Caucus.

This weekend, Maine held both the Republican and Democratic Caucuses. Up until now I have never participated in a caucus. Being only 23 years old there was only one other caucus that I’ve been eligible to participate in and that took place during the time when I was sick as a dog lying in bed having just left Smith. So this was my first caucus. Before this year, I’d heard the word caucus but I had no idea what a caucus actually was. Maine is the only state I’ve ever lived in that still holds caucuses. For those of you who don’t know I’ve since learned that a caucus is when an entire municipality gets together to choose their candidate by dividing the room in two. Those voters in favor of one candidate stand to one side of the room those in favor of the other stand on the opposite side.

When I first read about how a caucus works, I groaned internally. It sounded like a time suck. Casting a ballot is so much easier and convenient, I thought. And yes, that’s true, but as the time to caucus drew nearer I got more and more excited. I was interested to see who would come and who would stand for Hillary and who would stand for Bernie. (I think those of you who follow my blog have a pretty good idea of my politics, but for those of you who aren’t regulars: yes, I’m a Democrat).

I was also excited to get a chance to caucus with my entire family. Usually on election days we’re all busy with our independent lives and vote at different times. But today, being a Sunday when none of us had to work, we all put on our hats and coats and went to the caucus together. We live quite close to the town opera house, where the caucus was held, and we were able to walk there. So not only were we being politically active as a family, we got to go for a nice walk. Pretty perfect Sunday afternoon.

There was a line stretching out the Opera House door and down the hill. I saw people I went to high school with, some of my old high school teachers, people I took adult ed classes with, people I’ve lost touch with. There were people of all ages from those voting in their very first election to the oldest members of our community. People even brought their kids with them. It was great.

It was wonderful to hear the civil debates going on all around: people trying to talk each other around at the last-minute and undecideds trying to settle on a choice. Then came the surrogates arguing for each candidate. There were about five for each candidate and they took turns and it was all very civil and heartening. At last we stood and chose our sides. I won’t say which side I chose. Those of you who know me can probably guess which side of the room I stood on.

I’m not writing today to try and convince people to vote one way or the other. I believe that politics are a personal choice. It isn’t my place to try and pressure anyone into voting my way. I do however believe that it is essential that everyone who is able to vote, actually gets up, goes out and votes. So I urge you, if your state hasn’t held primaries yet, go out and vote. Even if you feel like you won’t make a difference. Even if you don’t like any of the candidates on the ballot. Go out and vote. It is not only a right, it is a duty. In my mind choosing not to vote is a slap in the face to all those who fought so hard to earn that right for you and those who are dying elsewhere in the world to earn that right.

So thank you for reading. Now go vote.