November 2000, I was in Henan Province.  I wanted to vote but was not able to because I didn’t think far enough ahead.  Oh well.  People asked me, why vote?  I told them it was very important and that it is every American’s right to vote.  Then the inevitable question pops up, “will you vote?”  Then I have to sheepishly say, well, not I can’t because I live in China.

Fast forward, November 2004, I find myself in China again.  This time in Shanghai.  On my blog that day I wrote this:

I have totally slacked off and here I am in far off China not being able to vote for the second presidential election in a row!! You see 4 years ago I was here in China and I didn’t vote and miraculously I didn’t learn my lesson and now 4 years later I am back in China with no ABSENTEE ballot. AAAAARRRRRGGG!

But the difference between 2000 and 2004 is that I was home in 2001 till 2004.  So I have many reasons to have registered and gotten things sent to me.  That kind explains this year.

Fast forward to today.  November 4th 2008.  I will miss another election.  Perhaps one of the most important elections of my life, or at least my voting life.  But perhaps everyone who is 31 years old with a family and who is paying taxes would say something like that.

So just like the first year in the Henan Province, China, and like my second missed Election Day in Shanghai, I will scan the internet, I will listen to the radio, I will talk to people and most likely try and call home to find out the winner as soon as I can.

Let’s hope it’s a clean and good election this year with a good outcome.  And no craziness.

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