Civic Duty

Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I'll be disconnected today. Not from reality, although that might be nice, but from mass media.

It's Election Day, and I'm a poll judge.

So I'll be working the poll location, helping my fellow citizens to exercise their franchise. There can be no cell phones, no computers, no television, no radio at the poll location. There can be no indication of the results of the exit polls, in case the weak minded will change their vote at the last minute so that they can vote for a "winner."

So I'll be in the dark until the polling place is closed, all the machines and ballots are reconciled, and the materials have been returned to the County Clerk for counting. We're expecting record turn-out, so it could be very, very late before I can return home.

A small price to pay to participate in the democracy of our republic.

I'll be taking tomorrow off, too.