Surely a historic day, for the United States or even the world, one way or another.

If you are reading this on the titular date, live in the US, are eligible to vote, and have not done so, please stop reading and Go Vote!

California has fantastic suffrage laws. Anyone can vote by mail, so many of us do. Eligible voters can register through voting day, including at the polls, by simply asking for a provisional ballot and providing some information. If you like to plan things a little more in advance, you can register online, or when you obtain or renew your driving license. Released felons can vote once they have served parole, though they have to re-register. Felons on probation can vote. Persons held in county jail on misdemeanor charges can vote. Mentally ill persons can vote unless confined to a facility by court order, and are eligible again on release.

I’m not quite immodest enough to assert the US is the greatest country in the world, but it dominates in many areas, and I think its main strength historically is its inclusiveness, not just inclusive suffrage, but also inclusive and humane immigration policies, which allow the most daring and determined souls to join us.

Jus soli, aka birthright citizenship, is also an advantage to the country, although it is common in the Western Hemisphere, where the largest countries of North America and most countries of South America practice it. There are some exclusions. The US, for example, does not offer birthright citizenship to children of diplomats or enemy combatants. I’m good with that.

My husband was Voter One at the polls this morning. He would have been voter two, which is not worth capitalizing, but the woman in front of him needed a provisional ballot. As Voter One, he got to

• Verify the voter list was empty, then enter his name on the first line,
• Verify the vote count was 0,
• Verify the ballot box was empty,
• Observe the empty ballot box being closed and locked, and
• Observe the count advance to 1 when he submitted his ballot.

I never realized Voter One was a Thing. Coolio!

During the past few days of early voting, as well as today, I’ve loved watching the footage of blocks-long lines of people patiently waiting to vote, most with a tablet or phone or ebook, or maybe even a newspaper or magazine or actual book. I hope that everyone’s vote counts.

Tonight I will either be happy that most Americans want to revert to the inclusive policies of our past, or sad that we have chosen fear and hate. It’s a historic question: Who Are We?