Rainy Day Voting

Just the other day, I had one elderly lady tell me that she would cancel a doctor's appointment if it was going to rain. Going out in the rain just to vote, of course, would be out of the question.

I wonder if the rain will affect sales on Water Street?

Predictions are something I'm not going to make. I don't have my finger on the pulse of the local electorate. I don't even have my finger on the blogular vein in this city. But it seems to me that having a rainy election day might deter some voters.

The low preliminary election turnout might have been a little higher if it hadn't also rained on that day, too, I suspect.

Although there mght very well be one or two people in this neck of the woods that could melt in the rain, it's really not something that should deter anyone else from doing the one basic thing that so many people have fought and died for. Besides, if you don't vote, then those who get elected will only listen to the campaign fund donors. I mean, who are they really going to pay attention to? All the people who didn't vote, or the few who paid for their campaigns?

I drove over to my precinct around nine, grabbed my umbrella, and got ready for the dash to the voting booth. As luck would have it, the rain increased to an absolute roar the instant I parked the cab.

Every time I vote, there's a long moment while I ponder whether this will finally be the time that I write in Bugs Bunny on every available slot. But that's for national elections. For local elections it's different.

Where to carefully fill in those spaces with the black pen?...

Of course, it would be very easy for me to list everything I put on the ballot, and believe me, the temptation is there... But I believe in the secret ballot. Without the secret ballot, we may as well just pack it in and let Dubya be king for the rest of his life. And especially in this town, we're all going to have to suffer having no further say in how things are going until the next election.

Oh sure, there are plenty of opportunities to go to hearings or council meetings and even send e-mails and letters, but TODAY is the day that really counts.

And this year, there's a door prize for every Worcester voter!

Yes, that's right, ladies and gentlemen! This year, if you don't vote then you don't get the little sticker that says, "I Voted," along with a nice picture of City Hall on a refrigerator magnet!

I carefully placed the little sticker in my wallet, right over the plastic window where my driver's license is. Now, if I ever want to piss and moan to any elected officials, I'm gonna be able to flash my "I Voted" sticker in their face!

And if YOU don't vote, then YOU don't get one!