Early voting starts in Ohio on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Yahoo asked residents of the Buckeye State if they voted yet and how they feel about marking ballots more than a month before Election Day. Here's one perspective.
COMMENTARY | Voting started here early in Ohio, but I don't plan on casting my ballot in Akron today. After all, anything can happen between now and Tuesday, Nov. 6.
I'm 43, and I think back over how much has transpired in the four years since I wavered and prayed over the McCain-Palin versus Obama-Biden choices in my booth that crowded Election Day.
In 2008, I darkened the Obama circle -- and not because of the woman who hollered out "Obama '08!" in the throng of folks thick with African Americans, the majority no doubt voting for the first time in their lives.
No, this Ohioan wasn't new to the presidential placement game.
I'd already flipped from the obligatory straight Democratic ticket I'd been indoctrinated to think was black folks' duty to Republican and back again.
I voted for Barack Obama in 2008, George W. Bush in 2004, Al Gore in 2000 and Bill Clinton in 1996. That was the first time I voted, a giddy 27-year-old wandering outside Chicago's Daley Center, proud I finally exercised such an important and well-fought-for right.
Now here I am, an Ohioan leaning way toward Obama, feeling powerful like the pretty girl that everyone wants to woo at the dance. So goes Ohio, so goes the White House, they say.
Yeah, Paul Ryan is hot, but I prefer crazy old cussin' Biden. That's what I thought on the treadmill today.
After debate watching, I will again turn to the ultimate authority for signs.
Abortion messages on bi-planes swayed me from the liberal side years ago.
The perfect-looking façade of stuffed shirt hypocrites getting caught foot-tapping in bathrooms, while acting holier than thou, have brought me back to center.
Better the devil you know than the one you don't.
