Last Monday. We usually vote early in person, but we will be out of town throughout the entire in person voting period this year. Hence the absentee ballots.

Like you, I am very careful to look at every contest and every candidate. I am that rarest of voters - a real Republican; a voter whose party affiliation was formed back when the party actually stood for something real like smaller government, lower spending, and less government regulation - and by that I mean ridiculous regulations, not those which serve a true purpose like protecting our environment. Back when defending the rights of others and protecting the Constitution was paramount. And I will readily admit that the only reason that I have not changed my party affiliation is that I can still vote against Trump and all of his MAGA cronies in the party primaries. Were it not for the fact that I still believe it is better to fight the system from within, I would have left the party years ago. I have never in my life simply voted the party line, carefully analyzing every contest and choosing the best candidate irregardless of party, and to be completely honest I think I actually only voted for one Republican candidate this cycle (for a city judgeship) as she was the better option.

But I would truly love it if I could notify every candidate, every network, and the US Postal Service that my votes are already cast - SO STOP SENDING ME JUNK MAIL, ROBOCALLING MY HOME AND CELL PHONE, AND MAKING ME WATCH RIDICULOUS TV COMMERCIALS, lol. I am so sick of it already.