Absent Yet Present

[xakara]

If the turnout for early voting is any indication, I have high hopes for New Mexico and the rest of the country. It took us just under two hours to wind our way through line and cast our "In Person Absentee Ballots". Early voting venues have been open since the tenth with several more having opened on the eighteenth. Each day they've been busy with people anxious to have their voices heard.

There are signs up that mandated no campaigning within in 1000 feet of the voting venue so conversation in line was limited to the issues and the weather. It was strange to have so many people all in one place for the same thing and not a single mention of a candidate by name. But at least that meant no arguments to contend with. (I freely admit to the desperate need to shout out "so, who is everyone voting for", but I was fortunately able to refrain).

Along with the ongoing turnout at the venues and the 280k ballots mailed in so far for the county, I'm impressed at how informed everyone in line appeared. The issues of employment, global economics, LGBT rights, and voting itself were banded about. The only thing that never came up was the war despite several veterans in line speaking about the retired benefits plans. 

Perhaps it's just the energy of the election as a whole. Or perhaps I've just avoided enough political ads and news to still be optimistic, but there was an incredibly positive vibe to the entire process. No matter which candidate was the favorite, everyone felt incredibly supported by being out in force with others who found it important to vote. It cost nothing for me to hope the same vibes grips the country as election day draws near and our nation changes one way or another for the four years to come.

Happy Thursday, Happy Voting, and Happy Hoping (to those watching our country from the outside with their fingers crossed)

Absentee Ramble Done

~X

Comments

[lisaquestions.livejournal.com]

I love this. I wonder how much this race has done to mobilize voters.

[(Anonymous)]

I am very hopeful too. And I can hardly wait to go vote! I have never in my 45 years seen a race that has so moved Americans. I haven't seen much of the ads and such, but I just hear so many people talking, thinking and debating in a positive manner. It is amazing.

Vix
http://vixensden.com