Did you vote?! How was it? Tell us about your voting experience, the issues that were top of your mind as you cast your ballot & ideas for moving forward after Election Day!
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I have found interesting
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Voting
We are currently living in a county, which is all absentee voting. I have to say, I really missed actually going to the polls and feeling like I was a part of a movement that day. With that being said, there was an upside to our voting process. After attending a debate watch party, my partner Nick, now 25, FINALLY registered to vote! He made the decision last-minute. So, we had to drive down to the county court house to get him registered by the deadline. When our ballots arrived in the mail, he was very thankful for the opportunity to have me walk him through the voting process. We were able to go down the ballot, name-by-name and discuss the candidates. We, of course, made our own choices, but it was a great way to get him involved in the process.
The issues that were most important to me when I voted were educational funding, health care reform, and economic recovery for the working class. On a local level, I was also concerned with public transportation funding and the death with dignity initiative.
I didn't see much mention by either candidate about parent's rights, women's rights, vaccine safety or breastfeeding advocacy. However, those issues were certainly on my mind as well.
Vote 2008
I live in a "red" county in a "blue" state. I am registered with an absentee ballot, but for this election, wanted to walk with my daughter into our polling place. The polling place was electric with excitement, and I felt energized by the number of cars sporting bumper stickers for my candidate. I had worked a Democratic booth at the local chocolate festival, made fifty calls to get Democrats to the polls on November 4th, and stood on the street corner in opposition to Prop 8 (the so-called "marriage initiative" in California). In a pretty conservative little town, I was "out" with my politics - and by the night of the election, I was pretty nervous and worked up!
The issues for me were health care, women's rights and civil rights. I felt that getting Barack Obama in office is important to these issues. While we lost prop 8 here in California, we got the candidate for president I was hoping for, along with a First Lady who promises to be First Mom, which I feel speaks volumes in terms of protecting civil rights and a woman's right to choice. An exciting experience all around, and while I thought we were in for a long long night, the election was won before my 10 year old daughter's bed time.
The day after the election, I took her out of school to celebrate - we hiked Mariposa Grove in Yosemite and had a fancy lunch at the Wawona Lodge. I hope my little girl will never forget this election. She is very open minded and I know she'll stay that way.
Regarding vaccines - I am against Guardisil.
Charged Up For Change
Voting was fun as usual, took 2 of my 3 kids to the polls and had virtually little wait around 10 a.m. here in Charlottesville, VA. It was the first time ever that my mother and I voted for the same person. Our state and our locality made history. It has been so exciting, I have been charged up to get involved with local women's groups and even start my own blog (attachedfeminist.blogspot.com)!
Keep up the great work MomsRising!
I had an extra reason to hold my breath
My four year old has come with me to vote many times, and usually it's a joyous experience for me. This year I had the added stress of just finding out my job was going to be cut in the next week. In voting, the most important issues in my mind were the economy, health care and immigration reform. And now here I was about to lose my job, my health insurance and that of my son's, too. As I sat to watch the election results, although I know it was historic and a joyous occasion, all I could think was too bad Obama can't start right away and too bad his policies will not go into effect right away.
Fortunately, I live in a state that offers a health care plan for all children. And my husband (whose job does not provide insurance for any employee) and I will just have to pray nothing happens to us. Now we are in the position of so many Americans. Out of a job, but not out of hope.
No curbside voting for breastfeeding moms in NC
I voted early in NC (we're fortunate to be able to do that), but was astonished that, as a breastfeeding mom of a 3 week old, I was not allowed to particpate in curbside voting. I waited in line 1 and 1/2 hours to vote, which was actually pleasant, and my toddler cooperated well. I nursed my infant, tucked in his sling, while marking my ballot, but I had to wonder how many less experienced moms might have seen the line and said, "no way."
I understand the need for curbside voting for those with limited mobility, but worry that other mothers lost out on voting because they didn't have a place to breastfeed. I immediately emailed our county's board of elections, who said they'd bring that up with whomever the powers that be may be, but I'm not holding my breath . . .
Breastfeeding voter
I, too, had a 3 week old (to the day) on election day. My husband was home with her and my 2 1/2 year old while I voted. It would've been nice to have curbside voting because the entire hour and a half I waited in line I was worried about getting home before my baby needed me again! But I waited, voted and got home just as she woke up and then it was my husband's turn. Not that he needed to rush home, but get to work! :) I did almost say, "I'll come back later" but so glad I didn't, as the lines never got any better.
Victory brings hope
My children are biracial -- I am white and my husband is African American. We live in a very rural area of upstate New York which must be 99% white. When Obama was elected, my 7 year-old son (who has always aspired to be a bus driver in spite of our prompting him to dream big) suddenly decided that he too would like to be President someday. My 5 year-old daughter exclaimed, "Hey Mom, since I am the only black person in my class, that makes me SPECIAL!" From the mouths of babes... minorities everywhere (including my own beautiful children) now have a new sense of confidence and most of all hope. Thank you, America, for giving this gift to us.
I worked at the polls all
I worked at the polls all day. We had an amazing number of first time voters, many of them mothers bringing along their grade school children. Thanks to wonderful teachers, the children knew how to use the voting machines and took over training their mothers.
The election day experience
The election day experience for our family was truly historic in more ways than one! Firstly, the privilige of exercising my right to vote has always been one that I take very seriously and at every election, I make sure that I inform myself of both sides of the issues at stake and I research the candidates as thourougly as I can. Secondly, this election has been a major event in our family because our youngest son was able to vote for the first time, as well as my husband, who recently became a naturalized citizen. Many of our family discussions have been centered on discussing the pros/cons of important issues as well as the platforms of the candidates themselves. And, finally, the privilige of participating in an election in which such an historical event has occured, is truly rewarding and emphasizes what a truly unique country we live in.
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