Today is Election Day in the U.S.  All across the country, people are standing in lines at the polls, pulling levers or pressing buttons or working touchscreens, selecting the person who they want to lead us and represent us to the world for the next four years.  (Some have already cast their ballots, either absentee or in early voting.)  But it’s not just the presidential candidates on the ballot: there are Senate and House races, state and local government races, and ballot initiatives to consider as well.  There’s a lot to think about.

Hubby and I are prepared with our plan for the election: hubby will vote in the morning on his way to work, and I’ll head out in the evening when he gets home and relieves me of baby care duties.  I know who I’m supporting for the White House and Senate races, but I’m still undecided when it comes to the House, so I’ll be doing a bit more research into the candidates today and tomorrow before making my decision.  (I’m not going to tell you who I vote for, as I firmly believe that our votes are private information.)

I don’t usually post on Tuesdays, but I wanted to pop in here and just say this: please vote.  I don’t care who you support or what your position is on the issues, just please vote.  Make an informed decision.  Vote sensibly, vote based on issues, not party lines.  From who you want sitting in the Oval Office to who you want to make your community more bike-friendly or make sure that your local library has funding, stop, think, and then please, please cast a ballot.  And remember the people who sacrificed much more than an early wake-up call and a little extra gas to detour to the polls in order to give you this opportunity to have a say in your own future.  Think of the very first Americans, the Founding Fathers, the rogues who demanded that minorities and women should be able to vote, and make them proud by exercising your right.