Election Day

Today is Election Day in the United States. It is a big year for us because we are electing our President this year and it has been a very contentious race. If you live in the United States, I hope you get out and vote!

I started wondering how Election Day was started and why it was this time every year. I want to share with you what I found out.

Congress passed a federal law in 1845 making the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as Election Day. Before this happened, states held elections any time they wanted within a 34 day period before the first Wednesday in December. Unfortunately, the early results in some states could affect the turnout and results in later elections held in other states. That is why Congress created one day for the nation to vote.

The reason they decided on that specific day goes back to the 1800s. People were farmers and lived far from where they needed to vote so they were given a two-day window for Election Day. They couldn’t do this on weekends since it interfered with church days. Wednesday was market day which was an important day for the farmer’s livelihood. So, Tuesday was the most convenient day for most people.

November was also the best choice for the month since spring and summer months interfered with the planting season. In November the harvest was finished and winter had not arrived yet.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Voting

Last week my husband and I voted early (absentee – in person) because we won’t be at home on Election Day. We usually vote this way every year because we usually are never home on Election Day. 

I think casting my vote is so important. I think it does count and helps direct how our government should be run. It is so important that I’m afraid if people don’t exercise their right to vote that we would lose this right. I have visited countries where people don’t have a right to say anything about their government and are in fact worried about the consequences if they tried. How lucky we are that we have the freedom to gripe and complain if we don’t like how things are going in our country!

I hear many people who say that they won’t vote because it doesn’t matter. I say this is just a cop-out and these people are just plain lazy. The people who refuse to vote do not have the right to complain when things aren’t going the way they like in our country. Not voting is just outright laziness and these people should be ashamed of themselves.

I worry about the outcome of the election and I hope it comes out the way that I voted. If it does, I hope I can be graceful and not gloat about our success. But if it doesn’t, I did my part. I can complain and help the opposition try to win next time. Either way, I will have done my best.

I voted.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Accepting Loss with Dignity

In the article A 12 Step Plan on what to do if your candidate loses on Election Day by Laura Petrecca, she lays out a great plan. Check out the steps she gives because they are so on target.

Before the election and after the election, I have heard so many people acting hateful to people that used to be there friends. I watch people’s behavior and it disturbs me so much because students are watching this and learning this awful behavior.

I find it so disturbing when people state, “If you voted for _____, we can no longer be friends.” To me, that is bullying. They are holding their friendship hostage and that is not what friends do.

People need to learn how to agree to disagree but still can be civil and friendly to each other.

Just because someone votes for someone else, doesn’t make them a bad person.

We can’t all agree on everything the same or the world would be a boring place.

When I was growing up, my parents encouraged me not to talk about religion and politics with others because it might make them uncomfortable and it was an invasion of privacy. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and can vote accordingly. Maybe that is why I’m shocked at the behavior of people today.

Maybe we aren’t training our young people enough about how to accept loss.

When playing sports, opposing teams shake hands or bump fists or high five after a game. Schools now are enforcing “sportsmanlike behavior” with the fans and the teams. Maybe this needs to roll over to other activities too like elections.

How do you teach students how to accept losses like this with dignity? Please share.