Open Voting Thread
Unlike Starbucks, we can’t hand out free cups of coffee to everyone who voted, but please feel free to chime in here with your voting experiences today!
Tell us about your polling places, if you struck up a conversation with your fellow voters as you waited in line, if you’re a first time voter, or anything else you’d like to share.
Get out and vote!
Oh, yeah - I’m planning on voting in a few hours at my local high school. Will return and report.
Comment by ECS — November 4, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Voted. I took my 3-month-old with me to let my wife get some sleep; when we got back, my 3-year-old was awake, so we all accompanied my wife to vote and my 3-year-old got to go in the booth with her. No line, no problems, although (sadly) this is the last time, apparently, we in New York will vote with the old, heave, pull-the-lever machines.
Comment by Sam B. — November 4, 2008 @ 9:56 am
I voted early on Saturday in Tallahassee, FL. I waited 1.5 hours.
I voted for Obama and voted against amendment 2. I am excited to watch events unfold tonight.
Comment by Just_Kelly — November 4, 2008 @ 10:05 am
I voted. I got into line at Spring Creek Elementary in Provo at 6:30 this morning to vote at 7. I ran into some people from my ward in line and we chatted.
I am a first-time voter, and it was fabulous.
Comment by Andee — November 4, 2008 @ 10:07 am
My sister-in-law voted early and she told me about a joke she told in line.
Barack Obama, Joe Bidden and Hilary Clinton are traveling on a donkey. The donkey goes over a cliff. Who survives?
America
There were people around her that didn’t think the joke was funny.
I am off to the polls!!!
Comment by Sunshine — November 4, 2008 @ 10:08 am
I vote by mail, so I was finished last week.
I LOVE voting by mail.
My DH is coming home early today from work and taking my big boys with him when he goes to vote. They love that!
Comment by Sheridan — November 4, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I voted early last week. Here in Colorado the early voting lines were robust but not too bad. I went with my mother, who made sure to remark “I won’t tell you how to vote, but make sure you vote the right way!” I think she was nervous after noticing all the Obama stuff in my apartment.
Comment by S.L. — November 4, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I voted early last week. There was a first-time voter in line behind me who had been drinking and was very chatty. He talked non-stop the whole time and was LOUD. He asked me several times “WILL I NEED A CREDIT CARD TO VOTE?” and repeatedly proclaimed his hatred for Obama, declaring, “GEORGE BUSH HAS RUINED OUR COUNTRY, BUT JOHN MCCAIN WILL FIX IT!”
Not wanting to get into a political debate right there in the voting line, I just answered his first-time-voter questions politely and fingered my Obama pin on my purse while smiling as he blew his Corona breath in my face.
Feeling good about the election. Not just nation-wide, but I think there’s a good chance the Utah legislature will look quite different after the dust settles.
Comment by tisheli — November 4, 2008 @ 10:10 am
I voted this morning with my husband! We headed down to our local elementary school and waited 15 minutes in line. My husband is in the Army and so he wore his uniform to the polls since he had to head to work soon thereafter. He looked very patriotic in his Army garb while waiting in line to vote. (Military families for Obama!)
We’re both biting our nails to see if North Carolina will turn blue tonight or remain a bright cherry red. Whodda thunk the tarheel state would become a battleground state this year?!
Comment by CTR — November 4, 2008 @ 10:32 am
I already voted absentee, but my kids want to set up a a kid poll for when all the neighborhood kids are getting off the school bus (my kids are on track break). I’m thinking about it, could be fun.
Comment by fMhLisa — November 4, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Did you hear about the tiny town of 21 who have already voted? They have been Republican since God was born, but this year, Obama won. Who woulda thunk it?
Comment by Jo — November 4, 2008 @ 10:40 am
I voted early last Monday. There’s not much to say– I was in and out in about five minutes.
Lisa– that sounds like fun. Sort of like a lemonade stand, but less sticky (well, physicially sticky, I guess).
Comment by Shelah — November 4, 2008 @ 10:42 am
This morning I had to go to the cornerstore to pick up some cereal and peeked around the corner to the school where I would soon be voting and was overcome with emotion. What an amazing blessing it is for us to be able to participate in this process and what an amazing country we live in. I can’t remember the last time I felt so much emotion and love for my country. I waited an hour in a tiny, stuffy elementary school basement to pull the big old New York voting levers. First time to vote for a Democrat for president. It’s a good day. Too bad I’ll be traveling tonight and will miss all the coverage.
Comment by Rusty — November 4, 2008 @ 10:48 am
waited 53 minutes this morning.
I have the right to complain for the next four years.
make it a great day sisters and brothers.
