It is strange being in another country when such an important political event is occurring, especially since the race between candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney is to be very close. The various polls seem to be having an equal number of results with each candidate winning. I feel a little left out being here in the United Kingdom, like I am not there to fully experience the event that only happens every four years.
The whole process of voting from overseas was a pain, and I probably should have tried to request one before I left the United States in September. First I had to find the Absentee Ballot Request Form on the Internet. I printed and filled it out to mail when my mother told me that since I was a close relative, she could go to the county election office and request a ballot for me. This was great news to me because I could get my ballot sooner without having to pay for international postage.
I waited several days (by this time it was mid-October) and the lady from the election office emailed me...the same form that I already had. So, my mom's help did not save me any time. Instead it put me even closer to the deadline of Election Day without a ballot.
There was an option to send the request form via email, but the documents would first have be printed, filled out and signed, and then scanned back into the computer. I had no idea if I would be able to accomplish this, but it turns out the university's library as a scanner for students to use. The reason this was such a pain is that we have to pay for printing (it is free at my school in America) and the library is a fifteen minute walk from my dorm in cold, possibly rainy weather.
The scanner room in the library had full instructions for using the scanner so that part of the processes went smoothly. All I had to do was wait for my ballot to arrive in my email inbox. I admit that I was expecting it too take at least a week, but most likely longer to receive the ballot, but to my surprise, it came in only three days.
The following Thursday I took advantage of the hour between by classes to print it out at the library on the business school campus. It was strange to hold that piece of paper in my hands and know that I was about to do one of my rights and duties as an American citizen, except I was doing it an ocean away. I found a table to sit and fill it out, purposefully leaving all parts uncovered. I just had a silly desire for people to see that I was voting, and then maybe ask me about it so I could tell someone about my excitement. No one did of course, but it was fun to imagine what I would say if asked.
I was super busy after this doing homework and traveling so it was several days before I found the time or inclination to walk fifteen minutes to the library. Twenty minutes of scanning and email attachment issues later, I submitted my ballot. Hitting the "send" button in the basement room of a library just is not exciting as submitting your ballot in the polling station on election day.After writing all of this post out, voting by absentee ballot really was not that difficult for me and I was just lazy about having to walk to the library. I think I am really just complaining because I feel cheated out of my "I Voted" sticker.
UPDATE, Nov. 7: Tonight I met my teacher Dr. Schweitzer's father who is visiting from the United States. I noticed that he was wearing an "I Voted" sticker and I remarked that I had just written a blog post about the election and not getting a sticker. Then he just took off his sticker and gave it to me. It was super sweet of him and I am very thankful for this gesture. So, due to the kindness of another, I did end up with a sticker after all.
Yo vote?
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