Election Overload Now Over

It’s almost over…well it should be by the time this publishes, or not. I’m talking about the 2024 political season then we can get on with the holidays. And while we may not know who officially are the winners for days, we can say goodbye to the constant campaign television ads and the overload of emails on Wednesday.

I like politics, or at least the study of it, but the campaigns can take a toll on your mental health. But then that’s part of what makes America— America, having the right to campaign and the right to make your own choice.

Yes the political season can be deafening loud and obnoxious but better to have the option than not. So, I saw the best ad I’ve seen in a long time, including Super Bowl ads, Tuesday evening. It was a sky blue background with no sound only words that read “we purchased this ad space for you to have a moment of silence.” Just what I, and the rest of America, needs amongst all the noise and rhetoric.

I haven’t had to endure near as many ads this season because I stream most of my television viewing now and streams are less ad prone but I’ve caught my share at appointments while waiting in the doctor’s office lobby, automotive lobby, etc.

Outside the ads, the one thing I have been excited about this season is voter turnout. Early voting numbers have had staggering numbers and that’s great news. It says people are paying attention and have passion about something that’s happening, or not happening. The democratic process is something to marvel at especially when it’s lacking in so many places around the world.

Voter apathy is one thing I cannot dismiss. We have been given a right—use it! So seeing people use it in large numbers was pleasing to me. Now I am a descendant of a faction of society that was long denied the right to vote and when given the opportunity had to playing stupid guessing games like how many jellybeans were in the jar or read some passage when education was sparse. And on top of that pay a polling tax that equated to a week’s wage and often meant feeding your family or voting. In light of those circumstances, deciding to go to the polls looked different and very sad. Like many then, I would have perhaps chosen to feed my family in that situation and carry on. But alas, times have changed and the process evolved. Polling taxes weren’t banned until 1964, some 60 years ago.

I was also invigorated by the various stories I heard this political season about first time voters, young and old, from 23 to 81 years of age. Wow. Seventy and 80 year olds voting for the first time is crazy wild to me. Wow. Robyn heard some of those stories and said ”mom you don’t have to worry I am going to vote in my first election in two years for the midterms.” Seems she has been paying attention.

Anyway, when you wake up Wednesday morning, after voting, and your candidate was or was not deemed the winner of their race—President, Senate, Judicial, Sheriff, Commissioner, Coroner, or otherwise, just know that you did your part and exercised your right.