I voted this morning. Every presidential election, it’s crowded. Primaries? Not so much.
I declared myself a Democrat, again, must to my own frustration. Not that I don’t like being a Democrat, but … I don’t like being a Democrat. I’d rather be Libertarian, but it’s like pissing your vote away. I suspect one year I’ll go Republican and vote to get the more moderate Elephant on the November ballot.
I do want to point out something, though. This year my signature was challenged. And yeah, it was my scrawl instead of my pretty name, and the Voter Ticket had the pretty name, but … the signature was not the same. Shit. It took us about 15 minutes to sort it out, with the Republican Officer following the rules (and I kept assuring her I understood and supported it) and the old Democrat (seriously, he was 80) saying I’d obviously scrawled it, but he knew me.
After they relented, let me sign again, and gave me my ballot, the Libertarian (who lamented with me about Libertarians and Greens), read aloud from the booklet that they had the right to refuse. Everyone was surprised about it, and I asked if I should tear up my ballot. They let me submit it, chided me, and I pointed out that they were doing their job and I not only understood but supported them in their right to challenge my signature.
“We’re practicing Democracy. I’m just glad y’all had me, who thinks this is a good thing, instead of someone who’s going to get pissy and quit voting.”
They agreed I was a good sport about it, and the female Democrat joked ‘This is how the dead vote!’
I suspect the Republican was irritated, but I did keep telling her I was cool with it all, and I understood and blah blah.
It was funny, though. And I was glad they called me on it.