I have voted in every presidential election I've been eligible for. Even casting an absentee ballot my senior year of college, which I believe was my first presidential election. All of which seemed rather obligatory to me. I voted because I was supposed to and because it was my right and privilege to do so.

Until this year. I waited in line for about an hour this morning to cast my vote. I've never waited more than several minutes to vote in an election. This is my first presidential election since being diagnosed with diabetes. The first presidential election that I was actually interested in, paid attention to and in some ways looked forward to. The first election where I really looked into the issues to base my vote on how the person in the Oval Office would affect my life.

Selfish? Yes. But I have reason to be selfish this year.

Two issues defined my vote this year. The biggest of which is health care, specifically health insurance. As a person with a chronic illness it is imperative to my health, my quality of life, and the extention of my life that I have the tools to control my disease. That means I need affordable insurance to provide me with test strips, insulin, infusion sets, a pump, access to doctors who can guide my treatment.

Frankly, neither presidential candidate's plan is ideal for me or anyone. But I was confident this morning that the person I voted for would have a plan that worked best for me. A plan that would give me the best chance to live a healthy, long life with the tools I need.

Selfish? Yes. But this is the opportunity we have to be selfish.