Barack Obama: President Elect

It's official. Barack Obama has been announced the president elect of the United States of America. This is a huge win for the middle class (aka most of us), and is the true beginning of the change we need to get our nation back in line with the rest of the modern world.

John McCain's supporters are still 'booing' the results, giving the lie to their 'middle-road' claims. This is okay. I truely believe that we are about to witness one of the greatest turn-arounds in American history, and in the end we'll be left with one of the most popular presidents in history.

The next few days will be crucial, revealing our ability or inability to work together for the greater good. I have the untmost confidence in the American public's ability to unite for the greater good, and the stronger we come together now, the better off we will be four (eight?) years from now.

For Republicans and Democrats (and Independents/3rd parties) alike, this is an incredible victory for real, hardworking families and individuals. Let's work together to grow this nation to it's full potential.

Election Day Problem

Okay, I, like many, always said "it can't happen to me!" I knew I wouldn't have any issues voting on election day. I knew about early voting, 'no questions asked' absentee ballots and all that wonderful election reform we're enjoying here in Colorado. For me, though, going to the poll on election day is the closest thing to a religious ritual I will experience, and it's only like this once every two years. I couldn't imagine deviating from the ritual, and so I decided not to vote early, in any way. We moved just before the beginning of October, so I was able to update my registration with my new address in plenty of time to receive my new voter registration card before election day. And so it was.

Now, a couple weeks ago, I received a mail-in ballot. I vividly recalled I was the only one in our house (my wife, her twin brothers, myself, and the menagerie) who did not check the mail-in ballot option on my voter registration update form. Now, it's possible that the person who took care of the registration process for me (who will remain unnamed to protect his/her identity) took the liberty to make the voting process easier for me. I'm not making any accusations, it could have easily been an error in the process of entering my information into the voter database. Either way, I got one. I decided I would still go to the polling place near my house on November 4, and I did. That's when they told me.

They said those two words no concerned voter wants to hear in the moment right before you step up to that (un?)reliable touch screen voting machine. PROVISIONAL BALLOT. I was astounded. This couldn't be happening, I thought. My vote needed to be counted. Today. So I said 'no.' I left, I waited in line, and then left. I filled out my ballot and took it back in. It's crazy, I know at least two people (I actually waited in the car while they filled out provisional ballots) who felt it was too much effort to go home (about a 6 minute drive from the church where we voted) and bring the mail-in ballot we received back.

Well, at least I voted. Now the only thing left is to wait for them to count. ::sigh::