Unfortunately, this display of civic-mindedness was marred by the fact that the taking of photographs or video in the voting booth was made illegal in May 2015, when the Tennessee governor, Bill Haslam, passed a statewide bill specifying that cellphones must only be used in polling stations for "informational purposes to assist the voter in making election decisions".
But it's more than that, I'm voting because I know that every decision made after this election will affect the course of my life, and the lives of my children.
His solution is to create an alternative campaign-finance system; alternative because Supreme Court rulings, most especially the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, make it difficult to regulate the current system, which permits unlimited corporate and independent expenditures in support of candidates for federal office.
While some have criticised Peris' decision to quit after serving only one term, and to make her announcement only six weeks out of the election, her decision makes perfect sense to me.
They will also protest a government decision, made earlier this month, to ban foreign election monitors.
A national election that ends in a tie deserves a national decision made by national officials.
It is so interesting that voter turnout has a significant spike during the presidential election, which is a result of the extensive media coverage, but many citizens don't realize that some of the most important decisions made in this election will be a result of who gets elected as Senators, Representatives, and local officials.
"They want to participate in decision-making, elections and maybe even in the coming government," says Hani al-Masri, a political analyst in Ramallah.Arafat would have been appalled.
Christians have an important decision to make this election season: if and how to be involved.
