My civic duty

I rose earlier than usual today, knowing that I wanted to swing by the polling booths before the vast crowds hit. Yes, today is SUPER Tuesday. Do not confuse it with Meh Monday or Abject Poverty Thursday.

I was going to bring two of my herd with me and have them witness the fulfillment my civic duties. And then drop them off at school. My 14 year-old (who's personal excitability level is on par with Lurch) was actually moderately interested in seeing me exercise my rights. Even more fascinating, my four year-old couldn't WAIT to go and VOTE. In fact, when I invited her to witness the prestigious event, she bounded out of bed. BOUNDED, I tell you. I was stunned. This is the same child that shouts at the sun for rising each morning.

By 7:20 we were on the road, in search of our polling place. According to Yahoo maps, the fire station was about 3.5 miles from the house. This seemed a little far to me, especially since I passed 2 other polling places on my way.

Fast forward to an hour later: I've dropped the 14 year-old off at school, the four year-old is crying because she wants to go "bote," and I am grumbling like Fred Flintstone under my breath (frickafrackbrickabracka) as I drive the same stretch of road searching in vain for the non-existent address.

Eventually I gave up. I took babygirl to school, well against her wishes, and called the county registrars office asking for better directions. Yahoo's maps were wrong. And I ended up voting during my lunch hour.

Thank GAWD I am a committed voter. Yay me. But how many other people face the same doom, spending eons driving in circles and eventually just give up, casting their votes instead to the four winds?

Confusing political process be damned. I know the truth: Yahoo is responsible for voter apathy and low turn out.

Super Tuesday | vote | Yahoo