Things I Learned From My Pizza Box

• In 2004, Washington state ranked third in voter turnout for the presidential election with 82% of registered voters voting. The first two states were Colorado and Oregon with 89% and 85% respectively. My friends Kathy and H have chosen well with where they have lived in recent years.
• It is the law in Australia to vote. They get 95% turnout that way. The US averages 52.5% for presidential elections and under 40% for non-presidential elections.
• The US ranks in the bottom 20% of the world in voter participation. I always think of the pictures I saw when blacks in South Africa were finally allowed to vote. The pictures showed people lined up for miles to be able to cast their ballot. It is a precious freedom that we take for granted in this country.

Thank you Pagliacci for tasty fig prosciutto pizza and election factoids.