The Voting Booth

She spent the weeks leading up to the election studying the candidates and ballot measures in detail. She knew it was vital to make informed decisions; she wanted to understand what each side thought, the pros and cons of each measure, and who the candidates really were and what they really believed, as much as you could figure such a thing out. But she knew it was important, so very very important. What had been happening in the country lately was upsetting and disgusting and it was her duty to make decisions that could help curtail the madness that those in power were forcing on the people.

When Election Day came around she was ready, she knew exactly who and what she was voting for and against. She entered the voting booth with confidence and conviction, and a touch of nervousness about the choices everyone else would be making today. But there was a movement, she sensed it around her. There were a lot of other people out there who felt the way she did and she was certain that they saw the importance of casting their vote this time.  As she made her selections she felt a sense of pride, of doing her part, however small, to reshape the country that she called home into a better place for everyone.

When the final screen on the voting machine came up, asking her to confirm her choices before submission, she was shocked to see that every one of them had been changed from her original selections.  What she had said yes on, now said no. What she had said no on, now said yes. Her choices for Governor, Senate, City Council, and all other offices, which had all been Democrat, were now all showing as Republican. She stared in horror, how could this be? And yet, she found herself reaching for the button marked submit, as if her arm had a mind of its own, and she was powerless to stop it. As her finger pressed firmly down, sending her ballot to be counted, a vacant smile took over her face and a laugh she had never heard before escaped from somewhere deep inside of her. She found she was happy, after all she had done her civic duty, and she was going to change the world. She spun on her heel and marched confidently out of that voting booth. As she reached into her purse for her car keys she found something else as well. Pulling it out she saw it was a red baseball cap. She set it proudly on her head as she emerged into the sunlit parking lot, joining the throngs of people who were wearing the same red cap and sporting the same vacant smile she was. Oh yes, they could make a difference, they would change the world. She continued her measured march across the parking lot to her car. She was on a mission now to get home and turn on Fox News.