Coffee, ever present, it's the silent guest at every affair. Whether epoch or mundane, solitary or attended by the masses, coffee is always on the guest list. Weddings, funerals, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, meetings, election rallies, wars, peace summits, you name it, at some point coffee will be served.

I’ll bet that if you could be a fly on the wall anywhere, eventually it will come up. Let’s get coffee; I’m going down to get coffee; Coffee is served; Can you please get me some coffee?—these are the cries heard around the world in every possible language.

During this election, it has been no different. The 7-Eleven chain even used coffee cups to take a poll. Supplying red McCain cups and blue for Obama, they boast that the poll has been accurate for the last two elections, so everyone is paying attention to the results.

An historic emotionally-charged event, with Barack Obama being the first African American to run for president, the unprecedented financial crisis threatening to topple the country as we know it and the war in Iraq dragging on, not to mention the lowest approval rating ever for our current administration, this election has even the most complacent die-hard ‘oh my vote means nothing’ pessimist eager to cast their vote.

Expecting record numbers on Election Day, early voting has begun around the country. This is something new to most of us, but you can bet coffee is already there. Many volunteers, not wanting voters to get discouraged and turn away because of the long lines are offering—yes, you guessed it—steaming cups of coffee to all.

Coffee will be a part of my Election Day morning as it is on every other day. The difference for this day is that I will be making a pot for my family. Our strategy is to be there when the polls open. While I am a regular at greeting the sun every morning, for some of my family members, this is uncharted territory. Getting everyone up and out is my job and it will not be an easy one. I’ve invited my old friend, that ever popular social butterfly, coffee, to give me a hand.

Get ready, be prepared. Don’t let weak excuses keep you from taking part in this important election. Coffee will be there. Will you?