This past Election Day I arrived at Bath’s polling place around 5:30 along with others getting off work and exercising their constitutional right to have a say in their governance before finally going home and enjoying the liberty democracy makes possible. Considering the state of our state and the prospect of four more years similar to the last eight of Maine’s misdirection, progressive inertia and combat politics, I had high hopes that I’d have to stand in a long line in order to participate in a groundswell of highly motivated democratic decision-making. It was soon evident however that the political terrain of apathy’s majority rule was essentially unchanged, at least by the turnout at hand.

Hopefully those choosing to stay away would have only voted contrary to my own political correctness, so altogether a good thing, and a reminder to be careful as to what one wishes and that the best of intentions is no assurance of a desired outcome. That said, even if failing in popularity democracy’s still a worthwhile investment in optimism for those that haven’t totally stopped believing in its idealistic promise.

Given all of the above, the number of people coming and going was nevertheless heartening and reports inside were that the turnout during the day had been “steady.” Not exactly a touted Blue Wave, or any other rose-colored tsunami of civic involvement, but evidence that hope shouldn’t be altogether abandoned. Despite this year’s overwhelming number of candidates, and the oddity of deciding on a People’s Veto by the very method the ballot measure was initiated to uphold, all seemed essentially per usual for an off-year primary election. That every eligible voter doesn’t always feel compelled to take part remains an always regrettable reality in what should be a consensus celebration of our self-determining visionary form of government. Customarily and shamefully, only 15 percent to one-third, twice that at best, bother to vote in any election.

Looking around at the familiar faces of fellow Bath citizenry doing their civic duty, I had no clue as to whom shared my political leanings or would vote completely opposite. Funny how “They” can look so much like “Us.” Altogether unfunny was that most everyone seemed to be a decade or two on either side of my own advanced years.

I did see one strikingly young and radiantly eager voter heading into the election process looking like a Norman Rockwell depiction of democracy on the move, an inspired lever by which to change the world. That her presence was such a notable observation was especially remarkable given all the participatory potential anticipated from the Parkland shooting’s supposed ripple effect upon politics. Hopefully she’s one of many like-minded freshly graduated Morse High additions to Maine’s electorate. Hopefully her peers all demonstrated their newly acquired and equally stoked democratic prowess sometime earlier in the day.

In casting my own vote all went well. Ranked-choice couldn’t have been more straightforward. A more clearly stated ballot question would have served better, but I was still able to figure out that voting Yes meant opposing a measure to put the kibosh the electorate’s already clearly expressed approval of RCV. Disregarding e-rumors on how to strategize one’s ranking so as to manipulate the vote’s ultimate outcome, I chose to indeed put my first choice first and those that followed positioned by actual preference rather than some calculated electability.

My first choice for governor garnered only 2 percent of the primary vote’s initial tally, a far cry from the straight out majority win Shawn Moody managed to cakewalk away within a first round 56 percent victory on the Republican side of the race. My second choice managed a 5percent endorsement. Those I put third and fourth split 31 percent of the vote pretty much equally. My fifth and final choice among the seven Democratic candidates came in second with 28 percent. Of the two I chose not to endorse, one came in dead last while the other secured a solid 33 percent of the vote which would have handily won if a plurality vote was still the deciding factor.

As to the People’s Veto, its 54 percent approval again confirmed that a majority of Mainers, at least those still participating, want a new system promising greater choice.

Though I voted for its original passage and vetoed its opposition from the legislature, I still have reservations about RCV’s implementation. As I write this the primary race for the Democratic nominee for governor remains yet undecided though exit polling predicts the initial plurality win will prevail. My first and second choices will obviously not. My third and fourth choices might still get enough of a bump from ranked recounting to leapfrog to victory. Sadly, if my vote ultimately counts in electing the winner it’s more likely to be my fifth place choice’s final trickle-up tipping of the scales to defeat the plurality front-runner I wouldn’t vote for, and still can’t support.

Without RCV that still wishful scenario would’ve already met defeat. My usually singular progressive vote is way familiar with losing. With ranked-choice, now I’m allowed four losing votes. Maybe five.