Election stress

[petrea_mitchell]

If you want to be nervous about world politics all the time, just join some communities that have members all over the world!

So for instance I was watching the Alberta referendum because I know a number of Canadians through science fiction fandom. Then a prominent member of my favorite anime Discord, who's in Brazil, confessed that he was depressed and strung out over the impending elections there, so several of us outside Brazil kept an eye on the results with him (staying up very late, in some time zones). And then, I don't think I know any actual Israeli citizens, but I do know a few people who know people there and care a great deal about the eventual outcome of the Israeli election.

And then, next Tuesday, it's our turn here. Except of course it isn't the same; what happens in the US affects the whole world, so the rest of you have to pay attention to our election.

Anyway, I have done my bit and dropped off my ballot over a week ago. I live in the state that got rid of polling places almost 30 years ago. It's very convenient for voting, but it means having nothing to actually do on Election Day unless you're dropping off your ballot at the last minute. If the weather is halfway decent I'll probably go to the zoo or something.

Comments

[athenais]

I was sorry when San Mateo County did away with in-person voting a few years back (10 maybe?). I loved walking a few blocks to the Baptist Church's gymnasium and telling one of my neighbors my name and address so they could mark me approved to vote. Using each year's voting machine sometimes was a challenge, but still, it was fun to feed the ballot in when I was done and go get my "I Voted" sticker.

Now we walk a similar route to City Hall where we drop off our mail-in ballots. Less of a sense of Americana for sure.