5
November 2002
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We stood in one of the Hyatt Regency conference rooms, in downtown Columbus, sporting our Vote for Taft stickers proudly, sipping champagne and enjoying the buzz that electrified the air around us, as well as the one that seeped into our bellies thanks to the free cocktails. As the returns started coming in I called my boss, a state rep from Toledo, on her cell phone to congratulate her and tried to stifle my giggles as it became evident that she was sloshed. We ventured into the ballroom as the new Governor-elect gave his acceptance speech. We laughed and hugged as the balloons dropped and the band started playing. I had started working at the Ohio House of Representatives at an opportune time. Campaigns were starting to reach a nice pitch and I got to get my fresh-out-of-college-and-still-idealistic paws right in there. Staffers were "required" by the Speaker to campaign at least twice, but I know that I volunteered more than that. I drove my then-new-to-me Accord to the northwestern and far eastern counties of the state campaigning for young men who desired to make change. (And who coincidentally were the son of my dad's Kindergarten teacher and nephew of my cousin's wife, respectively. I am nothing if not connected.) I helped out at a private fundraiser for Taft hosted in a posh Bexley home that was attended by Senator Bob Dole. I stood in between them, wearing my OHR and Miami University lapel pins, and smiled brightly for a photo. I drank white wine and talked to Senator DeWine about our alma mater and my internship in DC the summer before. It was a heady and amazing experience and quite a contrast to how I spent this year's Election Day. I woke up early to rain and knew that it was probably bad news for Gov. Barnes. I decided that I'd vote after work, so I turned off my alarm for more sleep and drifted back off to the lulling sound of the rain. There were a lot of opinions tossed around at work today, about who would win and why and what kind of effect the weather was going to have on the outcome. I didn't wait on all that many people who sported Georgia Votes stickers and I secretly hope that they all went after work or their afternoon trips to Target or wherever. I left the restaurant around 4 and went straight to my polling place, which conveniently enough is right across the street from my apartment complex. It was quiet and there were a lot of old people, mostly volunteers, shuffling around drinking coffee and tea and reading the paper. They all smiled at me and I could tell by their expressions that they probably hadn't seen that many young voters today. The new touch screens were very easy to use and it took me about eight seconds to vote. It was almost like using an ATM machine - you had to slide in a card and touch the screen for your choices. Still though, I had to wonder how my mom and grandmother would fare using these machines and realized that they'd take quite a bit longer. But I still think they're a step in the right direction and if they got people out to vote today, then all the better. Although it is somewhat disheartening that it would take technology for people to exercise their civic duty and not just a sense of pride or of doing the right thing. I still don't understand not voting, especially when it's as easy as this. The results are started to come in and I have to say that I'm surprised, but really excited. T keeps calling me to exclaim "Can you believe it?" and I can't. But I do know that I'll be dusting off my resume this evening. Maybe my moving here offset the D/R balance and I made everything shift to the right. No? "The people who you will elect today are your voice. They are the ones who will speak for you when it is time to decide what laws we will all agree to live by, who confirm the next Supreme Court Justice, who will decide when your fellow citizens-in-arms will go to kill and to die in your name, and who will decide how twenty-one percent of your money is spent. They are the people who are going to speak for you to the rest of the world, telling them what your goals and values and concerns are. This is your chance. The entire world is listening. What are you going to say?" - Jay Elias
The notify is picking winners. And the forum always votes for vodka.
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