While indulging, I am researching candidates for circuit and county judges. I have my mail-in-ballot for the Florida Democratic primary sitting on my desk, and I am trying to figure out some of the more arcane choices so I can finish up and mail it in. Florida's primary August 28.
I'm fairly certain who I will vote for as Governor, positive about Commissioner of Agriculture, and struggling with Attorney General. I love my U.S. Congresswoman, so will definitely be voting for her again. The judicial candidates and the school board elections are the tough ones for me, there is not nearly enough information available.
Florida has had Republican rule for 20 years. During that time they've controlled the Governorship, the State House and the State Senate. The Democrats got sloppy as a result, and became less effective at choosing and pushing good, competitive candidates...until now. We have a wealth of great candidates, many of them new. The Democratic party is being transformed by progressives entering the arena. Big changes are coming in Florida in November, unless Voldemort tampers with our elections from afar. It seems they are already trying. Shame on them!
And that, my friends, is why I am voting by mail. I want a copy of what I did.
Thank you for being a good example. You are researching your candidates instead of just voting for a person who looks good or someone else likes. Most of all I am glad you vote. It is an important responsibility.
ReplyDeleteIt is. With the internet it doesn't take much time to research, either. Almost all candidates for any race have a web page and/or a Facebook page with their issues and platform listed.
DeleteI have great hopes for you all. Europe will benefit from you being the wave.
ReplyDeleteMy husband baked an excellent pizza today while I did absolutely nothing.
I'm so happy to hear you have a husband who makes pizza!!! I'm making pizza tonight, too. I can hardly wait.
DeleteGood for you! I wish more of our eligible voters were like you. If they were we wouldn't be in our current mess!
ReplyDeleteHey - the pie was made with South Carolina peaches. yum.
DeleteIf you don't vote, you don't count. My stock reply, properly modulated.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, peaches.
When I lived up north we favored Pennsylvania peaches. Now we look for Georgia or South Carolina. I love this big, sloppy, crazy country.
DeleteI am of the age that I have no qualms with eating dessert first and wonder why I didn’t do it earlier.
ReplyDeleteOur elections were in May. It was only for local positions but those are what affect my life the most. The turnout was better than usual and I was impressed. People are realizing how important there votes are. I do worry very much about the November elections, though, and them being hacked in some way.
The problem, of course, is that our present administration benefits from outside interference so they are disinclined to follow the letter of the law.
DeleteIt's peach season here, which seems crazy given the bleak foggy weather we have in summer. Our neighbor gave us a peach from her yard. Yum! We slice peaches and put them on our morning toast. Yum! Good work checking out all the candidates. Yes, to paper ballots and copies. Absolutely necessary in this age of hacking.
ReplyDeleteIt may be the only way to ensure a fair election. Sliced peaches on toast sounds great.
DeleteI'd been living in the US for six months and the phone rang. This was still a novelty. In London at the time (1966) it took about six months to get one installed and I'd gone without. A tentative female voice asked if she could rely on me to support the Republicans.
ReplyDelete"Alas," I said, "I am not enfranchised."
(Using polysyllabics rather than grunts seemed to pay off. People listened more attentively.)
There was a long silence and this time the voice was even more tentative: "Is that like being a Democrat?"
Soon after I had a similar call. Another woman, this time speaking more warmly. I was less cruel. "I'm sorry I don't have the vote."
"Wha - a - at! You pay your taxes don't you?"
I admitted I did.
She said, "I'm going to raise this with someone."
I was touched by her generosity towards me. "It's no use. I'm an alien."
"Oh no, don't say that. Things can't be that bad."
PS: I wasn't GOP anyway. Thought you needed to know.
Hilarious!
DeleteBravo for voting! I hope you're right about changes sweeping Florida. I'm concerned about Bill Nelson in the general election. I LOVE peach pie and I haven't had it in years and years. Good peaches are hard to find!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO concerned about Bill Nelson, he's a terrific senator for Florida. And his opponent has been an awful Governor for everyone except the very rich (and big sugar).
DeleteWhen I hear of people who think their votes don't count, I always use the line "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."
ReplyDeleteNY has one of the most restrictive voting processes - must register early, no early voting, must show up to a specific polling place, etc. I am very interested in how mail in voting works. Do you have to request a ballot or are you automatically sent one?
You have to request one. We also have early voting which started this week in advance of the August 28th primary.
DeleteThe primary was in March. The general election is in November. There is still a small window to do a mail in ballot (have to get my application in soon).
ReplyDeleteIn Florida our primary is August 28. Ridiculously late.
DeleteIndeed.
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