I drove past my poling place this afternoon coming home from work. After thinking about it, I made the U-turn and pulled into the lot. I entered the nearly empty building, reciting my name and address several times to obtain a ballot. I am an Army veteran, named after an Uncle who perished in the Korean conflict, born to an Army veteran and shrapnel collector of WWII . I felt it my duty to cast a vote for those running for public office not just excercising a right secured by the millions who served before and after me.
Imagine my surprise when I was told that I could not cast a vote for the person I wished to represent me in a single office. I HAD to cast a party line vote and only vote for those running in a particular party. I am NOT a party guy. I vote for the individual who I think will best serve in the office for which he or she is running for not because he or she is associated with a certain group. Imagine their disbelief when I returned the ballot unmarked.
I cast my vote by not voting. I could not endorse a certain group over another one with a clear conscious. Where was the freedom to vote the way I wanted to when the ballot would be discarded if I did?
