Check yes or no

I am not a registered voter. There I said it. I am really not ashamed. And now I hear a collective GASP from all of you. OR maybe I hear a sigh from some to know they are not alone.

I have been a registered voter in the past. When I was 18 years old, quite proudly I strode into the Pond Creek Senior Citizens' Sunshine Center making my grand debut as a responsible and mature citizen fulfilling my civic duty. How appropriate the first issue I would be voting for was on legislation for state wide gambling. And being the well groomed conservative Baptist I was, I knew the answer to this question was a resounding, NO. Ballot in hand, smiling and confident I entered the curtained booth. I looked down at the full page ballot. Stunned, I couldn't find the questions that said "do you want a lottery, check yes or no". I found a lot of lengthy statements regarding this and that, and a bunch of other nominations for positions I didn't even knew existed. I checked what I thought was correct, and scanned over the litany of other choices. I left in a blur and bewildered. What the heck did I just do? I sure had hoped I checked the right boxes.

It was then I learned, the political process is not black and white. There are no yes and no questions. I decided for the next election I would be more prepared but I just never had the time to research the questions and elections to know the appropriate choices.

I'm probably a bit of a cynic, or yeah a little more than a bit. I haven't voted again since my debut. My husband is a faithful voter and has even taken our daughter to explain the political process. He's such a good dad. A few months ago, since it's a presidential election year, I began the registering process, I couldn't even decide which party I wanted to select.

I see a lot of people get very intensely involved especially in a presidential election. I'm ambivalent toward presidential elections. I probably wouldn't vote in one unless it was Satan himself running. Although, I have heard rumors of that being the case this year. I see so much congressional gridlock, I don't think there will be much variance in any of the presidential nominees.

A congressman told me once that he rarely hears from his constituents. He said that sometimes, he makes decisions, after only receiving a handful of emails or phone calls on an issue. Here is where I have found my power. I email my congress people regularly on issues I would like to see passed or not passed. I don't mention that I'm not a registered voter, hehehe. Don't let that out. ;) Unless he or she is being courted by a big $$ lobbyist, they usually listen.

I do wish that I voted in local elections. Once again, I believe that you have a lot more say in local issues. I'm all for school bond proposals and making the city of Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma a more attractive and healthy place to live.

Being a nonvoting citizen, I don't really have a vested interest in any of the presidential nominees. I believe it just gives people another issue to divide themselves, because we don't have enough of those, right?

If you don't know who your legislators are, click here to find them. You will then have their email and phone numbers to let them know how you feel regarding upcoming issues and votes. You can also read all active legislation at the same website.

Have a great Tuesday!