"Ooooo! That's Cooool!", she says as the paper audit trail scrolls by under the glass enclosure. She has just finished voting and is reviewing her choices. She already has her "I voted" sticker on because, you know, stickers are still cool too. She could have used a paper ballot but she was so happy to be using the computer one. She only had to wait 10 minutes to use it and one of the nice poll workers gave her a blueberry muffin to eat while she was waiting.
Who does this young person vote for?
At school on Friday the results were:
49% Obama
16% Romney
9% Jill Stein
6% Virgil Goode
11% Rocky Anderson
11% Gary Johnson
(one friend tried to add "Cookie" to the choices and many joined the cause)
But here at the polling place, it's a little more complicated.
"Who are all these people?!?" Even in her best indoor voice it comes out a little loud. It's a good thing she has a sample ballot and Dad's knee to sit on. She got to vote for Barack Obama. She also learned Jan Schakowsky's name today and got to vote for her. She was pleased to vote 'NO' on the Illinois constitutional amendment because her mommy is in a union that opposes it. She used the Cook County Democratic sample ballot to fill out most of the rest.
After reviewing the paper trail copy and the computer tells her to take out the card, she took the card from the machine and handed it to the poll worker (who gave her an extra sticker). She collected her Razor scooter, stepped out the door and glided down the sidewalk in the light drizzle.
Dad strolled behind, weary after a long day, following the sound of "clackety clack" the 3 blocks home, with a heart full of joy.
(Just for the record, Dad was the actual voter but the girl got to press the buttons.)
UPDATE:
Obama is re-elected!! We keep the senate and add some great senators. We appear to be losing some close calls for the house in IL though.
It's well past her bedtime but the girl is kicking back with some champagne (non-alcholic pear juice) and filling in some time with Wii Batman 2. It's a school night but what the hell.