Voting Observations
In line at 5:45 a.m. in a part of town that was once the District of Columbia, 50 degrees with dim overcast. The A-M line is at least 300 strong. Fortunately, the N-Z line is about 150. Once inside, lots of standing in a non-ventilated hallway. At least there is some non-political conversation. People are pleasantly surprised by the turnout. About 6:40 a.m., we’re segmented further: A-C, D-H, etc. No picture ID required (I expect this leads to fraud and should be changed). We vote in a small free standing booth on what looks like a palm pilot for a 3 yr. old. There are 10 of them (not enough). You select options by rotating a dial, hitting an enter key to fix the vote. When all done, hit the red button and wait for the waving flag (Mr. Rogers would be proud of me). 6:48 a.m., on the way out, the line is now triple. God bless America.
I got in line (only about 25 folks in front of me) at just before 6:00 am. By the time they opened the doors and the line started moving, there must have been a hundred people behind me. We use paper ballots in IL. You have to fill in the little oval completely with the black pen they supply. Amazingly, they gave me TWO ballots. I completed one and when returning it, mentioned that I had also been given a second one. You would think I had just robbed a bank. One of the election officials exclaimed “Are those MY initials on that ballot?” They were not. Also, because no one appeared to pay her much attention, after tapping the election official to whom I was spekaing on the shoulder, she exclaimed once again and slightly louder (so just about everyone could hear) “Are those MY initials on that ballot?” She was from a different district and a different table, but she had to go and make that exclamation again that brought the other election officials over to interrogate me. We are in a very small vestibule area at an elementary school and it is crowded with people. “How did you get this second ballot?” they asked. I said I just got two and only used one so, please process my vote and recycle that second ballot. “Who gave you this second ballot?” they wanted to know. I said it was sort of attached to the one they gave me at that table right there. “WHO at that table gave you the second ballot?” they inquired again. I said that nice lady right there who took about ten minutes to get throught the first part of the “T” part of the alphabet to find my name. After determining that I had not committed voter fraud, and seeing that I was leaving in any event, the melee’ then ended and I was allowed to be on my way.
It took extra long to get in to the office today. Traffic later in the morning SUCKS around here. Staff meeting in an hour will last most of the morning. Oh joy.
Shockingly, and somewhat to my own dismay, I voted a straight Red ticket.
Roll Tide.
Took about 30 minutes this morning. Luckily no one in my county has the last inital as me. That’s the only way I could have gotten in and out that fast.
Actually voted Libertarian in the Senate race because both candidates of the main parties are asshats.
Also no photo ID and I agree that should be changed.
I just coted here in Mckinney, Texas at my daughter’s school….very convenient. No line…NONE! It took all of 3 minutes after I walked in the door to when I was walking out. Photo ID required!!! It should be that way EVERYWHERE!
I had to stop by the store on the way home and the young female clerk asked me who I voted for. I told her Barr. She asked, “WHO is that?!?!?!” Sad. Thank you to BOTH major parties for doing everything possible to limit our choices and keep as many people in the dark as you can. At least they couldn’t keep Barr off the ballot here in Texas…though they really really tried. Assholes.
Barr was on the ballot here in NC too.
Here too, along with Cynthia McKinney (OMG) and Ralphy Boy Nader along with a couple of other “new” party candidates, one of whom was running wihtout a running mate. I nearly voted for him too.
Nearly.
No one in line to vote at noon. Had to show a photo ID. They almost gave me two ballots, but realized before I went to fill out the bubbles. No Libertarians/Anarchists on the ballot, other than Nader, but he lives in CT.