I act as one, but I'm not alone

I voted.
Sort of.
I hope.

This being Louisiana, having registered well more than a month before the election, they were still unable to put my name on the list of registered voters. However, I waved around my registration card (unofficial, it's a postcard telling me a registration card will be coming)and noted all the signs saying that I needed only that and a picture ID--or, without that, just to answer a few questions. It was my semi-Louisianan citizen right to vote and I was determined to exercise it.

I awoke before 5:30 this morning. The excitement of voting in this election that I have followed passionately for the past year meant I had only slept lightly, and the noise of cars on the street, so unusual for a late sleeping city, startled me upright, thinking I had missed an alarm. Shrugging into my jeans and One Million Strong shirt (appropriately covered as to not be arrested at the polls), I headed outside to drive to my voting station. However, once outside, I found a strange phenomenon--people driving in reverse down my street, people struggling for parking spots, people on the sidewalk across from my house. Yes, a polling station right across the street. Huh? However, multiple websites had told me to drive downtown and go to Drew Elementary, and would the Obama site really guide me wrong? So off I went--to find a line wrapped around the block.

Seeing as I was still confused at the polling place across the street, I was not about to stand in said line without confirming my ward and district--and without coffee. So home I went, and headed out again at 8am, fortified with cleanliness and caffeine. No line! I headed to the 9/14 table and presented my postcard, "Your mail voter registration application form has been received." And...my name is not on file. I couldn't vote electronically. I couldn't use a full ballot. I was given two provisional paper ballots, one for President and Senate, one for Congress. While these are the issues about which I know the most, I was still a bit upset to not be allowed to vote on each issue. In addition, I had no privacy--anyone sitting at the table, anyone behind me could see exactly what I checked.

Before I left, they tore off the tops of my envelopes and pointed out the number I could call next week to find out if my vote has been counted. At this point, I don't think I want to know. In my mind, I voted.

Now comes the wait and the watch, the close monitoring of political sites. Tonight I am claiming a seat on Em's couch to watch the results, computer close by, texting machine in hand. Although the polls all seem to be in agreement, I refuse to count on this. I want to see it for myself.

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