Responsibility...

I did my civic duty today and voted.

I wish I could do it again and again.

Voting is a great reminder of a core belief of mine: great responsibility, great reward.

Voting was a bit taxing. Here is the line:

This is the second time I've tried to vote. The first time, the line was even longer.

It took about 10 minutes of standing in line outside the "voting room." Then, there was another 20 minutes inside while my ballot was prepared.

Aside from the glitch that arose with my and a couple of other ballots that caused us to have to wait longer, I was ecstatic that there was actually a line to vote! People are taking this election seriously, and I believe the turnout will be record breaking.

Gov. Crist actually declared a state of emergency, because so many people were participating in early voting that extra hours were needed. That is AWESOME!

When I finally got to cast my ballot, here's where I sat:

One disconcerting thing was the lack of privacy in this room. I could clearly see who the man next to me voted for (and it wasn't my guy!). 

I voted for the candidate I believe is best for the job: Barack Obama. I've been reluctant to reveal my voting preference here, as I know several of my friends support John McCain, and I respect their decisions. I never want politics to be something that causes a rift between me and my loved ones, which is why I'll only talk politics with someone who asks (and then I won't shut up!).

But, I feel like revealing my choice at this point is necessary. I'm sure my friends who disagree with my choice will respect it and me just as I do them and theirs.

In the end, this is what it's all about anyway: