> It says "I Voted".
>
> Today, probably about an hour ago, I went with my dad and his girlfriend to the garage of a concerned citizen and voted. Normally elections are not held in early October, of course, but with this freak governor-recall thing going on, they are. I had already gone over the sample ballots and considered the issues (not that there were many), and I went in, punched the little holes in my ballot, turned it in, and left. It was the coolest thing. It felt like I was exerting influence, even though statistically I really wasn't.
>
> The coolest thing about this is that this is my first time voting. I turned eighteen shortly after the election this March, so I wasn't elligible to vote then. I think it's profoundly cool that my first time voting, the first time I have ever formally engaged myself in the political process, is during an election that is also the first of its sort (if I am not mistaken). I don't think it's all that unreasonable to think that this election will go down in the history books, even if it only garners a sentence or two. I think that's just the neatest thing.
>
> At any rate, I intend to keep voting, every March and every November, and I think everyone else should too. The kind of voter turnout we're getting here, we should get every election, I think. People should care more.
>
> I VOTED!
>
> -Eric "YEAH!" Sleator

Yes, voting for the first time is mind-boggling stuff. It boggles a little less as elections come and go, but it still gives you a good feeling.

Actually, I was impressed by the turnout. I hope Californians will continue to do that. Maybe it will catch on across the nation.

As for history, this one may get more attention than some elections, depending on how it works out. I think the governator is going to need a lot of help, because he is a little short on experience. I hope Sacramento doesn't wind up like Washington, DC with everybody wondering who is in charge. Arnold (I can spell his first name.) has some things going for him. He is more intelligent than some think. His wife has a lot of political savvy, and he seems to be interested in serving the people. He sure as heck ain't doing it for the money.

Time will tell if California will grab the laughingstock-of-the-USA title away from Florida. That's one good thing about the turnout and big majority of the votes. The election is less likely to wind up in court.

I still worry about the fact that California is the nation's trendsetter. It would not be good if several states tried the recall thing. The one thing this country has always had going for it is a stable government. Transitions at both state and national level tend to go smoothly. I hope that continues.
Howard