I never understand people who think they are above voting or shouldn't have an opinion on what goes on in this country.
Especially women. Other women died to win you the right to vote.
Read up on your candidates. Get to the polls. Let's do this damn thing.
As for me? I haven't missed an election in 20 years. They will be rolling my cold, almost dead body up to the polls to vote. I won't ever let the right go to waste.
I'm embarrassed to say that I'm registered, but, have never actually voted. I absolutely know how horrible that is. My only defense is that I just get so frustrated with politics in general that sometimes I feel like it's a hopeless cause and nothing anyone does is going to matter. I know that's a terrible mindset. :/
Right on. I have never missed and election. I even voted by absentee ballot for President when I was on my honeymoon about 85 years ago. I think FDR won that year:)
Amen, Holler!!! On my way in a few- after taking this BooBoo puppy out a zillion times and puppy proofing cabinets with rubber bands. I still have visions of Gussie tearing your kitchen apart!! God Bless America! Land of the Free! Home of the Brave! #AmericatheBeautiful I just gave my own self chills. Love, Your MOMMA
This is such a good point! I've been neglecting my duties (mostly out of laziness), but you're absolutely right, and I need to educate myself and get my ass to the polls.
EXACTLY! My biggest pet peeve is the overwhelming mindset of "I'm one vote. I won't make a difference." Minus the fact that when that's a common mindset that DOES make a difference. And it's often certain demographics that haven't had much say so it makes certain parties even happier that you don't vote and fall into that mindset. VOTING IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. The little guys are the ones who make a bigger difference too, because you may like a President but he can't get anything done that you voted for if you don't vote for the smaller parties that impact their ability.
I am absolutely disgusted by politics and I've been known to say "I don't get involved in politics" in that I don't want to waste my time with people who just want to argue. But I will always vote (except last year, I think I forgot to vote last year for something...I don't really know what it was that we were voting for last year so I don't feel too bad about missing it). Thank you for reminding us how important it is as women to vote!
good for you, Steph!!!! And bravo!!! I am voting in California for the first time ever which has been funny since so many of the political ads on the tv the last month have now been celebrities. I'm used to ranchers or suburban moms on my screen!
(also, reading these little snippets in your post makes me eye roll even harder at the "anti-feminist" movement. Oh okay, you're right- we shouldn't have so much choice in what we are allowed to do!
Honestly, I don't even know if we're having local elections today. I haven't seen anything for polling places, gotten anything in the mail, or heard a single commercial. The husband and I usually discuss who we're voting for and there has been none of that. Maybe my obliviousness has gone to a new level but I don't think so because when I can vote, I vote. You can't complain if you don't vote. That's my rule.
LOVE this! I will never understand why so many people (men and women) are so laxidasical when it comes to voting. Yet those same people are usually the ones complaining about how everything is run :-P
WORD! One of the saddest parts of totaling my cars was losing the little collection of "I voted!" stickers that I had accumulated on the dash over the past decade.
I remember seeing a video from someone who traveled to India a few years ago during an election (Maybe it was an Anthony Bourdain show? Whatev.) and all of these 12-16-ish year old kids were gathered around talking about the issues being voted on super passionately. The camera person asked if any of them were old enough to vote - NOPE. But they knew their stuff!
(My BFF Rachel Maddow is hosting a forum w. the Dem pres candidates on Friday! EXCITED.)
My husband and I met up this afternoon to vote. It was actually nice to chat while we were waiting on line. It's hard to imagine not being able to vote. I'm glad I don't have to live in a society where I don't get a voice in an election!
I am not sure we had local elections today? I haven't heard a word or seen anything about polling places or nothing. I do usually vote though! I used to not care when I was in my early 20's. Thought that my vote didn't count. But then around my mid twenties I decided that I should vote simply because I can and that wasn't always an option for us!!!
My husband and I share some very similar views on the major things, and man does he get in to some debates with his dad! It is fun to watch them!
YES. I cannot stand when people don't vote, ESPECIALLY when they use the excuse, "well, I just don't love any of the candidates." NO. Do your freaking research and vote for what you believe in. Also, if you don't, you forfeit the right to ever speak or complain about any political issue ever again.
