Museums and Culture

-2012-
Election
Romney VS Obama 

Who I voted for is really not of large importance when it comes to today.  The more important issue is that today was my first experience when it comes to being a participating American citizen that is eligible to vote.  And to be quite honest, the new, exciting experience was quite a let down.

I remember being very little and going to E.M. Baker Elementary School in Great Neck with my mother or father.  I remember always being nervous – Am I allowed to go in with you?  Isn’t that illegal?  I was quite the proper child – still am!  I remember wanting to pull the lever to close the curtain, select the presidential and other candidates (usually not understanding how the entire process worked), and then finally try to open the curtain once again – but… I was too weak!  Probably still am.

Where have those machines gone?  I don’t know much about the evolution of voting in this country, but it seems as if we’ve gone backwards!  There were no machines at the Paul Klapper PS 219 school today.  Due to gas shortages and due to the fact that I didn’t want to waste my mom’s time and energy to come back and forth to Queens to pick me up in order to vote in Great Neck (as much as I DID want to go home and see my mommy and sister), I decided that I’d try my luck and vote somewhere close by.

First attempt:

It was lunch time.  I knew of a place to go vote.  I didn’t look at the map correctly.  I froze my ears off walking down Reeves only to find PS 499 and a high school!  Where was PS 219?  There was no WiFi around for me to check where I may have gone wrong in my direction.  No one around had a smart phone with a maps app.  Failure.

Second attempt:

I made sure this time.  English was over at 3:30, and I rechecked my coordinates.  Off of Main Street, of course!  Made my across campus trek to the corner gate at Townshend Harris High School.  When I finally spotted 219, I felt so victorious, it’s almost humorous.  I walked into that place like a boss!  Or not… I was a bit toasty from all the walking and my heavy coat.  I was given an Affidavit envelope and a sheet – the ballot.  The sheet looked like that wimpiest piece of paper I had ever seen.  I couldn’t believe how insignificant it felt in my hand.  Maybe it’s because I was voting from out of district, but I felt that the process was very informal and probably invalid – not that my vote counts either way, New York is an Obama state no matter what.  I didn’t need identification of any sort.  Yes, the envelope did mention that I could be fined up to $50,000 for forging the document, but the fact that there was an option that said “I don’t have a DMV Number or a SS#” was a bit discouraging.  For example, under the “I’m not a US Citizen” option, the envelope said “in this case, you cannot vote.”  Similarly, if you are under 18, the envelope invalidates your vote.  But, under this lack of identification – nothing!

After handing in my envelope – with my full name, address, and drivers license number written on its exterior (identity theft anyone?), I thought to myself: how the hell is this envelope going to be remembered in the grand scheme of things?  I seriously would be surprised if it didn’t get lost.

Overall, I’d like to say that voting is an important right that we have in America and as American citizens.  But, I’d also like to say that my first voting experience was far from exemplary.  I mean, I left the school and got honked at rudely twice by an old man because he was impatient for me to get out of the street.  How’s that for a “Congratulations on voting!”?  Well, whatever tomorrow brings in terms of our next president, I will know that I have contributed in some way – even if I just went through the motions and my vote doesn’t count.

Marina B. Nebro