Today is my third anniversary of becoming a US citizen. I’ve lived here much longer than that, of course; during the last 27 years I’ve seen some good changes for this country and some terrible ones. I won’t list them here because that’s not the point of this post. This post is about voting.
A country (state, county, city) gets the government its citizens vote for. What this means is that every citizen over the age of eighteen has not only the privilege of voting but, in my opinion, the obligation. It’s your job as a citizen to make sure decent and competent people occupy public offices, people who will write legislation that is fair, well-written, and transparent. In other words, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the polity you live is well run. It’s down to you.This means actually voting. Voting is not tweeting, or ranting on Facebook, or writing angry blog posts. It is not having arguments with friends and family or waving placards at passersby. Voting is completing and submitting a ballot, raising your hand or number at a caucus, or walking to the designated corner—whatever you do in your part of the country. It means getting off your arse and doing it not just talking about it.
Washington State’s Democratic Presidential precinct caucuses are scheduled for Saturday March 26th. As I have MS I qualify as having a disability which means I’m allowed to send in something called a Surrogate Affidavit. So I’ve already voted. It was a shit ton easier than turning up in person and listening to a lot of tedious discussion and uninformed opinion. (It’s one of the two benefits of having a seriously vile illness. The other? Cruising through the airport security line in a wheelchair. Not much to weigh against all the disadvantages of MS but, hey, I’ll take it.)
I voted for Hillary Clinton.
I have many reasons for this but the main one is that I think of all the candidates, from either side, she’d do the best job of being President. If I could have voted in 2008 I would have voted for her. She strikes me as someone who knows how to make things work—a skill for which this country is in dire need. Clinton has practise at maintaining poise under scrutiny; she has good relationships in the Senate and various governments across the globe; and she understands how to manage people and keep them on-side. Importantly—at least to me—she’s a policy wonk.
For more impassioned reasoning, see How Hillary Clinton Won Harlem and Sady Doyle. For a more data-driven assessment see The Upshot on the Clinton-Sanders voting record.
This will be my first vote in an American presidential election. I like to think I’m making an informed choice. But the point is that I am making a choice. If you’re a citizen so should you. We don’t have to agree on that choice but, hey, voting is a citizen’s superpower. Why not use it?
Nicola Griffith 
Yes, I too, will be voting for Hilary for many of the reasons you state, and also because she more closely than any other male politico represents me and my accordingly my kids and grandkids who crave a country that is balanced and united.
I will be voting for Bernie. I wish I could vote for Hillary but I am very concerned about her connections to the establishment. She is old politics in a dress. While I do have concerns about Berrnie being able to “get things done” without the political connections he would need, my sense of justice for the underserved in this country overriding that. I do so want a woman president…just not this woman. And just so you know…I am 77. I have been fighting the women’s rights cause since the beginning (this beginning anyway). I worked with battered women in the 80s when shelters were unheard of was part of the fight to pass domestic violence laws. I did workshops and trainings in the 80’s for police and judges. (they were a pretty unreceptive audience then). I was the very first domestic violence community response coordinator in the state of Maine. So my feminist credentials are fairly well established. This is about social justice and I do see H
illary as the stronger advocate for that.
Well the above comment needs editing and the most imporant edit is I do not see Hillary as the stronger advocate.
So glad you’re here Nicola and that you are encouraging others to participate in our democracy! The world needs more people like you. Thanks for using the platform you have. I am voting for Sanders, but I appreciate reading your reasoning on voting for Clinton.
I too will be voting for Bernie – for all the reasons listed by Suzanne. Hillary is decidedly part of the huge machine – a machine that desperately needs fixing. Her ability to ‘stand her ground’ is insufficient reason
to vote for her in my opinion. There are too many issues at stake. Bernie Sanders has been kept out of the mainstream media way too much but has gained traction anyway. He’s got my vote for sure :))
Goddess bless you. I don’t know where this not voting thing in this country came from. Discouragement probably. I have voted in every election I could since I was 21 (yes, back then that was the voting age)- every single one. And 90% of the time my candidate lost. This is discouraging. I voted against Bush, and Reagan, and Nixon. And lost. Over and over. But I vote. My children vote! I am proud of that. We will be at a caucus for the first time this year. I expect a zoo. But I will be there with my cane, and maybe I can wave it at someone. I am, I have to say, saddened at your choice. I think your candidate has- well, snowed a lot of people, to use a very old expression. But, I knew you were sane and would never vote for the embarrassment of insanity that is infecting my country. I am sad and mad and of course- I Will Vote. And bless you, I know that when the big Vote comes, you will Vote again. Gods keep you well. Oh, and I vote in local elections, in-between elections- and I occasionally send useless e-mails to my soi-disant “representatives”- grin.
Nicola congratulations on getting TO vote and then making the effort to get it done. I too have cast my primary ballot in S.C. Early as we are on the road in the process of relocating. As soon as we get settled I will be registering to vote in our new place so I will be able to vote in November. Voting is the very engine that drives a democracy, and when people do not participate it then starves it of the fuel needed to run properly. Coincidently we too voted for Hillary for the very same reasons. Thanks for writing this piece, I hope you don’t mind if I share it.
Thank you for encouraging people to vote. It is frustrating to note that according to statistics compiled by the Census Bureau for Congressional Elections since 1978 voter turnout was below 50% in every election except 1982 (51.9%) and the rates have been declining with 2014 showing a turnout of 41.9%.
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/index.html
One of the ongoing themes in the coverage of this year’s elections is the anger of the voters at the government, but given that less than half the population does not show up to vote (those who can vote and are not unfairly restricted) one wonders if some of those who are so angry even bothered to vote. This does not even begin to cover the generally even more appallingly low turnouts in local elections – the most recent election in King County, WA had a turnout rate of 28.16% and WA votes by mail – so all people had to do was mail in their ballot or drop it in a collection box. Would also like to suggest that people support automatic voter legislation like the current WA state bill HB 2682. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2682&year=2015 Anything to make it easier for people to vote.
Very nice post. Thanks again for sharing and for your work as an author. Finished the Blue Place again last night. Not sure now how many times I have re-read it, but it is one of my go to books. So thank you again and please do vote in any election you can.
Have yet to choose. Clinton is a very smart person. I remember her from her single days as a Watergate investigator.
So great to read reasoned responses. Thanxxx for being here.