Only posting about this once

So around this time of the year, particularly in 2012 (and again in 2016) almost EVERYONE is talking about the election and the debates. For those people who have Facebook, newsfeeds are practically exploding with updates on the debates or political arguments between friends. Articles are posted everyday online and segments are on the news about it daily. Different organizations and political party offices manage to get a hold of your number and call you incessantly about surveys and such things. Don't even get me started on the political ads on television, Hulu, Youtube and almost everywhere else. (Television to me has now become more stressful and annoying than relaxing because of this.) All of it's downright annoying! I refuse to tell who I'm voting for or for which party I'm affiliated with but, for the longest I've had a hard time trying to fully understand where candidates stand because they're busy "flinging mud" at each other instead of informing the people about what they stand for. And this isn't just presidential, this goes for candidates running for congress as well. There are little "buzzes" going around about voter fraud, possible issues with voter photo id, problems with early voting, risk of voting machines being tampered with. Maybe it's just me, but it's like it gets worse every presidential election. For me, all of that is enough for me to want to retreat somewhere quiet, uninterrupted and far away from the media so I can pray and meditate. So, as I wrap up this rare post about the election, I challenge you all to think about and consider these things:

1. Make sure you're registered to vote and all of your information is correct. Even if you've been a registered voter for a while, double no... triple check all to make sure nothing got mixed up. If something needs to be changed, get it fixed pronto!
2. Know who is running for state and local government. There's a chance they can help make changes for the better happen in your hometown and state faster than the president can.
3. Know the issues ahead of time. If you don't know what "Issue # whatever" is, go look it up, write it down, post it to Facebook or Twitter, put it in your phone somewhere... do something so you have a general idea what you're voting for or against.
4. If you're voting early or voting absentee, quadruple check everything to make sure it's right and that nothing on the outside of the envelope is incorrect or will cause the post office to throw it out or send it back.
5. If you're going out to vote, do whatever you have to do (so long as it's legal and it isn't hurting anybody) to make sure you get there in time and make sure you have all the documents you need.
6. Just a little hint, there are other parties out there to look at besides Democrat and Republican... just saying...
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I strongly urge you to do these things:
1. PLEASE be respectful of other people's political affiliation and/or opinion. No one likes being heckled, harassed and insulted because of their supports and beliefs and I'm pretty sure you don't either.

2. If you do go out to the booths to vote, PLEASE be nice to the Poll Workers!!!! They're only following the rules! In some cases, they're there working the polls/booths and cleaning up after you from 4-5 o' clock in the morning and don't get to leave until really late at night (ya know around the time that you may be getting ready to go to sleep). They get tired and cranky after a while too! So, before you bark at a Poll Worker think about how long they may have been there. Please, say thank you, give them a smile, wish them a nice day or something. Don't be a meanie.