this civic duty before, so I was completely surprised at how totally difficult and time-consuming the process was.
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Let's start with where it all began for me: receiving my sample ballot in the mail. That packet was way too thick and contained way too many words. It took me 20 minutes to get through the whole thing, mark who I was going to vote for, and think about how I would answer the FIVE ballot measures. I could have watched half an episode of Orange is the New Black in that time frame! How time-consuming.
Then, I had to Google to find out where I could early vote. There were at least 10 polling stations near me which was way too many choices. After losing 60 (very important) seconds of my life trying to choose, I was finally able to decide where to go.
Then, I had to drive there. Yeah, you read that right. I had to spend approximately 75 cents of gas to drive a whole four miles to my local mall. As I stood in line, the signs of all of my favorite stores seemed to call my name. I yearned to smell the pumpkin spice candle of the nearby Bath and Body Works, and the sweet aroma of new clothes in American Eagle. Not to mention, they were BOTH having a sale. What if I had to wait in this early voting line for such a long time that I missed out on my favorite candles (which were on sale for $12), or my favorite jeans (that were buy one get one 50 percent off)? This thought seemed to haunt me as each 30-second increment passed.
After an excruciating 10 minutes just standing there, it was my turn. Any longer and I was ready to make a run for it to the nearest Auntie Anne's.
I walked into the dingy voting station that was eerily reminiscent of my ninth grade health class in a portable room. This ran shivers down my spine and reminded me of a very dark time in my life where I thought it was cool to wear Uggs in the summer and carry a tiny Coach purse, even though I already carried an overstuffed backpack to school everyday. Not cute.
I got this quickly out of my mind, because I knew I had come too far to turn back on fulfilling my duty now. It was time to finally cast my vote on some weird, touchscreen computer thing. Which probably doesn't even matter anyway, because it's just one vote.
"Just one vote."
Isn't everyone's vote "just one vote?" Joking and sarcasm aside now, I really do urge every single person reading this to drive a few miles, stand in line for a few minutes and get your "one vote" out there. Because 30 minutes of your time before early voting ends means more than you know. If you haven't gotten out there and made your voice heard at the polls yet, you must know that time is running out. It is not only your civic duty as an American, but also a right that people of many other countries are not granted. Your Netflix and shopping can wait a few minutes, I promise.
It is much too easy of a process and much too crucial of a process, to not take part in. No matter who you stand with or what you believe in, go out and vote. It's that simple. The country — and frankly, the world — depends on it. Early voting ends Nov. 4. Click here to see where you can vote early, and read more information on the voting process.