I truly agree with you (really, I do), but as I am an Alaska resident and I know very little of Alaska politics right now, non-presidential-voting years aren't going to be at the top of my to-do list. It's not about going to the polls..it's the whole becoming informed when you living thousands of miles away, filling out the ballot early, sending it in, etc. Growing up, we lived across the street from the polling place and I always went with my parents, and then when I turned 18. Since we moved out of Alaska, I haven't really been voting because of the non-resident thing.
PREACH. Thank you so much for this post. I, obviously, agree completely. People who wear their disinterest in politics like a badge of honor make me cringe. Listen, you don't have to know the names of all the Romney boys or where Bernie summers, but to live in a country where YOU HAVE A SAY in what happens to you and the people you love, especially those who are marginalized by default, and to take pride in the fact that you do nothing to ensure their safety (and your own) and security and freedoms as an American, is nothing to be bragging about. I borderline bully people into researching the current candidates whenever an election is looming and that's one obnoxious thing I do that I'm not even remotely sorry about. Be a good citizen, neighbor, friend, lover, brother, sister, whatever. Educate yourself, and vote. Period. Thanks for doing so today.
I wish I was old enough to actually go to the polls to vote! I went once with my high school boyfriend, but by the time I turned 18, we did mail-in ballots. One of my oldest friends doesn't give a crap about learning anything that's going on in the world and it infuriates me. I've talked to her over and over and over and it does nothing. She's small-minded and I'm not, so I have to compartmentalize our friendship in a major way.
I've never missed either. I voted on my lunch hour and I was only number 79 at my precinct. I thought more people would've gone by then! Matt went after work and he was in the 200s but it makes me so sad to see the voter turnout statistics.
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Preach, sistah, preach! VOTE VOTE VOTE!
ReplyDeleteAmen, my friend.
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes - vote!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteYes! Vote like your life depends on it, because it does! Do it out of respect for those who fought so hard so we could. Just do it. Well said, Steph!
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed to say that I'm registered, but, have never actually voted. I absolutely know how horrible that is. My only defense is that I just get so frustrated with politics in general that sometimes I feel like it's a hopeless cause and nothing anyone does is going to matter. I know that's a terrible mindset. :/
ReplyDeleteRight on. I have never missed and election. I even voted by absentee ballot for President when I was on my honeymoon about 85 years ago. I think FDR won that year:)
ReplyDeleteAmen, Holler!!! On my way in a few- after taking this BooBoo puppy out a zillion times and puppy proofing cabinets with rubber bands. I still have visions of Gussie tearing your kitchen apart!!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless America! Land of the Free! Home of the Brave! #AmericatheBeautiful
I just gave my own self chills.
Love, Your MOMMA
Vote411.org is everyone's friend. Off to vote. We have a billion dollar bond election on the ballot for school improvements.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good point! I've been neglecting my duties (mostly out of laziness), but you're absolutely right, and I need to educate myself and get my ass to the polls.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed.
ReplyDeletepreach. wish I could vote!
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY! My biggest pet peeve is the overwhelming mindset of "I'm one vote. I won't make a difference." Minus the fact that when that's a common mindset that DOES make a difference. And it's often certain demographics that haven't had much say so it makes certain parties even happier that you don't vote and fall into that mindset. VOTING IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. The little guys are the ones who make a bigger difference too, because you may like a President but he can't get anything done that you voted for if you don't vote for the smaller parties that impact their ability.
ReplyDeleteMy parents raised us to vote - I'll never forget them dragging me to the polls so we could see they did it. It stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteAMEN! And I'm in Chicago, our motto is 'vote early, vote often' ;)
ReplyDeletethis is so great and 100% true. thank you so much for reminding us all why it's so important!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely disgusted by politics and I've been known to say "I don't get involved in politics" in that I don't want to waste my time with people who just want to argue. But I will always vote (except last year, I think I forgot to vote last year for something...I don't really know what it was that we were voting for last year so I don't feel too bad about missing it). Thank you for reminding us how important it is as women to vote!
ReplyDeleteAmen girl! I was so confused because we don't vote in my town today but I do vote when it is time.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I'll proudly put that sticker on later today!
