This was the scene at my polling place, at an LDS ward near Salt Lake City's Capitol Hill. No lines, minimum wait, efficient poll workers - and even a chance to get a flu vaccine if you wanted one. (The posters said "Vote and Vaccinate.")

Not all polling places around America ran so smoothly this morning. At Penn State, nearly a thousand students were lined up before the polling stations opened. CNN reported mistakes by pollworkers, machine errors and long lines in Virginia, New Jersey and Ohio.

The idea that people have to stand in line for long periods of time to exercise their right to vote seems patently unfair, and unbecoming of a great nation. Rachel Maddow, commenting on her MSNBC show on Sunday, went even farther, calling the long lines "the new poll tax" - essentially giving up money (in the form of lost wages) in order to cast a ballot.

No matter the sacrifice, though, everyone should get out and vote today. If you're not sufficiently motivated by the issues or the candidates, go for the free stuff - Starbucks is giving out free coffee, Krispy Kreme is giving out red-white-and-blue donuts, and Ben & Jerry's is giving out free scoops of ice cream.

The best reason to vote, though, is that it makes you feel proud all day.

Labels: politics