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Voting back in the day …

By Mark Constance

(Remembering past elections)

I remember passing the polling booth the first time because it was crowded. Then I went back after things had calmed down a bit.

I stood at the booth and filled out a two-sided ballot that included three millage proposals.

When I finished, I looked up. It was at that point I realized there wasn’t a single kid in the room.

I remember when I was small my grandpa took me with him to vote. It was one of those old blue machines where you pulled back the curtain, stepped inside and pulled the curtain closed.

I was way too short to see much, but in my mind it was big, loud and complicated. He flipped a switch, pulled a lever and we walked out.

As a result of that experience, I can remember that from the time my kids were small, I took them with me to vote.

I remember Sean, then Autumn, sitting on my lap, marking the spaces on my ballot with their tiny little hands. That was back before everyone got crazy about election protocols.

Kids need an example. If we, as parents, don’t teach them how to physically vote, how will they ever learn?

So, if you haven’t voted yet, try and get your kids in with you. Let them sit on your lap and mark the boxes. Get them their own “I Voted” sticker.

And be safe in the knowledge that you are nurturing the next generation of American voters, even if your politics aren’t the same.

 

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