Maybe I am a one-issue voter

[bktheirregular]

I've gradually come to realize that there is something I look for in a candidate for an office, or more precisely, something that will disqualify a candidate seeking an office from getting my vote, no matter what his or her positions are.

Cruelty.

If you're cruel to others, and you look to me for support, you're looking in the wrong direction. For those who see cruelty as a virtue? Forget it.

I reserve the right to be subjective on this point.

I'm fairly certain it will influence how I vote in November, though it left me in a bit of a quandry as to how to vote in the New York primary - something I didn't realize I had a voice in as an absentee voter. Thankfully, there was a way for me to express my opinion that both remaining candidates in the Democratic primaries deserved to be heard: one can vote for delegates individually. Twelve delegates were on the ballot: six women, six men, six pledged to Bernie Sanders, six pledged to Hillary Clinton. (Each had three men and three women pledged.)

When I looked at others' attempts to blatantly restrict the rights of women, I figured that women needed a stronger voice, so I marked down all six women as my choices for delegates.

My ballot is currently in a mailbox at the Hellenic Post office on the corner of Karneadou and Ploutarchou streets in Athens.

Pardon my rambling.

Comments

[raincitygirl]

I don't think it's rambling. I find it very interesting. And I like how you voted for the female delegates.

Of course, I'm Canadian so if I were to live abroad for more than a few years, I would lose my right to vote. Thanks, ex-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, thanks TONS!

[bktheirregular]

Wait, you lose the right to vote if you retain citizenship but not residency in Canada? Wow, that sounds like something important to know.

And now I'm feeling horribly guilty because it's become easier for me to vote as a US citizen residing abroad, while there are any number of states making it harder and harder for their own resident citizens to vote...

[raincitygirl]

Yup, five consecutive years as a non-resident and you lose your right to vote, unless you're a diplomat or in the Canadian military. One of the many "innovations" brought in by Stephen Harper, and as of yet un-repealed by new PM Justin Trudeau.

Don't feel guilty, just use your opportunity to vote in politicians who actually CARE that other voters are being disenfranchised.