I voted early this morning.
I was so excited and enthusiastic. I literally squealed when I saw my name and signature in the electoral register. I had had nightmares about my name not being in there because I became a citizen and registered so recently and was all prepared for requesting a provisional ballot. Turns out the admin for voting runs more smoothly than most American bureaucracies I have had to deal with.
Five years of living in a country while not enfranchised to vote has been stressful. I am raising my kids here and I pay taxes here and I intend to stay here so I am invested in this country. Today I was relieved to be able to exercise my right and responsibility as a US citizen.
A Pict in PA 
Yay Laura! Congratulations!
Thank you! Big milestone.
Ps. That’s a great photo of you.
Thanks. I think I look a wee bit like a groundhog but that’s OK. Ha ha!
Congratulations on your vote 🙂
Thank you!
Good! We need you!
I so hope that I make some kind of difference.
Bless you ! I wish everyone felt ths way
I’ve voted in every single election in which I was eligible to vote except one and that was because I had just given birth 90 miles from home. That’s part of why it was so difficult to not be able to vote here for five years. I feel it’s my duty as well as my right to vote.
I remember they put you through the ringer. Now you have the power!
It felt good to be able to participate fully after the ordeal of becoming a citizen.
Good for you, Laura. Excersize your Right to let Your Voice Be Heard. I did the same thing this morning, but in a pouring rain. The rain does not bother me. There need to be changes in our System!
Good job on turning out despite the weather. There is definitely room for improvement when it comes to the electoral and voting system.
Congrats! Here in Oregon it’s all mail in ballots. We voted a week or two ago. I have to say, it’s the best system I’ve experienced for voting.
I don’t understand why all states don’t have early voting. It surely makes things easier for everyone.
Yeah, it’s the only option here. Everyone votes by mail. I’d not had that before but it’s something I love now. No ones, no rushing to the polling place.
Good for you !
Thanks.
Congratulations! And thank you for voting!!! I appreciate your efforts and persistence to become a voting citizen!!!! Btw: I voted too. Washington state has vote-by-mail as the standard procedure. I like it a lot!!
I knew you would vote and am glad you did so.
I wish we had more options for voting here in PA as I am certain it would boost turnout / participation.
It amazed me how much vote-by-mail in WA made a difference on amount of voter turn out as compared to Okla (where I used to live) where you had to go to “polling places” in churches. Lots of voter intimidation in Okla. (and many other places in the south) and so turn out to vote is low. I always voted – and often requested an absentee ballot so I could vote without having to enter a church etc. WA uses an “opt out” system i.e you’re automatically registered to vote and will get a ballot in the mail each election cycle – unless you take measures to opt out. In Okla. you had to jump thru hoops in order to register to vote…. and then more hoops in order to cast your ballot. Okla has an “opt in” system (ahem) protected by lions and tigers and a system of bureaucratic papercuts oh my.
The system here certainly warrants a look at reform.
It sure does.