Election Day!

I paid a much-needed visit to Town Hall today.

“Hi,” I said a little shyly to the clerk. “I know I may be too late to register, but I’m relatively new to town and wanted to vote.”

The clerk was amazingly nice, considering she lived in Connecticut. “Of course, sweetie! What district do you live in?”

“Uh—I’m not sure.”

“Let me call the Registrar of Voters. They’re next door.”

“That’s really nice of you to call.”

“No problem!”

Moments later: “Hello, yes. I have a lady here who wanted to vote…no, she isn’t registered in town yet….right…she doesn’t know where she lives.”

Didn’t know where I lived? I started chuckling. It’s true I once got lost returning to my apartment in New Haven a few years ago. And, yes, I just admitted that.

Today my location is easy to get to, at an address that isn’t on an actual street. Many condominium complexes list addresses on faux roads off the main drag. (After all, “Sunshine Glen” sounds far prettier than Industrial Avenue).

The clerk returned. “Where about do you live?” Out of habit, I offered my address. The woman’s face, of course, went blank. I quickly told her the cross street and the name of my complex.

The clerk returned to the phone, coming back a few minutes later. My district was irrelevant. Voters have to register in their new town at least two weeks before Election Day. I wasn’t able to vote, but the clerk jotted down the Secretary of State Office’s website. Back at home, I hopped on the web, visited the site, printed and filled out the form and mailed it. Done!

Since registering to vote ten years ago, I’ve voted in almost every election, including the presidential election last year. During my fulltime reporter years, election night was always fun to cover. I remember staking out the polls for hours, gathering quotes from voters and politicians. I remember the behind-the-scenes details of every player, every political “upset,” that, on the inside, was rarely surprising at all. No matter how apathetic we feel, or how busy, I believe it’s our responsibility to educate ourselves on candidates and be a part of the democratic process. So while I didn't vote this year, I certainly tried. Now I'm all set for our next election!

My family, in the meantime, will be pleased to learn I returned to my traditional roots today. I changed parties for the second, and, I’m sure, final, time. The older I’ve gotten, especially since becoming a homeowner, the more fiscally conscientious I’ve become. My politics reflect that.

How about you? Did you vote today? Is your political affiliation similar to everyone else in your family?