I am a U.S. citizen and a third-generation Democrat. Today I voted early. Thank you, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and the other suffragists who worked so hard to win this right. The 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified in 1920. And so I cast my vote for President, Senator, Congress, and more.

“Isn’t this the greatest country in the world?” a friend asked frivolously at the town center.

“Sure,” I said half-mockingly. “We’re living the dream.”

In 33 states and Washington, D.C, you can vote early without an excuse at various town centers, the auditor’s office, libraries, etc. Why vote early? No lines, lots of leisure, and your duty is done.

You go into a table-lined room, your identity is ascertained by a few quick questions, you fill in rectangles on the ballot, and then drop it in the unprofessional-looking plastic ballot box.

It’s over!

And now I feel relaxed.

It has been an ugly election. And if I had to take much more of it, I might not have voted at all. So I did it early.  The Republicans want to undo all the great work of Obama and generations of brilliant, well-educated men and women.  Every day I am horrified by Trump’s vile opinions of women, immigrants, race, war, abortion, etc.

Clinton was not my first choice for the Democratic candidate, but she is solid and has all the qualifications. So, yes, I supported Bernie, but now it’s Go, Hillary!  She will do a great job.  I laughed at Trump when he said at the State Fair in 2015 that he would build a wall between Texas and Mexico. How did he become the Republican candidate?

The Democrats are worried about getting the vote out. Do vote! It’s not just for president: we need good senators, congressmen and women, state senators, and state reps.

Why is it our duty to vote?

Well, I myself am thrilled by

1. The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare
2. The still affordable state university system, funded almost equally by federal and state money. Pell grants, loans, and scholarships made it possible for so many of us to get a great education.  May it continue!
3. The national parks.
4. The EPA and environmental awareness.
5. Social Security (it’s still there: let’s keep it.)
6. And so much more.

Hillary Clinton was one of my mother’s idols. She spoke often about hearing Hillary and Bill speak on the Pentacrest in Iowa City in 2008. She  gave me Hillary’s memoir because she thought “it was important.”

So fingers crossed, we are about to have our first woman president.