I was reading tonight on the State of Washington’s schedule of results site that they don’t release official results until the 17th of November. I guess I’m just amazed by that since well, a lot of people already moved on. Here are some of the results (unofficial, of course, that can be found at King County’s result site)
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My polling place was very comfortable, nobody pestering me for my opinion, and full of information about each candidate right at my fingertips. Yes, I voted from home with an absentee ballot two weeks ago. I like the idea of having the ballot mailed to your house, and being able to avoid going to the actual polling booth.

Is that wrong? I don’t think so. In some ways I feel better informed about issues when I can look up information on each candidate before voting. It doesn’t really matter on the headline grabbing races, but it does help for the smaller local elections. At least for me, I would always forget which judge I wanted for which seat.

Anyway- I rather feel like all the hard work that went into this election by me and many of my friends was wasted. I’m still trying to figure out what the majority of Americans were thinking. How could they be so easily fooled?

Oh, wait! I forgot we’re talking about Americans.

I just want to issue a personal thanks (despite the results over which I am heartbroken) to those of you in the state that helped turn it blue over the course of the day. Watching the results at Chop Suey in the company of my peers and neighbors, fellow Americans and voters alike was quite compelling. Its nice to see so many feel strongly about what is going on in our country and for that I’m grateful. I urge you as did John Edwards in Kerry’s concession speech to not give up the fight. Social revolution can start with just one person and there’s no reason Seattle can’t be the hot spot. Once again, thanks for voting…And if you didn’t…I hope you were sincerely looking for a job.

It’s very easy to be an absentee voter in the state of Washington — a story in today’s Seattle PI states that absentee ballots will make up approximately 70% of all votes cast here.

I’ve been voting absentee for several years now and in many ways it’s a wonderful thing. Filling out my ballot at home means that I have time to consider each candidate and initiative carefully, with reference materials easy to hand. And although I’ve always been a conscientious voter when it comes to the big elections, now that I receive every ballot in the mail, I vote even in the “small” elections (local school board, local primaries, etc.).

All of that said, I still feel a bit sad about not actually going to a polling station and filling out my ballot in a voting booth. When I first moved to Seattle, I voted in a Senior Center a few blocks from my apartment on 17th and John. I really enjoyed waiting in line with all of the other voters and helping the slightly-flustered volunteers find my name on their voters’ lists.

On a rainy day like today, I have to admit that I’m glad that my ballot has already been sent in. But I also feel a bit sad that my participation in the voting process is so divorced from the concrete realities of a physical location and other flesh-and-blood voters.

If all goes well, this whole thing could be over by Tuesday evening; so here’s one last reminder to take some time out of your day to visit your friendly neighborhood polling place. Bring snacks or reading materials in case the lines are long and have fun out there.

In case you’ve been living in a cave and don’t know where to go to exercise your democratic muscles, the internet will save you. King County residents can put their tax dollars to work with their very own election website and polling place locator [metrokc]

For those of you reading from afar, check out http://mypollingplace.com.

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Before you go, print out a copy of the “Washington Voter’s Bill of Rights” [ourvote] in case things seem sketchy at the polls.

Finally, we hope to see you at at least one of the previously mentioned afterparties.