Election Day!

Wait just a minute while I get up on my soapbox...

Today was Washington's primary election, although a lot of people probably voted before today since Washington state does all absentee ballots now. The other day John and I heard a startling statistic on the radio--only sixteen percent of registered voters had cast their ballots. Sixteen! That is crazy! And that is a percentage of registered voters--many people who are eligible haven't even taken the time to register to vote. This drives me a little crazy.

Voting is not hard.

It is not only our right, it is our responsibility.

When we voluntarily abdicate our civic duty to participate in the political process (through informed voting) we also begin to abdicate the freedoms, rights, and privileges we enjoy here and we dishonor the men and women who have dedicated their lives--who have fought and died--to establish and maintain those rights and freedoms.

Voting is a privilege and a duty. It isn't that difficult. Do you have to take the five minutes (if that) to register? Yes. Do you have to do a little investigating and try and figure out who's running and what they stand for? Yes, if you want to be an informed voter...if you just randomly fill in circles or vote party lines with no thought, it might be better if you didn't vote. But overall, it doesn't take that much time or that much effort to really participate and to get in your two cents worth. So do it, and be grateful you can.