My politics are broader than Democrat or Republican. I’ve been a Republican for 40 years and donated every year to the GOP. As counterpoint I also donated to Biden and Buttigieg. But it is Florida voting rules that mean I am no longer able to vote. Pay taxes, sit on juries, but not vote.
Unless you own, lease, or rent real property in Florida you can’t register to vote. You can’t use a PO Box as an address. So, I pay registration fees on my Florida registered boats (home). I pay fuel taxes. I pay resort and marina taxes wherever I stay. But as a digital nomad …
I’m under the restrictive and getting more restrictive voting laws of Florida and I’m not allowed to vote. I’m going to push it with the board of elections, but they use resident as euphemism for land holder.
I admit my permanent residence is mobile. I live on an old sailboat and travel. My previous marina rental and live aboard status was enough to register to vote but I was paying $50k a year for a slip I wasn’t in.
There are lots of ways to sneak past this. I could claim a friends address as my own. I could claim a family members address (places my home will never be). But I’m an old school by the law kind of guy. I’d rather bitch about my own party disenfranchising me on Twitter.
Almost 40 years of being a Republican. I’ve testified in front of congress dozens of times about the legitimacy of elections. The absolute irony that I now find myself disenfranchised is not lost on me. Election hysteria and protecting elections cost me a promotion and career.
My life choices led to where I am. I could rent an apartment and suddenly be able to vote. Living on a sailboat is my choice and you must own your choices. I just think it is hysterical I find myself disenfranchised mostly by the machinations of my own party.
Sacrifice is when you don’t expect anything in return. I have sacrificed my health, wealth, and time in service to my nation. I’m a veteran of the military and intelligence community. I sacrificed my career because of my beliefs in something bigger than myself.
I don’t have a call for action. I don’t want anything. I’m just going to sit on my sailboat looking over this Florida bay with a cup of coffee and chuckle. I believe in fair and legitimate elections. I served my nation and communities. Now I can’t vote. You got chuckle a bit.