America, Fuck Yeah

It’s Super Tuesday, and as if I wasn’t jaded about the system to begin with. I’m sitting in St. Luke’s Academy, my polling location as I even type this, and if I wasn’t already intent on voting, I’d have to leave and forfeit my right to vote entirely because of course even this part of the process isn’t running so smoothly. Instead of simply handing my voter registration card over, filling out my ballot, and leaving, I’m stuck here waiting to see if they get the voter registration activation computer (don’t even ask me what that is or what it does other than the obvious) working, so I can vote provisionally. Meanwhile, I’m just left wondering why I felt the need to attempt to get involved this year in the first place.

With all this talk of change, and how historic of a moment this is, I’m none too excited about anything. Big confession. I’m 24, and this is the first election I’ll ever have voted in. That’s right, I stood idly by in 2004, and can only justify it by being so jaded to think, and unfortunately almost know, that in Illinois, this wonderful blue state, my vote pretty much doesn’t matter. Like there was no doubt in November of 04 that the state would go to John Kerry and the Democrats, there is no doubt now that in the primary, this state will go to Barack Obama. And I’m not drinking the kool-aid.

In December, around the time of the Iowa caucuses, out of a little discussion and a lot of boredom, I decided that I would take an investment in the election this year. That I would attempt to do my research, learn about the candidates, and become an educated voter. What did I find out so far? Basically, that everything I ever learned in my media studies classes was right. That the more media coverage one watches, the less they know. That with what seems like tons of choices, it really all boils down to a lot of the same coverage, filled with sound bites, cat fighting, and no real information. That who the media decided to cover, because how is the first viable black candidate versus the first viable female candidate not the most interesting story to cover, basically can make or break a campaign (poor Edwards and poor America; it was so tempting to still vote for you with your name still on that ballot). After two months, I can’t say I really know much more about the candidates than I did two months ago other than their campaign platform, and who snubbed who. I heard the word change bandied about enough.

Add on to that the fact that the ballot also contains a bunch of important local government positions, and the amount of information on those candidates is scarce to none without really digging, something I really did not have time for. Voting for names that sound familiar or just good, or someone I may have shook hands with in front of the el station or grocery is not the way I wanted to make voting decisions.

After 30 minutes, this whole voting mess sort of got sorted out, but it means I still have to call the Board of Elections, who still has to decide if my ballot actually counts based on the affidavit I filled out with my ballot at a precinct with bad organization, and no precinct head. And in a room full of adults, who should seemingly take charge and responsibility, and set an example, it was a 16 year old girl that was able to straighten things out and even make sure I could get a ballot.

Hooray for democracy. Here’s to 4 more years of garbage. Should I give John McCain his congratulations already? Plus, I didn’t even get an “I Voted Today” sticker.