Ah, Election Day, when citizens get to have their say in a free, open and meaningful process in the world’s oldest democracy. The presidential nominating process is an important step toward what we’re told every four (or eight) years is that unique and important peaceful transition of political power.

The signs of an engaged electorate are everywhere. My barista this morning sported her “I’m union and I vote” button. Though as a Democrat she should have added a Post-It note that said, “But it won’t count.”

Proud Republican Eric Earling cast his vote for John McCain. His button should read, “I voted and I feel like a self-hating, hung-over, fat-phopic, frat boy.” He says voting made him feel dirty. And not in a good way.

The problem is that after doing so, I immediately felt painfully close to the morning after that unfortunate night in college where gratuitous consumption of 40's of malt liquor led to me making out with a young lass who can most charitably be described as chubby (at least once the beer goggles were removed).

Which is to say it's not a proud feeling. I feel vaguely angry at myself.

Republican-for-a-day Darryl at Horsesass.org was feeling much better about his vote.

At one point during my first full day as a Republican yesterday, I was overcome by doubt. I had publicly announced my support for Mike Huckabee, but I realized that I didn’t have a good reason -- as a Republican -- to support him.

But he found a reason, which you can see here.

The primary results will only make big news tonight if the results somehow contradict what the party regulars did at their caucuses Feb. 9. But we're already getting national attention. The New York Times reported yesterday:

So it appears that the primary, first approved in a 1988 referendum with the goal of giving greater voice to voters who might not be able or inclined to attend a party caucus, may have the distinction of being one of the few essentially irrelevant contests in a presidential race so fierce this year that even outposts like Idaho and Alaska have nudged their way into the national spotlight for a moment or two.