Comment by Mary Magdalene — November 4, 2008 @ 10:55 am
I voted today in a teeny tiny precinct. I was the fourth voter, no lines. The poll worker gave me two ballots (on accident) but of course I gave her the other one back.
(I did!) She asked me if I was Democrat or Republican which I think she probably shouldn’t have done . . . ? Conspiracy theorist that I am, I have to wonder if something remiss will happen to my ballot . . .
Please let me feel better tomorrow. The stress is killing me!
The lady I work with votes in a small town precinct and the wait was at least an hour long. I can’t imagine what the cities are like.
Comment by TAG — November 4, 2008 @ 10:56 am
I’m probably a party pooper, but I think we have to be careful with kids. They don’t always understand everything regarding why their parents chose a candidate and respecting people who make a different choice. All the neighborhood boys were in my backyard a couple of weeks ago, and the biggest boy said, “Anyone voting for McCain is on my team!” All the boys ran over except two (black LDS siblings) who stood there looking bewildered because they knew their parents were voting for Obama. I had to run out and tell the kids to choose a different way to form teams. The family I carpool with voted for Obama (incidentally, same boys who ran to the McCain side a few weeks ago - I think they just didn’t know what was going on and/or didn’t want to be left out). Obama and McCain are all the kids have talked about in the car for weeks (ever since early voting started). Yesterday, my kids started chanting “McCain! McCain!” and I asked them to stop because I didn’t want them to “bully” the other boys. I am all for teaching children about voting and the candidates and stressing the importance of doing our civic duty, but I think we need to be careful in encouraging them to choose a side amongst their friends. They are not adults, and they may act out of mirroring our emotion. There is a good chance they could bully or fight over something they don’t understand (not saying your kids would do this, Lisa, but I think it is something for all of us with kids to keep in mind).
At school, they did a poll, and my oldest was telling me how most of the kids chose McCain (including my son) and were making fun of those who chose Obama. It made me sad.
Comment by Stephanie — November 4, 2008 @ 11:00 am
My husband and I voted for the first time together–early! We waited in line four hours to do it too.
Cool thing though–anytime a first time voter came in, all the workers (and lots of voters) would erupt into applause and cheers.
Very fun.
Comment by Maye — November 4, 2008 @ 11:01 am
that is way sad about the kids stephanie! i blame karl rove.
i got up early and voted this morning, put on my homemade obama shirt and pin. i got a little choked up at the polls; everyone was so friendly, it was almost a festival atmosphere. even though most people were probably voting differently from me, i felt nothing but goodwill!
wish the whole nation could be that way.
Comment by kitties4prez — November 4, 2008 @ 11:05 am
that is one thing I regret about casting the absentee ballot, that buoyant communal feeling I always get at the polls. But I was afraid of the lines, with three kids in tow. Oh well, there’s always next year.
we’ll only do the kid thing first, if it stops raining, and second, if I can spend the time out side with the kids, teaching them gracious behavior. We have a nice crowd of kids, and they gotta learn sometime.
Comment by fMhLisa — November 4, 2008 @ 11:18 am
I voted two weeks ago. In my pajamas in my kitchen. No waiting, just a short walk out to my mailbox. Hopefully I will go to bed with a smile on my face tonight.
Living in Utah can be frustrating for a Democrat. But there is always hope.
Comment by Numi — November 4, 2008 @ 11:21 am
My 11 year old daughter woke me up at 6AM today. I had promised that she can go with me to vote as is our tradition. This year, she was actually excited about it though, which is very neat. I’m not sure she slept very well- I think she can tell how excited her mother and I were about Obama this year and some of it rubbed off on her. Her younger brothers heard us and insisted on going, and so off the four of us went to vote. We arrived at our neighborhood polling place at about 6:35AM and there was already a decent crowd for the rural Northern Ohio town we live in. We do paper ballots, so I explained to my kids what we were voting for on each line, even the races and issues I hadn’t sudied up on. we wound up in and out in 20 minutes with no drama, besides the inevitable sticker fight that insued during the ride home.
Comment by John Scherer — November 4, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Voting Red!!!!
After compiling a list of reasons not to vte for each candidate and feeling a part of the depressing “voting for the lesser of two evils” camp (leaning Obama), I made a list of reasons to vote for each candidate. So I am now optimistic and voting red.
McCain/Palin!
Comment by nasamomdele — November 4, 2008 @ 11:29 am
I voted this morning in Arizona with no lines. That could be a good thing (no lines for me) or a bad thing (no voters). I guess we’ll see.
Oh, and partial credit (or blame) goes to mfranti for getting my butt out there and deciding on something.
Comment by that1girl — November 4, 2008 @ 11:32 am
Kids gravitate to the candidates with the same gusto that they do with sports teams. Unfortunately, they have very little idea of where to draw lines and use tact (many adults haven’t figured it out either).
