Voting in India

Before I left for my current adventure, Becky and I spent a morning getting me voted.

That's right. I'm in India and I voted.

In order to vote, I had to send in a form before I left (okay, actually, I filled it out but didn't have time to send it before I left, so thanks, Mom for sending it in for me). Then they emailed me my ballot. 

I don't have a printer here so I had to find a place to have my ballot printed.

Then I had to get Matthew to drive me there because I wasn't so confident yet on the scooter.

Then I had to wade through eight pages of instructions and forms before I got to the two pages that actually made up the ballot.

Then I had to buy envelopes. That was another trip to Paltan Bazaar. 

And finally, the post office.

This is the India Post Office in Dehradun. 

I have no idea what's going on in these lines.

I just walked up to this desk thing and told them I had a letter to send to America.

They weighed it and then gave me a handful of stamps.

They also very nicely let me borrow their tape.

Apparently there is no glue on the envelopes you buy here.

Then a very nice guy walked me outside to show me where to actually post the letter.

(so again, what the heck is going on in those other lines? Maybe buying life insurance? There is a sign for it in the building.)

And voila! Voting in India

So if you're sitting at home today and think it's too much trouble to vote, I say psha! get off your butt and drive the half mile to your local polling place and be a part of the democracy that is America.