As Steve and I made our way into our polling place this morning, I noticed that we weren’t the only ones to show up with our Sample Ballots in hand. This got me thinking. What does that really say about us as voters? I’d like to think that it shows we are conscientious, that we take the time before Election Day (even if sometimes it is the night before) to do a little research into the candidates and issues on the ballot and come prepared to vote.
This may be true, but it doesn’t actually answer the question of why we bring our Sample Ballots with us to the polls. Why do I have to watch election results with said Sample Ballot in hand so I can determine if the candidate or issue I voted for is winning? We bring them because, apparently, we can’t remember how we feel about certain issues and candidates for more than 5 minutes. Is this because:
A) It was a primary election in which all of our choices were in the same party, had the same views on all of the issues, and were basically the same person?
B) None of the candidates stand out in a field of their peers? All of the candidates are cut from the same homogenous mold and, as Neil Young, says we are looking for a leader who we just can’t seem to find?
C) As Americans we have the attention span of a gnat?
Sometimes, the ballot has 10 or more propostions to vote on and, often, they are versions of the same issue. In these cases, cases in which one intent of a proposition’s efforts is to confuse voters, it only makes sense to have clear notes at the ballot box. And certainly when the November election comes I won’t need to reference any stinking Sample Ballot for at least one office. Considering some of the names I’ve heard from the other side, it almost doesn’t matter who fills the other slot, the choice will be abundantly clear for me.
But right now I still find myself wondering who I voted for today.
I brought my sample to vote too – but I still don’t remember who I voted for with some of the more local elections. Sadly, I picked them mostly based on gender. Sigh.