I remember in 1984 - as a 4th grader - the mother of a girl in my class was to give birth on election day (must have been scheduled somehow). The girl said that if Reagan won, the baby would be named Ronald. If Mondale won, they would abort. Our teacher was not amused by this joke - and let us know that it was not appropriate, but the rest of us thought it was funny. It doesn’t feel funny anymore.
Comment by spencer — November 4, 2008 @ 11:36 am
#23.
yay!!!! i did something good. thanks for letting us know.
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 11:40 am
DH & I voted before he went to work, taking Marigold and Broom (the new neighborhood kid that I now babysit). There’s was a steady stream of not too many–we waited, but we were the only ones in line. We have a small precinct and a politically active ward, and every time we’ve voted, there have been 2 or 3 ward members administering the sign-ins and stuff. DH didn’t even have to give his first name. They told us that there had been a line of up to 4 people this morning, but that we were smart for coming in early because they expect a rush tonight.
Marigold got an “I voted” sticker, which she likes a lot, and keeps getting concerned that I’ve taken hers, ’cause I’ve got one too.
Funny thing about those stickers, they’re always red (brick red, but still). It must be a conspiracy.
Comment by Artemis — November 4, 2008 @ 11:41 am
It took me almost an hour and a half to get through the line, the longest I have every seen. My polling station is at the Iranian-American Synagogue; how cool is that??
I always love voting in major elections. The whole process feels almost holy to me. It’s like a secular sacrament.
Comment by MikeInWeHo — November 4, 2008 @ 11:42 am
#26,
It is a conspiracy that the stickers are red. But studies show that Democrats participate in exit polls more often and therefore skew the exit polling blue. It all cancels out in the end.
Comment by nasamomdele — November 4, 2008 @ 11:45 am
We were sent a letter two years ago asking if we would like to be absentee voters. After discussing it, we chose not to because there is nothing so “American” and patriotic as going to the polls to vote. This year, for the primaries, we got a letter telling us that there are not enough people in our area now wanting to go to the polls so we were forced to be absentee voters like our neighbors. So sad for us! We fill out our ballots and take them to a polling place for just a little of that American feeling. I went this morning about 7:30 and the half dozen others there at the same time were all turning in absentee ballots. But the polls workers were happy and feeling quite festive. Maybe I will have to take a day off work in the future and become a poll worker!!
Comment by Anne — November 4, 2008 @ 11:48 am
Oh, and the guy in charge of the voting was wearing a kilt. It was AWESOME!
Comment by Artemis — November 4, 2008 @ 11:48 am
I just went and voted at my polling place in Utah. There was no line and I was in and out in 10 minutes. Most of the people in my neighborhood are fairly young (20ish) and I think most of them just aren’t that in to politics.
Comment by Steve — November 4, 2008 @ 11:49 am
I found out late last week that I’ve have to be in a deposition today, so I voted on Friday. It took just over three hours. I’d wait double that to be able to vote in California.
Comment by Randy B. — November 4, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Artemis, my sticker was blue, if that makes you feel better.
Comment by Stephanie — November 4, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Did any of you see the news story about the woman in Michigan he refused candy and Halloween to children whose parents supported Obama?
I just wrote about my experience voting a few minutes ago.
Just let me restate here it was the most emotional voting experience for me in 30 years.
Comment by CYCINGRED — November 4, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
I went to the polls with my pocket stocked with granola bars and my iPhone loaded with crossword puzzles. I was worried about keeping hydrated in line, but ultimately decided not to schlep a bottle around (not even an eco-friendly one!).
I waiting in line for a whopping 3 minutes.
I feel a little cheated, truthfully. I was ready to sacrifice in order to perform my civic duty. Ah well. It’s nice to be back home in my jammies.
I felt even more cheated, however, when I realized there was to be no sticker.
On the up side, the woman who signed me in was in raptures about my beautiful name. Summerhays isn’t all that common in Brooklyn.
It’s always nice to get random compliments.
Comment by EmilyS — November 4, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
re# 29: Your personal choice is admirable, your reasoning a little flawed. Those who are unable to vote due to physical problems, travel or work schedules rely on absentee ballots and are grateful for the opportunity. Washington (and Oregon, I believe) require voting by mail. Personally, it is a relief when I put a stamp the envelope and send it. Then I am assured that no unforeseen problems can prevent me from performing my civic duty on Election Day.
To see another reason why to vote early or absentee go to mfranti’s blog and watch the video.
Comment by Numi — November 4, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
I feel the same way, I even got a little choked up after waiting 90 minutes to vote early last week in Utah. Of course I may have been choking up because the guy I voted for is going to win for the first time in 8 years.
Comment by jjohnsen — November 4, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
numi, did you comment on that? it’s sad, sad, sad. and kudo’s to ms. maddow for her monologue.
folks, if you want to know what the modern day poll tax looks like, click on my name.
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
it took me about 25 minutes to vote…20 minutes in line and i guess less than 5 minutes to vote since i had everything already done in the sample ballot. i have lived in the same house for 15 years and many of those in line were friends and acquaintances. the inspectork-guy was very friendly, harried (at 7:15 am no less) and i made it a point to thank him for working the polls because i can’t and it’s such an important thing.
during that 20 minute wait, one individual became agitated he needed to use a provisional ballot–he had requested to vote by mail and then showed up to vote anyway–but the inspector explained why this was necessary (to make sure he had not returned his vote by mail ballot) and all ended well.
my husband tells me that (about an hour later when he voted) there was a guy in line wearing a candidate specific t-shirt. i’m not sure if that’s entirely legal but fortunately there were no problems.
i am proud to have voted and made sure to discuss the implications of my votes with my two daughters.
Comment by sparekitty — November 4, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Dh and I voted for Obama by absentee ballot last week. I (briefly) debated about whether or not my children would miss out on my “example” of going to my local polling place on Election Day, but with the wind and rain today (and my kids out of school for track break), I am quite happy with my decision. I am doing my patriotic duty today by watching my nephews so my SIL can vote. But since her vote will most likely cancel my own, I’m trying not to think about it too much.
Comment by eastcoasttransplant — November 4, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
No line at my polling place, the local high school, so I was in and out in a few minutes. After I bought two cupcakes from the bake sale for the girl’s basketball team. Go Tigers! Wonder if Starbucks will hand out hot chocolate.
Comment by ECS — November 4, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
I showed up at 6:30am and was the third person in line to vote. It was fun to watch all the people to think they were the first to the polls until they came closer and saw the line in the side of the door. It was great. But nothing significant. No real problems. No extrenely long line. Nice respectful non political conversation in line. ANd now I am skipping school so that I avoid personal attacks regarding my support of prop 8. Tomorow will be back to business as usual but today is an important day. We hopefully will have the first African American President.
Comment by Sam Sneed — November 4, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
I totally agree. Of course, I feel that way about court proceedings, too. (I kid you not, the first time I had jury duty, I got choked up because the court room felt sacred.)
Comment by Keri Brooks — November 4, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Four years ago my daughter who was in her 30’s voted for the first time. There was one particular local race that our family was heavily invested in. She proudly told us on Election Night that she had voted for the woman candidate for president. Anyone remember the candidate Marilyn Chambers? She was the former p%orn star. We have laughed for four years about it.
This year she studied and voted early!
This year she actually studied and voted. I’m proud of her.
Comment by thistimenameless — November 4, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Thanks, mfranti??
Comment by thistimenameless — November 4, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Numi - I totally understand the need for absentee voting. I have a sister who is quadriplegic and has voted absentee for years. I was just sad to lose my choice to go to the polls when I’m physically able. I’m sorry if I offended anyone.
Comment by Anne — November 4, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
I voted (for Obama!) for the second time in my life this morning at 9am. I waited in line for 35 minutes, voted in 5 minutes thanks to the sample ballot, and left with my little stub and sticker. I’m in Burbank, CA.
The line was moderate when I arrived at a little past 8, and many people were turned away for wearing candidate t-shirts. The excitement in the air was palpable. I chatted with the lady behind me about nothing in particular to pass some time, and spent the rest of my wait time playing Tetris on my phone.
The absolute coolest thing I saw was a guy wearing a McCain hoodie took it off and turned it inside out so that a little old lady wearing an Obama shirt could put it on and still vote. Seeing things like that does a heart good.
No one was obnoxious or rude in my line. When I left the line was all the way down and around the block. Yowza.
Comment by Jill — November 4, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
Anne, so not offended. In fact, I miss going to the polls but, like your sister, am grateful for the choice.
Comment by Numi — November 4, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Up betimes ( 6 a.m.) and out into the dark and windy day to the Catholic church up the road. About 30 people were already in line. Waited about 30 minutes; the doors opened promptly at 7 a.m. An African American family at the front of the line were taking countless pictures, esp. of the mother (possibly the grandmother) in a wheelchair. The early-teen-aged daughter, clearly not yet a voter, was positively radiant, skipping and dashing about in high excitement. The father even took pictures of the mother while she was in the little cardboard booth marking her ballot.
Heard on TV last night that Oklahoma is the reddest state after Idaho and Utah. Neither presidential candidate visited the Sooners. My vote for Obama won’t tip the scales to the left, or even to the center. And I have to confess that over the years
I have not voted in every election. But I would have been red-faced with shame had I shirked my duty on this one. In a few minutes, I’m going to put on the Kate Smith CD I got after 9-11, turn the volume up high, and listen to her belt out
“God Bless America” as she sang it 65 years ago when I was a kid. It stirred my blood then and it does today.
Comment by Crone — November 4, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
ok, dh just sent this to me and for the first time this election, i’m hopeful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIGJTHdH50
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
#47. What a great moment in American History. You should report that the the main stream media. That is something that should be shared in such a devisive time. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Sam Sneed — November 4, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
To the MSM not the the. Sorry.
Comment by Sam Sneed — November 4, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
It depends on the state. To be safe you shouldn’t wear a candidates shirt or button.
Comment by jjohnsen — November 4, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
I voted on the way home from dropping my oldest at preschool this morning. My mom was here, so I didn’t even have to take the other two. Like I hoped, the lines were much better on election day than they had been for early voting — I waited a total of about 5 minutes, and was happy to do so. I’m excited to be in a swing state this year (like CTR said, yay for NC being a swing state this year!) and feel like my vote might make a difference.
Comment by Vada — November 4, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
I voted this morning in Northern Virginia. I was there at 5:30 am and there was already a line. By the time the polls opened at 6:00 am, the line was three blocks long.
I was surprised by the short ballot - just the President, a Senator, and a Representative. When I voted in Texas the last time, there were about 14 different things to vote on, including school board and some propositions I hadn’t heard of until then. Anyone know why the ballot in Virginia is so short?
Comment by Katie P. — November 4, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
The ballot was pretty short here as well, it just depends on how many offices are up for election.
Comment by jjohnsen — November 4, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
First time voting, for me. I wrote a post about it here. It was a lovely day outside, there was no line, and they gave me a sticker (flag inside a blue circle inside a red circle) for my baby to wear, too. He was very well-behaved while we were there. We’ve got “complete the arrow” ballots, which is easy enough, but not nearly as cool/fun, I imagine, as the punch-machine ballots.
Comment by kadusey — November 4, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
#39 Comment by sparekitty
I’m curious. Where did you, and others, get sample ballots? They are only issued to precincts here in Texas.
Comment by Ruby — November 4, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
I’m upset that the day was so nice - I’m going to have to lie to my grandchildren about this historic election so I can have a good story! Although maybe sunburn will serve instead of frostbite. I had to wait an hour, though, which is why I’m sunburned! Who thought that sunscreen was something they should bring to the polls?
Comment by Beth — November 4, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
I arrived just before the polls opened here in northern Virginia at 6:00 am. I voted at 8:30. We are in a pivotal county in a pivotal state. In fact Obama had his last rally in our county last night. I brought a book about Groucho Marx so was able to read for 2 ½ hours.
Comment by Ron — November 4, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
That warms my heart, too.
Katie P. - not to worry, in my town in Texas we had 18 items on the ballot. I wish I would have spent more time researching some of the lesser-known candidates and issues . . . it was a lot to think about.
Comment by Stephanie — November 4, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
I just drove by my polling place (baptist church) and there were a smattering of cars and no lines. The news reported this morning that half of registered voters in Idaho voted early or absentee. But in Idaho you can register on election day, so I wonder if many people will take advantage of that.
McCain will win here for sure. The race I’m most concerned about is for my (national) congressional seat. Our current congressman, Bill Sali, is a certified moron, for real, complete dimwit. Even the Republicans can barely tolerate him, so much so that while McCain is ahead 65 to 40 something, this race, that should be a lock with an incumbent Republican in a red red red district, is in a dead heat. Funny thing is, on a theoretical level, I’m not even convinced I want more Democrats in Congress, I like balance and things are getting a little lop sided. But the dude is a complete and total Moron and I can’t take it any more.
Comment by fMhLisa — November 4, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
No wait here. I took my kidlets to the senior citizens’ center down the street, ran into a neighbor/ward member, and was done in about five minutes. Then my 3-year-old and I had a talk in the car about voting (her preschool class recently voted on what kind of apples they like best) and why Mommy and Daddy think it’s so important to do (didn’t mention that it’s partly because we cancel out each other’s votes!).
MikeinWeHo — it felt holy to me too. I had to blink back tears to read the ballot and make sure I’d actually filled in the circle next to Obama/Biden. Had this overwhelming feeling of being a droplet of water in a history-making wave. I’m still in awe of this feeling, still in awe of the power we wield as mere individuals.
Thank you to all of you who are reminding me what a phenomenal blessing it is to be able to choose our own political destiny, warped and corrupt and convoluted though the system may be. I’m touched by the many many people who stayed in line for hours to vote.
Comment by Libby — November 4, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
My husband and I both went to vote around 11 (we are teacher so no school today!) No line and plenty of privacy booths. We just moved to this state and so it was new for us. We had to bubble in our choices and then feed it into the scanner.
Comment by LF — November 4, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
In CT: It was packed, yay!! About 10 minutes total- everyone was very efficient at our polling location. I wore my “I voted today” sticker and reminded everybody I saw to vote. We discovered that my daughter’s online voter registration did not go through, so we rushed to the town hall, where she was allowed to vote for President only, after showing ID, but at least she was able to do that. It’s her first election as an 18 year old.
I am having an official “The Election is Over” party.
Comment by Kimberly — November 4, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
#26 — funny thing about the “I voted” stickers… I spent many years in the swing state of Ohio where those stickers were white, and I am now in DC, a strongly Democratic area, where they are blue!
Comment by Sarah — November 4, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
My husband walked out with my car keys in his pocket this morning, so I ended up walking 2 miles each way with my kids in the stroller, (in the rain) to vote… There was no wait at all, everyone was very helpful and cheery. I was home about an hour after I left.. easy as pie!!
Comment by KH — November 4, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
In about 45 minutes I will be accompanying my son’s 5th grade class to the polling station (senior center) for a mock vote. In a small town there aren’t the long lines and this is possible. Afterwards we are touring the local ice cream store, yay. I haven’t voted yet myself. I am in a different precinct and will be meeting up with my husband there after he gets off work. Unlike our national elections, locally, I have to choose between two men I greatly admire and respect and am as yet undecided.
Comment by jj — November 4, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
G and I voted at about 8:15 this morning. There was no line to speak of at our polling place. Fifty-seven people had voted before we did. A short line began to form as we left.
Everything went without a hitch for us. Our ballots are paper, with an optical scanner at the polling station. From everything I have read, this seems to be the best system - it keeps lines moving faster because there are fewer machines to break down, and it creates a paper trail in case of questions.
One woman was there who had requested and then lost an absentee ballot. She was allowed to cast a provisional ballot. Remember this is an option for you if there’s any question about your eligibility to vote.
Comment by Ana — November 4, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
anyone know what happens if the lines exceed the poll hours?
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Mfranti,
The Obama campaign just sent me an email with this statement:
“Anyone who is in line before the polls close can cast their ballot, no matter how long the line.”
Gosh, I’m really glad the lines at my polling station weren’t too long… I was in and out in less than half an hour.
Comment by CTR — November 4, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
It’s true - if you’re in line, you get to vote. My husband is one of the Obama campaign’s volunteer election lawyers who’s sitting in the polling station making sure that that gets done (among other things). He’s hoping, though, that he won’t have to wait too long; we’ve got a party to go to!
Comment by Beth — November 4, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
how many attorneys does Obama have doing this? my dh said he’s got thousands to make sure there’s no repeat of the GOP hanky panky of years past.
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
Did anybody else hear about robocalls to low-income black neighborhoods telling them that Republicans were to vote on Tuesday, and Democrats on Wednesday? Or giving them the option to avoid lines by voting late on Wednesday? DH found a story about it last night, but didn’t send me the link. I would think the lawyers would be all over that, as well.
Comment by Artemis — November 4, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
I had the most lovely experience today. I am new to DC, my first time voting here.
I live about a block from my polling place, but it is up a bit of a hill. I walked there this morning at 6 a.m. in the dawn, and as I crested the hill I saw the Capitol Building and Washington Monument in the new sun. It nearly brought me to tears.
And then I stood in line with so many people for whom this election has extra meaning: I was one of about 10 Caucasian voters at my polling place. I felt honored to be there and so happy to vote for Obama and for a bunch of Statehood Green Party candidates in local elections.
Since I got there early, once the polls opened at 7, I was out of there in 20 minutes. As I left there was a huge line out the door and I was just so thrilled so many people were as excited as me!
Comment by Minerva — November 4, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
THANK you for helping me finally put my finger on why the very idea of voting this year is repugnant to me.
I might not even have voted for Romney if he were president, but the big guns that the mainstream left, far left, and far right dragged out against Romney drove home the lesson that me and mine are not welcome in this country. And while every other religions and non-religious group seems welcome to pound the pulpits over every single political issue, the moment that the LDS church speaks up on what it must regard as an issue of central importance, marriage, there’s this unprecedented storm.
Face it — we’re not regarded as real Americans. Lots of folks would be a lot more comfortable if the feds took the vote away from us again. Maybe that’s why this whole national communion thing sets my teeth on edge. I think I’m going to go vote, but I’m not going to enjoy it.
Comment by Christian — November 4, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
#58, in California we get our sample ballots in the mail. Also volumes to read about the ballot measures including arguments and counterarguments on each one. Not complaining … I’m glad they make it so easy to become informed!
Comment by Ana — November 4, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
This has been my favorite election year by far, but I’m glad it’s nearly over and now I hold my breath. Btw, I wore my “Osaka” (Japan) shirt today, which was apparently subtle enough for the voting booths. It was totally on accident that I wore it, but a friend commented on it saying it was a good thing I didn’t wear my Obama, Japan t-shirt.
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
re: 76
I simply disagree. Mormons are the consumate Americans, although perhaps at times they feel like strangers in a strange land. As the recent PBS documentary so aptly detailed, the Mormon experience and the American experience are intertwined down to the DNA level.
Comment by MikeInWeHo — November 4, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
Re: 79
The Mormons are freaks and 2nd class citizens. We’ve adopted mainstream American culture and dress, but issues like the Equal Rights Amendment of 70s and Prop 8 today prove how very freakish we are.
Here is a California Anti-Prop 8 Commercial Depicting Mormon Missionaries Invading Home
Has anyone seen this advertised on television today?:
http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=e1f83189-843f-41d7-84c4-2029fbd9a2ce
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
Hate to be disagreeable, but I disagree that you disagree
I see no contradiction between what you said and what I said.
Well it wouldn’t be the first time that PBS caught on to something that the rest of the country was clueless about. But America isn’t a strange land to me anymore (it was when I first moved here). I wish it were mine, but after this year, I feel rejected by it. Look to Vegas and see the future of what happens to a community when mormons back into their churches and let others run things.
Definition: LIBERTARIAN: someone who feels no disturbance of conscience when the Supreme Court declares that (1) a corporation is a person; (2) a fetus is not.
Comment by Christian — November 4, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
So I was up at 6am this morning to get out and vote- I feared I would be facing long lines and extended waiting times. I had a terribly restless night last night as I was having strange dreams about voting. I woke up several times throughout the night thinking it was time to get up and vote…maybe I have been anticipating this day a little too much…
I arrived at our polling place- which was full of activity. There was a man at the front door taking people names and pointing them to the correct line based on their district and letter of their last name. The woman in front of us was told that her name was not on the list- she confirmed the spelling and insisted she had registered. After a few minutes of dialogue, the woman stepped to the side to wait for another attendant to discuss the situation. My husband and I also found that we were NOT on the list. I had registered last year and had voted in the primary’s- my husband had also registered to vote when he renewed his license a few months ago. We both recently received confirmation in the mail that we were registered and were reminded of our polling place. Why were we NOT on this list??? An 18 year old Christy, very sensitive to authority, especially male authority, would have taken this gentleman’s word, frustrated no doubt, but would have accepted it as fact and walked away. My husband and I both insisted that we were registered, lived in the district and had a right to vote. Based on our address, he was able to refer us to our correct line where we found our names on the list. The lady who had been in front of us was also allowed to enter and found her name on the list inside as well. That is incredible to me….
P.S. The voting machines here in Ithaca are old-school. Awesome, but old-school. There is this large lever that you push to the right side, which closes the curtains behind you. You then slide down the small levers next to your candidates name. When you are finished, you push the large lever again to the other side, which opens the curtains. The bell sound tells you that you have completed the process.
Comment by Christy — November 4, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
fmoc!!! glad to have you back.
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
mfranti - in missouri, Obama had enough lawyers that there were enough to have two at some polling places. I’m not sure that they did that statewide; I think they concentrated in St. Louis and Kansas City, but it was a really big project. I think it’s pretty cool; it’s not like he asks people who they’re voting for if they’re having a problem, and it means that the voters have someone who knows the law advocating for them. Besides, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy knowing my husband took a day off work to make elections fair.
On the downside for today, my “I voted” sticker is really lame. It has no flag, no red, white. or blue, and looks like a sticker signifying that I’ve been released from the hospital. It is square (about the same size as a postage stamp) and says “St. Louis County Votes We’re in Touch I Voted! Did You?” Too much message, folks, and not enough pizzaz.
Comment by Beth — November 4, 2008 @ 6:16 pm
argh! no time to comment but mfranti as always, has beat me to it- nice to see fmoc!
Comment by crazywomancreek — November 4, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Hi! great to see everyone
I just had to share the commercial link to y’all. Have you seen it? It’s pretty distressing.
http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=e1f83189-843f-41d7-84c4-2029fbd9a2ce
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
I think you just linked that a few posts back.
Comment by jjohnsen — November 4, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
I meant to do that in hopes that repetition will get people to go to the link.
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
I think that link deserves it’s own thread….I am wondering what people think about it.
