Extra Credit

I remember getting extra credit in senior civics class for registering to vote, even though I would would narrowly miss voting in the 2004 presidential election. At the time, I didn’t understand the critical importance of off-year and local elections, so the first time I cast my ballot wasn’t until 2008. I dragged my husband with me, along with my driver’s license and a utility bill to prove residence. Our polling location was in the gymnasium of an elementary school, and I remember thinking about the children who had made the artwork lining the hallways. I have voted in many, many elections since then, and whenever I can, I bring my children who assist with pressing buttons or filling in bubbles.

Jamie Sebby