2008 was the first year I voted in St. Joseph (I blogged this after the election). I went to the firehouse in the morning, because I like to wear my sticker all day, and it was crowded. My name wasn’t on the rolls, so I went to the information desk where they were doing same day voter registration. A young woman came in with her son, who was about three, and he said, “Is this where Obama is? Now do we vote for Obama?” Everyone laughed and there was a crowded enthusiasm about the place. She said, “First we have to register,” and got in line for same day registration.
Her son was so excited– “Where is he? Where is Obama?” When he learned that Obama wasn’t actually at the firehouse, he burst into tears. The woman was in her twenties, part of the large working-class community where I live. This community is also known for its conservatism, but she was coming to vote, perhaps for the first time, and her son radiated her own enthusiasm for Barack Obama. At the time, it seemed such an unlikely thing to be happening.
I was at the wrong polling place– I learned then that the farm where I moved after getting married in July was in the township and I went off to the township hall (pictured here). It was much quieter there, and l learned I don’t get to vote for as many offices– all that research on the city council, for example, was for naught.
This year I went to my polling place with more anxiety than hope. There were people there, but I felt less kinship with them than four years ago. Minnesota is always at the top of voter participation, and in 2008, 78% of adults over age 18 voted. After I took this picture, as I was putting away my camera, two women came out frowning at me. I thought I might have to explain that I wasn’t taking their picture.
I followed a car to work that had a bumper sticker for Jim Graves, who is running against Michele Bachmann in our district. I’m trying to be hopeful.
I wonder about the amendments– will our state constitution have provisions written into it that will disenfranchise voters like that woman who was registering on the same day and that will declare we are a state that constitutionally doesn’t support gay marriage?
PS: It’s funny looking back on that post four years ago. I was sober then, and proud of the president’s speech. I also have changed my mind about the local mayor, and the city council are doing just fine. The road seems a remote possibility, or maybe the one they’re carving out of farms west of town has taken its place.