Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Did you vote? I voted on my way home from campus this afternoon. I drove to a nearby Lutheran church, parked my car, walked in, and handed my registration card to the first of three women at a long desk. There was no waiting. After signing my name, I showed my card to the second woman and received a large ballot from the third. I walked over to a booth, filled in the box next to "Straight Republican," and slid my ballot into an electronic machine for counting. I thanked the women for their time, said goodbye, and drove home. The entire process took less than 10 minutes. By the way, I asked the students in my Social and Political Philosophy course whether they intended to vote. Fewer than half raised their hands to signify that they did. To me, voting is a profound right and a solemn duty, right up there with honoring one's parents.