I Touched The Future
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2004 9:36 PM
Today I voted so I am watching the political hoopla and spin purely for sport not the false hope that I may actually be informed. My absentee ballot never arrived so I had to vote at the registrar today because there is no way I'm making it to my polling place on Tuesday.

It was an interesting experience, voting on a Sunday. I went to the Alameda County Courthouse in downtown Oakland where the most fantastically devious set-up was in play. The voting booths (electronic, thank you) and registrar windows were in the basement so when you walked into the courthouse, you didn't see the gazillion people standing in the very long line that spanned much of the length of the courthouse. By the time you got to the end, you pretty much felt like you had committed to the act. I actually felt quite good—an awful lot of people were willing to wait for half an hour or more to vote.

As a general strategy to make voting appealing, it was lousy though. If you don't think voting is that big a deal, you're not standing in a long line to do it, especially when the process itself will actually take only five to ten minutes, you don't really get any great memories or stories, and the only tangible thing you get is a sticker. Though, by the way, the sticker I got was pretty awesome. Not that old-fashioned "I Voted" dealie.

Some "highlights": The cutest couple was in front of me and had to borrow my pen. I almost forgot to vote for U.S. Senator because I was a little too enthusiastic after voting for President. Everyone at the registrar was nice and friendly, especially the big guy who kept going up and down the line telling us "You better have filled out your card. I'm not going to let you get to the window and waste everyone's time filling out your card at the window!"

The best moment: A mom, dad, and a little boy, probably five years old, were walking out at about the same time I was decided they didn't have enough time to wait to vote. The dad said, "I guess I'll take my chances on Tuesday." The mom said, "I'll vote before work on Tuesday." Then the little kid said, "I'll vote after school on Tuesday." Total "awww" moment. I hope he holds on to that for at least another thirteen years.

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