I Love to Wear My "I Voted" Sticker - I'm a Nerd!

After voting, I'm one of those nerds who cheerfully picks up the "I Voted" sticker from the wooden polling table and immediately sticks it on my purse to announce my accomplishment to the world. I stride out of the polling place with a grin on my face. I am aware what a nerd I am. I just can't help myself.

I didn't vote when I turned eighteen. I'm not sure why. It isn't my parents fault. They are very politically aware and active. My mother is a poll-worker, working I don't know how many election days during the past few decades. When I was younger, I asked my dad the difference between democrat and republican. He sincerely educated me that "democrats want to spend all your money." So, in hindsight, he definitely had an opinion.

When I moved to Minneapolis and got my new drivers license I registered to vote at the same time. I was blissfully naïve, thinking "it's so cool that I can register as an "Independent"." I knew that was what I truly wanted - to be able to vote for the best person on the ballot - no matter their party. Nice idea. I was soon to find out that in Minnesota, Independent meant Independent Republican Party. That is the only time I've been registered as a Republican voter. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

While living in Minneapolis, much to my parents' dismay, I developed into a full-fledged vegetarian, tree-hugging liberal. Oh my. Now, living in California, I feel like a red-neck, conservative, vegetarian liberal. (I'll have to do some research and see if that's possible.)

My point is - I can't imagine not voting. I feel a pang of guilt if I can't make it to the polls for even the smallest local election. It amazes me that the majority of Americans don't vote in most elections.

Let's hope the voter turnout seen for last summers primaries aren't a predication of tomorrow's voter participation. USAToday reported last July a surprisingly low primary voter turnout saying, "Turnout hasn't cracked 40% in any state. In most, primary participation was in the 20%-30% range. Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia posted their lowest primary turnouts in at least eight years."

Yesterday the Associated Press reported that a mere "40 percent of U.S. citizens of voting age population cast ballots in non-presidential year elections." Interesting to me, voting is highest up in my old stomping grounds - states like South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin - where it can be down right miserable getting out to vote. I'll admit, traffic in Los Angeles is really quite traumatic, but it is nothing compared to driving through blowing sleet in the Midwest.

Even voting for President doesn't motivate Americans today. Slightly more than 50 percent of voters turned out for the competitive 2000 presidential race and only 60 percent voted in the 2004 presidential. Almost every other democratic country in the world has a higher voting average than the United States.

Honestly - yes, I would like to see everyone vote like I will tomorrow. I want the tree-huggers to win - in a big way. But even more important than winning, tomorrow, I would love to see the majority of people walking around with a silly grin on their proud face wearing a nerdy "I Voted" sticker on their t-shirt, suit lapel, purse, fishing-hat, sports jersey, or where ever they choose.

Please - vote your heart. Vote your conscience. Vote for what you most believe in. Just vote. Be able to proudly announce to the world- "Hi - I'm Mary. I'm a nerd. I voted today!"