American women were given the right to vote about the time my mother reached maturity. She immediately registered to vote and most likely voted in every national and local election since then as long as she lived. My father also voted regularly, and as far as I know, never attempted to influence my mother’s vote, nor she his. In one presidential election, they voted for different candidates, but I don’t recall any bickering between them.

As civic-minded citizens, they served as poll workers during many elections, providing help with setting up the tables for registering voters and other chores related to turning our school cafeteria into a polling place. Watching them and my neighbors in friendly conversation, I gained an appreciation for the American version of democracy.

Since that time watching those voters in my childhood, I served overseas with the U.S. State Department. Once a citizen of another country who worked with me wanted to see my recently arrived absentee ballot because he was interested in what a ballot in a free election looked like, as he didn’t have the privilege of that kind of election in his country. That’s probably when I actually realized what a privilege we have.

The path to true democratic elections was sullied by some of our history: slavery and later by blacks being refused the right to vote, to name two. A third would be today’s reported threats against elected officials. Nevertheless, most of us still vote easily, even if by mail instead of in person.

One change I’d like is a constitutional amendment abolishing the electoral college and allowing for election by popular vote.

But at least we have a Constitution and the possibility of change.