I'm 63 years old, a Floridian and was convicted of a felony 35 years ago. Since that conviction, I have not had so much as a single moving violation.
This election is the most momentous of my lifetime. I started over a year ago to ensure that I could vote this time, my first since conviction.
I applied for reinstatement of my rights online. Four months later, there had been no reply. My hope was that our new (Republican) governor, Charlie Crist's program of rapid reinstatement of rights to felons would apply. Naturally, in all these years as a convicted felon, cynicism is ingrained in me.
Nonetheless, I called the appropriate office and was told that my rights had been restored in 1985 (though I had not been notified) ... over the fold
After a week or so, I began to realize that all I had was the word of some unnamed bureaucratic that I could vote. So, I called back and told them my concern. Honestly, I was amazed. The person on the line said, yes, she understood my concern and that she'd be happy to mail me certification of restoration of my voting rights. Sure enough, less than a week later, I had the signed certification in the mail! WoooHooo!
After walking for Obama's GOTV efforts every weekend for many weeks, the day came. I figured I better vote early in case problems reared up. Today was the first day of early voting in Florida, and there I was, in line with every conceivable confirmation of my right to vote in my sweaty little hand.
When I got there, the parking lot was full, but in and out flow kept spots opening up. I got in line between an elder couple (Pro-Bama!) with four middle aged Jamaican-American citizens (Pro-Bama!). We had a wonderful time kibbitzing through the 1 1/2 hour wait.
It was ALMOST an anti-climax to vote for Obama. No one gave me any grief. My voting went smoothly, and on paper, which was comforting. I met my new-found friends in the line to scan our ballots and we kibbitzed some more (though we got some frowns because of our Pro-Bama declarations).
In short, this was A WONDERFUL DAY!
Unless you've just received the right to vote in the most historic election in your lifetime, and it goes well, YOU JUST HAVEN'T LIVED!
America is going to show the world what we're made of this election and I couldn't be more proud to participate.