Comment by Christy — November 4, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
thank you, christy. I was beginning to wonder if I’m the only one who thinks the commercial deserves attention. At least there’s two of us.
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
I think the Church is reaping the whirlwind. After what we’ve been doing in California, is it any big surprise?
Comment by obi-wan — November 4, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
It is a disturbing ad. I also think the church has to expect some mud when they have dug into the dirty game of politics.
If we had only embraced tolerance and love….
Comment by Miles — November 4, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
OB1 - Your rhetorical question is kind of a brush off. The commerical is not necessarily surprising but i found the material itself to be alarming. The message was not just about gay marriage but about the supposed infiltration of the Mormon church into government and other venues in the attempt to control private space.
I saw it early this morning, and I don’t have the technical capacity to view it now so I’m basing my analysis on memory, but my reaction then was of partial agreement to the message, being pissed off at it, and then of wondering what’s next for the church and its members. thoughts?
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
from. I went to the link and followed up by looking on youtube and found a channel 2 story on the commercial. It is quite shocking to me. No wonder they think we are freaks.
Comment by big mama — November 4, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
No Not from. Rather fmoc, Sorry
Comment by big mama — November 4, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
I do think this should be separate thread.
Mfranti, got my email yet?
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Well, there is an element of truth to that. Which is why the allegations in the ad will probably stick.
The very substantial resentment over the Church’s role in supporting Prop. 22 was just beginning to fade when we pulled this — and involvement with Prop. 8 has been much more high profile.
We aligned ourselves with a bunch of right-wing evangelical nutcases (who hate us), we supported ads and propaganda that ranged from disingenuous to flat out lies, and we blatantly campaigned to enact our theology into law. Whether or not Prop. 8 passes, I think it’s pretty safe to say that we’ve poisoned the waters in California for the next decade or so.
Comment by obi-wan — November 4, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
This is hate at it’s most elemental. If the A8 folks were as disgusting and shameless as their counterparts, they’d have an equivalent commercial where gay couples come in the windows of a brady bunch family to steal their kids.
I have nothing but contempt for those that blame the church for this sort of overt hatred.
Comment by Christian — November 4, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
hey, just got the email and you guys can now take the discussion to the new thread.
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
Sweet. Thanks, mfranti. You rock
Comment by fmoc — November 4, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
Am I the only one here who wanted to vote for Hillary, but ended up voting McCain-Palin after the ugly Primary?
Comment by Christian — November 4, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
i’m a little happy.
just a little.
maybe more later on tonight after CA comes in.
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
Um, NYTimes has Obama leading in Utah. It’s about a percentage point difference, but… um… as of right now, Obama’s leading in Utah.
Woot!
Comment by Artemis — November 4, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
obama wins?
Comment by mfranti — November 4, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
I just tried to wake my kids up to watch the crowd in Chicago. It’s a(n?) historic moment, but dang, they’re deep sleepers.
Comment by Shelah — November 4, 2008 @ 11:12 pm
Obama wins! Even Fox agrees!
Comment by Artemis — November 4, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Shelah - do you have the TiVo going? They’ll want to know that even though they “lost” at school, they “won” in real life!!
Comment by lyn — November 4, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
Heh. That would be cool. If I still lived in Utah, I might have done the same, just to send a message to the Repugs that they don’t own us anymore.
Comment by Christian — November 4, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
My polling place was inside a church with huge vaulted ceilings. The miracle baby loved to hear the echo of his voice, so he was jabbering up a storm while I was trying to vote.
I tried to take pictures, but we got yelled at. So we posed outside, me and the miracle baby in matching “I Voted” stickers.
Congrats CWC on all your hard work in Colorado! Obama won!
Now to try to wipe the smug smile off my face before Sunday.
Comment by reese — November 4, 2008 @ 11:30 pm
Wow. WOW.
Comment by Libby — November 4, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
It’s over! yay!
Comment by Maye — November 5, 2008 @ 1:01 am
WOW, what a night. This is one for the history books. As sad as I am about the (apparent) passage of Prop 8, it’s completely overshadowed by the presidential race.
Comment by MikeInWeHo — November 5, 2008 @ 2:14 am
As I was voting in Utah County (18% for Obama) my cell phone rang, and my ring tone is Obama’s “Yes We Can” song, guess I gave up right to vote anonymously! I thought it was pretty funny.
Comment by Claire — November 5, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
#58 Ruby–sample ballots are routinely issued in California.
Comment by sparekitty — November 5, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
[…] comment on ECS’s post Open Voting Thread at […]
Pingback by Zelophehad’s Daughters | My Nacle Notebook 2008: Interesting Comments — September 8, 2009 @ 6:56 pm