I voted.

I live in the State of Oregon where we vote by mail. This means, when our ballots are mailed about three to four weeks in advance, voters can choose to vote much sooner than the actual election date.

In the past, my husband and I have chosen to wait for the last minute to complete the ballot and we like to turn in our ballots at a ballot box in person. Not this year. This year is different for me.

This year I completed the ballot the day I received it. I already had months of time for research. Without hesitation I opened my ballot, completed it, and put it back in the sealed privacy envelope. The anticipation, the campaigning, and the aggressive dialogue about candidates and ballot measures has simply gone on too long.

I’ve reached my limit. So I voted.

My ideal candidates didn’t all make it past the primaries. But, I chose my candidates who are running in the general election. And I voted for them.

No regrets. Cause I voted.

The next President is going to have a lot of power to appoint Supreme Court Justices. The Supreme Court has a lot to uphold, hear, or change in the coming years. What they do matters. It matters too much to ignore.

So I voted.

The campaigners don’t need to continue to come to my door nearly every evening and every weekend. I already voted.

I don’t need to listen to the commercials or read the advertisements for candidates or measures. I don’t want to hear anymore. So I voted.

I don’t need to engage in, or take personally, debates about how to vote. Cause I already voted.

I don’t need to listen to the name calling of all the candidates. And name calling by the candidates. Doesn’t matter.

I already voted.

I don’t want to live in two camps anymore. The “not him” and the “not her” camps. I’m only living in the “already voted”- waiting for the outcome, camp. 

I also will never live in the “I choose not to vote” camp. It means I no longer speak up in a crowded room about my choices to represent the core of my beliefs.

No more debates. No more hateful accusations and outrageous statements. I don’t want to hear them. Doesn’t matter, I already voted.

I shall not be reminded of feelings of inadequacy when I tried to rationalize or minimize my own sexual assault cause I wasn’t “pretty enough”. I don’t want to hear someone, anyone, advocate a person’s worthiness for sexual assault. No.
I voted.

I don’t want to stare blankly, years from now, when my nieces and nephews ask what I did during the infamous 2016 election year. I want to stand proudly, tell them every vote counts, which is why – I voted.

Too much is at stake to sit this one out. Ballot measures and local politicians have lasting impacts too. So I voted.
I no longer wish to see political statements on my social media. I don’t want to see arguments made that make my blood boil or that cause me to shake with frustration and sadness. So I voted.

I choose not to listen to racist, sexist, or prejudiced statements made by others that are hidden behind the veil of political discourse. I choose to no longer be saddened by friends or loved ones who share shocking views that are beyond my ability to comprehend or understand.

I choose to make my statement through my vote. I hope they vote too.

I’m done with this political season. I’ve had enough. I cannot listen anymore to hatred, to misunderstanding, or to rumors and gossip. I had my say – I voted.

Because the only way, and the only avenue I have to make a statement and to make sure my voice is heard, is to vote. It is my right, it is my honor, and it is my duty.

So I voted.

 

(I should note, that my husband is still waiting election day to vote. He still chooses to listen to the news and to the media. So while I say I am done, I will still hear every last word which will only enhance my appreciation that I already voted).