Voting is not Free

This is my second Presidential Election. In 2004, when I was 19, I voted and worked at the local polling station. I was a supervisor, and was paid $110 for a 15 hr day. I thought voting was free. Apparently, only if you physically show up. I thought I had a right to vote, but apparently at some kind of cost.

I am outraged. About two weeks ago, I received my absentee ballot. I already know who I am voting for. I looked through the ballot and I had to stick my ballot in two envelopes. Why two? I don't know. One had to be signed by two witnesses or by a notary public. The other was to mail both the ballot and the signature envelope in the one big envelope.

Like there was enough space on the back of the ballot, they could've added lines for signatures or a notary, instead of an extra weighty envelope. And have they ever heard of security envelopes? Why don't we just use those instead of double envelopes that cost more money? What a waste.

So I filled out my ballot and last night got my two witnesses via my coworkers. As I pulled out the envelope, I noticed it said "Put Postage Here". Excuse me? I have to pay for postage? What fucking bullshit is this?

So wait, if I was home, and had to vote, all I have to do is walk across the street, which is free, and vote. But, if I'm away, I have to pay for postage for my vote to count? Excuse me? No.

That is a load of bullshit. And it wasn't like I paid normal postage of 42 cents. Oh no. I paid a fucking dollar for it. Why am I paying a dollar to vote? Since when is there a sticker price on voting?

Absentee Ballots

When mailing election materials to my state or territory, do I have to pay postage?

When mailed from any U.S. post office, U.S. embassy or consulate, or APO/FPO mail facility, the hardcopy voter registration/absentee ballot form is postage-paid. In order to receive free postage, the online version of the form must be mailed in our postage-paid envelope. You may mail the completed form in an envelope with proper postage affixed. Ensure that your form is postmarked (see postmarking instructions below) and sent before your state's specific deadline. You must pay postage if the materials are mailed from a non-U.S. postal facility.

Oh so military doesn't have to pay but the average citizen does? What the fuck?

Some of my medical bills I don't pay postage. A survey sent to me by some random company doesn't make me pay for postage for my opinion on their product. A questionaire about the latest procedure done to me to make sure I got quality care doesn't make me pay for it. So why am I paying for my right to vote? Isn't that unconstitutional?

Apparently in New York residents get prepaid envelopes. I don't understand why every state doesn't do that. I am also bothered how every state has different polling machines. That annoys me too. I remember when I was younger and went with my mom to the polling stations, they went behind booths and pulled levers. Some states still do that. My state has then changed to a ballot that requires a pencil and draw a line to connect arrows, and then put through a machine. Can't we just have standardized voting materials? I think if each state has the same voting rules and regulations, and polling machines or what have you, there would be less loss of votes and recalling votes and other nonsense.

Other states are running articles in the paper warning people to make sure they have enough postage on their ballots. Why? Again why are we paying for our right to vote? Don't we pay enough with gas, and the recent economy crisis, like shit do we get a break?

The irony behind this was today during class, we started talking about young people voting. One of the guys in my class, JR, said that his friend noticed yesterday how he had to pay for postage. My teacher goes "Really?" and I quickly whipped out my absentee ballot I had ready to send right after class. I showed the class the huge envelope with the place that I had to pay for postage. Like that deters voters. If people had to pay to vote, then no wonder we have such a low turnout with the young voters. Most young people my age are in college, and want to vote. But they get their absentee ballots and look that they have to pay, that's ludicrous. Students already pay credit card bills, books, fees for labs and classes and college tuition, do we need to take on more financial strain?

When I went to the post office to have it weighed, I mentioned to the clerk how I have to pay for my ballot. She goes "Well, someone has to pay for it." Excuse me bitch, drop the attitude. The government wants my vote, then they should fucking pay for it. Not me. I pay enough tax dollars, I don't need to add to it.

I know it's only a dollar, but to some students a dollar is a lot. That's money that's not going to other necessities.

I say let's vote to have all absentee ballots prepaid for all elections from now on in all states.

Can I use my postage as a tax deduction? What if the person I elected for office doesn't get in, do I get my money refunded? Jesus Christ!

Well then, I voted. Go Obama, or GObama.

Someone please stop the insanity.