I crawled out of my bed this morning, wishing that I'd spent the evening (and very early morning) out with friends and Jack Daniel's. That way, I would have a reason as to why I felt so crummy. As it was, I had turned in kind of early after finishing Kashyyyk in Knights of the Old Republic.1 and reading the latest print issue of National Review.
Turnout apparently was decent; in the bottom of the 8 o'clock hour there had been maybe 400 through my polling place. My precinct includes both white- and blue-collar residents, so the opportunity for early-morning voters is meaningful. I chatted with a couple of voters on the way in, and I conversed pleasantly with the Democratic and Republican canvassers. In my county, some of us are still Southerners and thus don't get our knickers in a twist like the Northeasterners over politics. Apparently, there were some constitutional amendments on the ballot, and I asked one of the canvassers what he thought of them. He responded that our local delegate thought they were acceptable, and that was enough for me. I know our local delegate, and he is a good man; I trust his word for I know him to be honorable. His word weighed heavily in my decision to vote 'yes' for both of Virginia's constitutional questions presented this year.2
After receiving copies of both the Republican and Democratic sample ballots---there's that Southern courtesy again---I ambled into the aging elementary school. I got given what looked to me to be a raffle ticket, and I briefly wondered if my door prize was going to be being stuck listening to Sean Hannity. Thankfully, there was no such issue.
Our voting machines probably pre-date my mother, but from what I understand, they're reliable and they're paid for. As far as I'm concerned, there need not be any further inquiry. Besides, the older they get, the harder they might be for someone to rig. The Republican sample ballot had operating instructions for the machine, but the Democratic sample ballot did not. Luckily, I was too busy staring at the instructions printed in large letters, and the kind fellow outside was eager to tell me how the thing worked. After a few seconds of trying to figure it out---I hadn't cast a live ballot since November 2000, due to being away at law school---I got finished and voted a straight Republican ticket.
This isn't an earth-shattering thing. I saw at least four known straight-ticket Democrats from the area, so my vote was overwhelmed in the liberal flood. Tee hee. At any rate, I saw a reporter, but I didn't figure out how I could get noticed in such a way as to be interviewed. Had I been, I would have said something about how my county didn't need any of those foreign election observers or any of those Democratic vote sniffers, because I was certain that the good people of my county would never engage in vote fraud, suppression, or anything else that would give Terry McAuliffe's hitmen ammunition. Speaking of which, I didn't see anyone hovering about as an election nuisance; if there's to be any cheating, it would be an inside job in this precinct.
Enh. I took my "I VOTED" sticker and meandered on out to face the rest of an uncertain and probably uneasy day. That being said, I love to vote. Intelligent exercise of the franchise is probably one of the most honorable things that a man can do in the Republic, and I am happier for doing it.
1 I'm playing as a "highway to hell" Dark Side soldier toting a Darth Maul-esque double-bladed lightsaber. Between Force lightning and a lot of other nifty evil powers, I can pretty much wade into any fight---the ravishing Bastila Shan at my side---and walk away the largely unscathed winner. Dark Saiiiiiiiiiiiide, baby.
That being said, I usually wind up killing the Wookiee who's dealing with the Czerka Corporation slavers; I'm either a noble upholder of the right of all to die beneath my jet black boots or I'm planning long range; after all, the Wookiees are necessary to build the first Death Star. Heh heh heh.
2 The first question had to do with the question of redistricting and its effect on our sitting legislators. The way I understand it, the decennial census & subsequent redistricting required by law takes place in late 2000/early 2001. We have our elections for governor and for the House of Delegates, Senate, and the like in that year. A yes vote would allow someone elected in 1999 to stay in office, representing the district they were elected by in 1999, through the 2001 election. If a sitting member died in office, then the term of office would be filled by someone chosen from the district that elected the member, not by whatever realigned district would come into effect.
The second question asked if Section 16 of Article V of the Constitution of Virginia should be amended to provide for a longer chain of succession to man the office of Governor in the event of an emergency or enemy attack and until the House of Delegates is able to meet and elect a Governor.
Posted by Country Pundit at November 2, 2004 11:31 AM