Today, I voted my heart.

[machka]

Today was the day.

I took advantage of early voting, and I went down to my courthouse annex, and I stood in that little cubicle, and in the silence, I listened to my heart.

My heart said that I should not compromise. It told me to vote for the candidate who speaks for me, who believes that all Americans should have equal opportunity and equal justice under the law; to choose the one who reveres the law, and holds it sacred.

It spoke to me of those living on the edge, standing in the shadows, with no one to speak for them. It asked me to choose the candidate who had become a voice for the voiceless; to choose the one who'd spoken out about the moral responsibilities we have to each other, and who'd asked us all to do the right thing.

It showed me a person who had fought to give better lives to those who were injured, who'd given hope to those with little enough to spare, and who had inspired a growing segment of the Democratic Party to rise up and reclaim what our Party once was, what we once stood for...

And it asked me then to choose -- who spoke for me? Who stood up for me, and folks like me? Who understood that "love your neighbor" was not merely a suggestion, but a moral imperative? Who knew that the Presidency wasn't just about the person running, but rather about the people represented? Who would fight to the very last, struggling to bring us to a place where all are created equally, and there is no hunger, no poverty, and no fear?

It knew I had made my choice long ago...but still, it asked me to choose.

Where the heart leads, one must follow -- and follow I did.

I took that pen, and I colored in that little oval. And I pressed hard, so that there could be no question that I meant to do what I did.

I voted for John.

And I know in my heart, that I made the right choice.

[Catchawave]

1. I know the feeling, I voted JE in Va.

I really wasn't sure what I'd do if I saw him on the ballot, there was his name and I voted my heart over the DNC mandated choices :D Funny, when the computer asked me ARE YOU SURE? I hit the YES with my fist, and a tear rolled down my cheek. I really don't know why, but I was madhappy.

It was a diebold machine, so I'm sure it counted for McCain anyhow...lol.

[machka]

3. I felt...oddly defiant. :)

F*ck the DNC.

It was a diebold machine, so I'm sure it counted for McCain anyhow...lol.

*laughs till she cries*

The sad part is, you're probably right!

We have the ES&S / Sequoia opti-scanner machines now -- the 2000 general was the last time I got to go into a proper voting booth, close the curtain, flip the switches, and pull the lever... God, I miss it. D:

[benny05]

2. Had a similiar experience 2/5

Couldn't vote for anyone else...

[machka]

4. *sigh*

I don't know what I'm gonna do in November if John's name isn't on the ticket... Because we use the scannable electronic forms, there's no way to do a write-in... :mad:

I've always been a straight-ticket Democrat, ever since I started voting... this year really bites. I can't just blindly support the nominee anymore - I've learned too much. ;)

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. I did today in Texas

I had to leave work early because our power went out, so I decided to take advantage of my afternoon time and go to early voting. Edwards was still on the ballot, as were Richardson and Biden. I thought about it a while. I know in a way it's meaningless. He can't get any delegates anymore, even with a huge number of votes. But the fact of the matter is, I have not been won over by Obama or Clinton. I have strong reservations about both of them. I'll vote for either of them in the GE, as either of them is still better than McCain. But today, I voted for the person I want as the next president, even if I know he won't be.

[machka]

6. those are my thoughts as well.

In the meantime, we can work for our local Dems to take the state back from the Republican usurpers. :D

Thanks for standing up for John.

:toast: