Vote! It’s your right and your duty

Today is election day – here are some tips (and perks!) for the day.

I recall going with my parents to vote – it was always an important occasion. Every time I vote, I get teary eyed. It’s one of those moments when I experience the overwhelming awareness of how much has been given by others so that I can have this opportunity to participate in my government. That awareness has only increased this year since my brother Bruno was killed in Afghanistan. He believed in what he was doing and welcomed the opportunity to bring to the Afghans and Iraquis (he was in Iraq before he went to Afghanistan) the freedom and responsibilities that most of us take for granted. Just before his death, I met one of his commanding officers who was at Walter Reed Hospital. He was standing three feet from a landmine when a fellow soldier stepped on it. He was the lucky one. I was so impressed by his character – especially his willingness to serve his country and his love for his family. (His son was with him when we visited.) Since Bruno’s death, I’ve met many of his fellow soldiers. All of them continue the tradition of more than 200 years of patriots. All of them have sacrificed for us. Some have sacrificed everything. The least we can do is cast an informed vote.

This article from the Wall Street Journal is a good overview on what to do if you arrive at the polls and have problems voting. If you didn’t register in time to vote, you’ve missed your chance. But as long as you are a registered voter, you get a vote. As the article suggests, be prepared to wait. Leave impatience and bad tempers at home. Bring a sense of humor, something to read, your iPod – whatever it takes (as long as it’s legal). My husband and I showed up at the polls at 6.30 this morning. Laziness almost got the better of me and I thought of waiting until later to vote, but it all pales when I reflect on what this all means.

Emotion and lofty thoughts aside, various businesses are offering perks to those who have voted:

Krispy Kreme is giving free donuts to people who show their “I Voted” sticker.

Starbucks is giving a free cup of brewed coffee to voters.

Ben & Jerry’s is giving a scoop on the house from 5 to 8 p.m.

Some polling places, like ours, don’t have stickers. Starbucks will take your word that you voted. Your voter registration card will probably suffice at any place that asks for some proof of your time at the polls.

Go vote! And if you have children, take them with you.