Agreed.
Frankly, I think they've made it too damn easy to vote by mail. Given the breaks people get to vote, there's really little excuse for any healthy person not to go to the polling places, and I think, as you do, that it makes a statement about the precious right of franchise, and being willing to go out of your way for it. Other nations don't get a vote at all, or have braved guns and bombs to vote.
30 states have laws that require employers to allow workers time off. Some even require they be paid for the time.