ReplyDeletePREACH.IT.
ReplyDeletegood for you, Steph!!!! And bravo!!! I am voting in California for the first time ever which has been funny since so many of the political ads on the tv the last month have now been celebrities. I'm used to ranchers or suburban moms on my screen!
ReplyDelete(also, reading these little snippets in your post makes me eye roll even harder at the "anti-feminist" movement. Oh okay, you're right- we shouldn't have so much choice in what we are allowed to do!
Who needs 2 parentheses when one will do!??! (slaps face)
DeleteHonestly, I don't even know if we're having local elections today. I haven't seen anything for polling places, gotten anything in the mail, or heard a single commercial. The husband and I usually discuss who we're voting for and there has been none of that. Maybe my obliviousness has gone to a new level but I don't think so because when I can vote, I vote. You can't complain if you don't vote. That's my rule.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this! I will never understand why so many people (men and women) are so laxidasical when it comes to voting. Yet those same people are usually the ones complaining about how everything is run :-P
ReplyDeleteLove this post, especially since Wendy Davis is in it! I voted at lunch today after getting a spray tan...feeling very American today.
ReplyDeleteWORD! One of the saddest parts of totaling my cars was losing the little collection of "I voted!" stickers that I had accumulated on the dash over the past decade.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a video from someone who traveled to India a few years ago during an election (Maybe it was an Anthony Bourdain show? Whatev.) and all of these 12-16-ish year old kids were gathered around talking about the issues being voted on super passionately. The camera person asked if any of them were old enough to vote - NOPE. But they knew their stuff!
(My BFF Rachel Maddow is hosting a forum w. the Dem pres candidates on Friday! EXCITED.)
My husband and I met up this afternoon to vote. It was actually nice to chat while we were waiting on line. It's hard to imagine not being able to vote. I'm glad I don't have to live in a society where I don't get a voice in an election!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure we had local elections today? I haven't heard a word or seen anything about polling places or nothing. I do usually vote though! I used to not care when I was in my early 20's. Thought that my vote didn't count. But then around my mid twenties I decided that I should vote simply because I can and that wasn't always an option for us!!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I share some very similar views on the major things, and man does he get in to some debates with his dad! It is fun to watch them!
YES. I cannot stand when people don't vote, ESPECIALLY when they use the excuse, "well, I just don't love any of the candidates." NO. Do your freaking research and vote for what you believe in. Also, if you don't, you forfeit the right to ever speak or complain about any political issue ever again.
ReplyDeleteI truly agree with you (really, I do), but as I am an Alaska resident and I know very little of Alaska politics right now, non-presidential-voting years aren't going to be at the top of my to-do list. It's not about going to the polls..it's the whole becoming informed when you living thousands of miles away, filling out the ballot early, sending it in, etc.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, we lived across the street from the polling place and I always went with my parents, and then when I turned 18. Since we moved out of Alaska, I haven't really been voting because of the non-resident thing.
PREACH.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post. I, obviously, agree completely. People who wear their disinterest in politics like a badge of honor make me cringe. Listen, you don't have to know the names of all the Romney boys or where Bernie summers, but to live in a country where YOU HAVE A SAY in what happens to you and the people you love, especially those who are marginalized by default, and to take pride in the fact that you do nothing to ensure their safety (and your own) and security and freedoms as an American, is nothing to be bragging about. I borderline bully people into researching the current candidates whenever an election is looming and that's one obnoxious thing I do that I'm not even remotely sorry about. Be a good citizen, neighbor, friend, lover, brother, sister, whatever. Educate yourself, and vote. Period.
Thanks for doing so today.
I wish I was old enough to actually go to the polls to vote! I went once with my high school boyfriend, but by the time I turned 18, we did mail-in ballots. One of my oldest friends doesn't give a crap about learning anything that's going on in the world and it infuriates me. I've talked to her over and over and over and it does nothing. She's small-minded and I'm not, so I have to compartmentalize our friendship in a major way.
ReplyDeleteI've never missed either. I voted on my lunch hour and I was only number 79 at my precinct. I thought more people would've gone by then! Matt went after work and he was in the 200s but it makes me so sad to see the voter turnout statistics.
ReplyDelete