I almost forgot to vote

 

It's hard to believe that I almost forgot to vote. Ballots are due June 9th and if I were here I could take my ballot up to the local voting place in the elementary school, but I will be on a train that day.

One can almost say, "If it's Sunday, there's a votation."

Posters go up a few weeks before the many votations all over the country.

This time we are only voting on two federal issues, although sometimes there can be double-digit issues. Here's the two:

1. Should our Federal Counselors be elected directly. Currently they are selected by their parties. The seven represent six parties. Each Counselor heads up a major department and the presidency rotates annually.

2. Changing immigration policy.

The people only need to get enough signatures 50,000/100,000 to have a subject put on the ballot or to try to override anything voted by the government, a wonderful balance of power.

Fortunately, I still have time to get my ballot in the mail. The package sent includes a ballot, a booklet explaining the proposed legislation, a verification card, and a list of the position of all the parties (20).

The information booklet often taxes my French but I plow through to almost form my opinion. My last decisive factor is to see how the parties feel. Usually I agree with the socialists, the greens. When they agree with the UDC, the far right party, I review everything.

I take the right to vote very seriously. This as one of the reasons I wanted to become Swiss, to be a full member of the society. Too many people fought for my right to vote. I vote in tribute to all the Anthonys and Pankhursts and those whose names I will never know who gave my gender power in their societies.

Switzerland was the first western country to propose the right to vote and the last to make it a reality in every canton. Appenzell was the last. There are places in Switzerland where people come to the centre of town and vote by hand.

On our way back from a Chinese buffet in France, I had my roommate let me out of the car. I dropped my ballot into the post.

My reward, a walk home with a view of the vineyards, lake and Jura along with the knowledge I'd honoured the Anthonys and the Pankhursts and those official who had faith in me when they granted me Swiss nationality.