Letters From Hollywood

On Election Day I woke up early and journeyed straight to work. I wanted to get in early so I could disappear in the middle of the day when the poll lines would be lowest. After looking through my calendar, I decided that 10:30 a.m. was the ideal time for a short queue.

I had voted back in 2004, and as such, didn’t expect anything to be terribly unfamiliar.

But the first thing that struck me odd was that my polling place was inside a retirement home. Though, I supposed it could have been held at just about any building and passed the thought quickly.

Standing in line, I can only describe the scene as lifeless and stale. No one spoke a word. Everyone’s head was buried in either a newspaper or Blackberry. I remember taking note of the dominance of middle age, white males among the drove. And I recall being tired enough not to think on it further.

At the front of the line I was astonished when I was handed a paper ballot. With all the news of electronic and otherwise streamlined voting procedures, I was shocked to be forcefully kicked-in-the-chest all way back to the 20th century. After all, we’re a state of environmentalists who cheer at the thought of ever tree spared. And I’m embarrassed to admit it took me nearly a full minute to decipher the proper technique of inserting the chained-inkpen into the proper marking holes. My process was only slowed thinking of the electronic machine I used inside the Hummelstown Fire House just four years prior. I’m still perplexed that a small East Coast town could be more advanced than a city that prides itself on its technological prowess.

Said and done, my vote cost me almost three hours. Three hours of silently repeating in my head, “This is my duty.” When I was finished, an elderly lady thanked me for my vote, and wished me good luck. The nuance of enthusiasm rippled through in her voice like a dam beginning to break. I walked out of that room, away from that tired line, with a little extra spring to my step and a very big smile.

Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

Kemer