The Vote Is In.
And away we go.
Words that spring to mind are clock-work, butter, and a ... baby's bum??
A registered San Francisco, California voter, I posted my request for an absentee ballot from Sapporo, Japan on Sept. 30th and had a large envelope full of ballots in my mailbox on October 8th. I don't really know such a feat of efficiency was possible -- and I'm amazed. The credit must be given to someone ... Japanese or American postal service? San Francisco? America??
I signed up upon arrival to Japan with the American Embassy in Tokyo, which sends out helpful email reminders once a month regarding various issues of import, including the impending elections. At the third email reminder to get my absentee ballot in before the deadline, I reacted.
And other than the 10 minutes or so it took for me to become un-transfixed by the pretty pastel colors of the California ballot (see below), the 10 minutes it took to find someone to take a picture of me in front of the post office (also, see below), and the 10 minutes it took for the two women in the post office to research in a large book what "no postage necessary if mailed from within the United States" meant, the entire process was truly effortless. Including most of the choices.
I hope voting from within the States will be similarly undemanding for all.
- The multi-colored ballots from CA.
- In front of the local post office mailing my absentee ballot.
