Voting Is A Family Affair
I live in Maryland, and despite my falling head over heels for the symbol of Black hope that is Barack Obama, I actually considered not voting in the state’s primary today. I figured, I’ve got a lot of stuff to do in the office, meetings tonight, and Obama has this thing sewn up tight. He doesn’t need the primary vote, so I’ll just catch him on the national election side. Plus, I’m still registered back home in Prince George’s, and the weather is a little too crazy to be attempting a lunchtime ballot cast.
That was the thinking, until I got that call from my wife.
Before I could get out the ‘o’ sound on the word ‘no’ to answer her question of whether I voted or not, she launched into a full speech of how I could be so pro-black and for the uplifting of our people and be unwilling vote in the primary. She understood all of the obstacles with work and personal responsibilities, but asked me what greater responsibility is there than voting - especially in this too-important election.
I soon realized that I couldn’t explain it away, and that I should drive the hour home to wait in line for an hour to drive an hour back to work. It was my right, privilege and duty to play my part in getting our new Shining Black Prince to Washington. How dare I not take it seriously, at any juncture in the election!
So, to shut her up and ease my own conscience, I went to the Maryland Board of Elections website to find a place where I could cast a provisional ballot. Lo and behold, I discovered that I had actually changed my polling address to Baltmore County, and my location was just minutes from the job.
So Barack’s on his way to the White House, my wife still regards me as a responsible citizen, and I didn’t spin out driving to go vote. I’d say it worked out all right for everyone.