Vote by Mail

New thing, voted by mail.

I registered to vote by mail at the last election. I figured I wasn't very good at going to the polls, and voting by mail just seems easier. You have more time to think about your choices, research them independently online, and there's no time pressure to finish so someone else can vote. You just vote, yourself.

It was fairly easy and painless. I didn't know much about the issues, and I didn't research them very well. I know my vote is supposed to be essential and important, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really feel like it. I'm really disillusioned with government and politics. There are probably more things right than wrong, but these days, I don't know. Healthcare, taxes, laws, etc. My vote feels like a drop in the ocean.

I just took a superficial glance at the candidates and issues, and picked one. Perhaps my picks were completely unbiased because I had no prior influence or sway to vote one way or the other. I took a look at what was in front of me, and voted.

The system, probably needs an upgrade. It's a shame that, most voters are completely uninformed, and base most of their votes on ridiculous ads. Some watch skewed TV news or talk shows that influence voters one way or another. Some use their heads and read things on their own and try to look at all the issues, and come up with their own answers. I hope I'm the latter.

Anyway I was eager to vote because, if you don't return your ballot/vote 2 elections in a row, they force you to go back to the polls. I think that's odd. Oh well, I suppose there are good reasons for that. Anyway this is a nice preferred method of voting. It's just a shame you have to do it in advance. Now that I've done it the first time, I'll probably pay more attention at the next election. I'll research the issues and initiatives and candidates ahead of time, and do some research at home before I fill in my bubble.