Voting Absentee

This morning, I turned in my last seminary exam. But just when I was about to crash and catch up on my sleep, I realized I hadn’t sent in my absentee ballot. The North Carolina primary is Tuesday, which means my ballot is due by 5pm Monday. YIKES. So, as I scrambled around trying to figure out who all the local officials are and what their issues are, I found this web site www.votesmart.org. It’s probably not the only one of its kind in existence, but I found it to be a quick and easy database of most of the candidates listed on my ballot. Beware, there are some I couldn’t find and some candidates have no information listed, but it’s a good starting point if you’re going to the polls soon. 

When I finished filling out the ballot, I went through my apartment building and had friends sign the TWO spaces for witnesses (I guess somebody wants to make sure I am who I am). Then, I sped over to the Carnegie Center to mail my ballot. But alas, I arrived at the Post Office 13 minutes after it closed. Thankfully, this branch has an automated machine that would allow me to purchase expedited services if I did it before 3pm. So, I filled out the envelopes, printed the postage, got my receipt, and I noticed that the receipt indicated that I had to get that envelope in the mail by 1:30 pm Saturday or it wouldn’t arrive by 3pm Monday. Watch? 1.22. AAAH! I just paid $16 to VOTE in the PRIMARY and I may miss my chance by an 8 minute margin of error? Schnikes. I threw that sucker in the mail.

Well of course at this point, I’m doubting my judgment (I’m imagining the wise cracks) and wonder if I’ve put the envelope in the correct slot. I mean is there a separate slot that’s checked by 1:30 for expedited mail? Who knows? Well, there are people at the post office, but no one available to speak to customers. So, I call the USPS number on my receipt just to see if I can get anyone on the phone (YES, I’m crazy). NO, there was no one at USPS - They’re totally automated. 

At this point, I’m having flashbacks to the week before my wedding, when my honeymoon tickets were stuck somewhere between UPS Trenton and the USPS in Kannapolis. I was on the phone with nobody for hours. I’ve decided I just don’t want to be a patron of any business that only has automated service lines. I mean I called Harper’s Magazine today to change my address and I got a person on the phone within 45 seconds. Seriously, the USPS should really have someone answering phone calls. “What would you like to do? Track and confirm a package?” NO, I don’t want to track a package. I want to speak with a human being, you annoying automated woman!” 

Moral of the story, don’t forget to vote.