Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Well, here we are. The last day of voting in this election cycle, and if you believe the polls, things are looking pretty optimistic. There seems to be some momentum, some enthusiasm, and perhaps even a little light at the end of what has been a very long, very frustrating political tunnel. And I have to admit, I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about the outcome.

But there’s a problem with optimism. I’ve been here before.

Those of us who were convinced Hillary Clinton was going to win in 2016 remember how that turned out. We watched the polls, listened to the pundits, examined the predictions, and went to bed believing we knew how the evening was going to end. Then we woke up the next morning to discover that apparently somebody had forgotten to tell reality what the polls were saying.

Fast-forward to 2024. Once again, plenty of us believed Kamala Harris was going to win. The enthusiasm was there, the predictions were encouraging, and the polling suggested a much different outcome than the one we eventually got. Apparently, optimism and election forecasting have about the same reliability as a weather report written by someone looking out their kitchen window.

So forgive me if I don’t start celebrating just yet.

I want to believe the polls. I want to believe that people have finally had enough. Enough of the chaos, enough of the corruption, enough of the endless distractions, and enough of an administration that seems to believe the rules are something that apply exclusively to everybody else. I want to believe that voters are paying attention, that common sense is making a comeback, and that the electorate is ready to change direction.

But wanting something to happen and knowing it will happen are two entirely different things.

And then there’s the counting. Now, before anyone starts clutching their pearls and accusing me of suggesting that every election official is somehow participating in a grand conspiracy, let’s be clear: counting votes takes time, and legitimate election procedures exist for a reason. But after years of election denial, accusations, lawsuits, political intimidation, and people who seem perfectly comfortable questioning the integrity of an election whenever the results don’t go their way, it’s difficult not to approach the entire process with a little skepticism.

Especially when we’re dealing with a political movement that has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to bend its own principles whenever convenient.

Let’s face it, this administration and its political allies have given us plenty of reasons to keep our eyes open. We’re talking about a collection of convicted felons, alleged criminals, political opportunists, and outright thieves who have somehow managed to turn public service into something resembling a traveling circus with a very questionable accounting department.

Trust is something that has to be earned. It isn’t automatically included with a government position, a television appearance, or a campaign slogan.

So today, I’m going to remain optimistic. I’m going to hope that the polls are right, that the enthusiasm translates into actual votes, and that enough Americans have decided they would rather have a functioning democracy than another round of political theater.

But I’m also going to keep my powder dry.

I’m not ordering the champagne. I’m not writing the victory speech. And I’m certainly not assuming that a favorable polling average means we’ve already crossed the finish line. We’ve learned that lesson twice now, and I’m not particularly interested in paying for a third refresher course.

There is still time to vote. There is still time to make your voice heard. And if you haven’t cast your ballot, please do it. Don’t assume someone else will take care of it. Don’t assume the polls have already settled the outcome. Elections aren’t won by people who intend to vote, or people who agree with the polling numbers. They’re won by people who actually show up.

Maybe tomorrow we’ll have something to celebrate. Maybe we’ll discover that the polls finally got something right. Maybe we’ll see a little accountability return to Washington and a reminder that public office is supposed to be about serving the public, not enriching yourself or protecting your political friends.

I’d really like that.

For now, though, I’ll settle for being nauseously optimistic. Hopeful enough to believe change is possible, skeptical enough to know that nothing is guaranteed, and cynical enough to recognize that with this particular collection of felons and political thieves, you just never know what tomorrow might bring.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. And for heaven’s sake, go vote.