I love election night.

I don't always love the endless cranky campaigns leading up to it. Or the millions of dollars spent on ads filled with half truths, grainy freeze frames and scary voiced announcers. I will certainly never eat a hot dog in public. I now know it can later be used against you.

But I love election night. And certainly not because the candidates or measures I personally support all passed. They didn't.

I love election night because it is so amazing to live in a country where every few years we witness a peaceful exchange of power. A quick Google search of elections and violence turns up country after country where voting is a dangerous endeavor. We witnessed the emotional elections in Iraq where red thumbs were displayed as a badge of courage. Violence has marred the process and ended lives in Kashmir, Armenia, Kenya, Haiti, Nigeria and the list goes on and on.

That's why I'm always amazed when someone here doesn't care enough to vote and delighted when Election Day turnout breaks records. People died to give me the right to vote. Many more have died protecting it. I am grateful for their sacrifice and celebrate each and every election. And it has nothing to do with what or who is on the ballot.

As always thank you for watching.

Tracy Barry