Grace Covenant Church, Gilbert, 7 a.m.
The alarm went off at 6:15 a.m. My husband snoozed it. I got up, started breakfast, dragged out clothes for the little ones and dressed myself. Because they were still asleep, my husband went to our polling spot at 6:35 without me, but by 7:15 we were all there. My son and daughter were learning a lesson in America.
My fellow voters were very nice about having two schoolage kids asking lots of questions. “Why are you here?” “Are you going to vote?” “Mommy, do we get stickers?” The polling station volunteers indeed gave them stickers and chatted to them while my husband and I stood next to each other casting our ballots. I talked to one gentleman who got to what he thought was his polling station at 5:45 a.m. He waited more than an hour only to learn he was at the wrong spot. So, fold up chair in hand, he drove to the right one with us. “This election means that much to me,” he said.
Afterward, the kids and I went to Starbucks down the road and got a free coffee. Everytime someone ordered the free brew, the crew yelled, “Thanks for voting.”
Starbucks, Mesa
I hope the kids - ages nearly 4 and 6 - remember today. They seemed to enjoy the atmosphere at the polling station. My son did ask several times where the “boat” was though (I told him we were going to “vote.” But finally get got it. We showed the kids the sample ballot.
There’s something electric in the air on this Nov. 4 - I hope we all remember it the next time there’s an election without a presidential race. No matter what’s on the ballot, get out and have your say.
When I was in line this morning, there was a couple behind me with their daughter who was voting for the first time. She told me how she had been worried about registering in time to vote in the election. My daughter, now 19 and a sophmore at NAU sent her postal ballot in 2 weeks ago. The couple and I reminisced about dragging our kids to the poll in years past. Michelle - thank you for taking your kids - they will remember.