Today's the day!

[Duck on Wheels]

OK. I'll be non-partisan for the moment. Red socks, blue socks, green socks ... whatever! Just get out there and vote! Don't let a few hours of line turn you away. Don't let a provisional ballot turn you away. Don't let a balky machine turn you away. Find your polling place, take along ID, arm yourself with plenty of good humor, patience, and even orneriness if you have to. But no matter what it takes: Vote, and make sure your vote gets registered. Because whatever the outcome today, this election is going to be one for the history books, and today is your last big chance to be part of it.
:cool:

[Pax]

Done at 6am, it was fun being there before dawn and chatting with the folks in line. :D

[Blueberry]

I voted early. Here's hoping everyone who wants to gets to cast their ballot.

Whispered response to avoid offending those who were offended by other "mentions" of the election. e.g. the fact that there are too many political ads.

[Pax]

:p Good job CA, I had to hit "quote" to read your response.

[Andrea]

I early voted & let my students out of class early today so that they could go vote!

[OakLeaf]

Two civic duties done today!

Jury duty - sorta. Just showed up, watched the introductory video and waited around for a few minutes. Turns out it was a criminal case and they reached a plea agreement - the jury pool just had to stick around until the plea hearing was over "just in case." Nothing else on the docket for the rest of the week, so we were discharged.

(Of course I left my jacket in jury room... well, it's just a light one - that can be a nice 40 mile RT on the bici tomorrow to pick it up.)

And voted on the way back. I know I said I was going to vote absentee, but just never got around to it. At least I could still get a paper ballot at the polling place... FWIW.

[andtckrtoo]

I'm heading out now to vote! I hold to the notion that if you don't vote, you can't complain, so I make sure I get out there every election! :P

A bit of trivia - Ever wonder why we vote on the first Tuesday in November? I just heard this on the news and thought it was interesting. November was picked because it is after the crops are in and before the roads are impassible in the winter. It’s on a Tuesday because in the olden days people had to travel miles to vote – often to the nearest town. Sunday was a day of rest and no one would travel, so Monday was the traveling day. People would arrive to their destinations late Monday, vote Tuesday and head back. So if anyone asks you why we vote on the first Tuesday in November – there ya have it!

Edited to add - voting done! No lines at 10AM. I walked in, voted, got my little sticker, and walked out - I was gone a total of 20 minutes from work.

SKHILL - WONDERFUL story! Thanks for sharing!

[ACG]

My daughter is voting for the first time ever today.

So I am not voting until she gets home from college. She wants to keep her sample ballot and put it in her baby book. She is very excited. She watched all the debates, watched all the public TV shows, any other special she could watch. Read every article from every angle. She looked up information on all the other ballot issues too.

I told her I don't need to know how she votes just that she did.

A side note: Mom watched all the SNL shows.

[Pax]

... November was picked because it is after the crops are in and before the roads are impassible in the winter. It’s on a Tuesday because in the olden days people had to travel miles to vote – often to the nearest town. Sunday was a day of rest and no one would travel, so Monday was the traveling day. People would arrive to their destinations late Monday, vote Tuesday and head back. So if anyone asks you why we vote on the first Tuesday in November – there ya have it!
Kinda puts that whole standing in line thing into perspective. We've got it pretty darn god these days.

[snapdragen]

This is from RBR forum, I liked this story:


Voted this morning (Virginia). Polls opened at 6 am, and I was there. Waited over an hour (could'a been worse). Had a pregnant lady take a dive in front of me - she skipped breakfast, and then passed out after standing around for about 45 minutes. She was fine, but they did call the ambulance to cart her off. The best part was that they let her vote - polling stations in Virginia have a PC/Notebook deal that they can take curbside to accommodate the handicapped. As the EMTs were wheeling this lady out on a gurney, a poll worker ran up and handed her the computer. They both got an ovation.

:cool::D

[skhill]

I voted this morning-- what a wonderful experience. I live in a predominantly African-American precinct, and before today my longest wait to vote was ~10 minutes. Today, it took 1.5 hours (and the line was as long when I left as when I got there). The coolest thing: whenever an elderly person or disabled person showed up, the line by common acclamation sent them to the front. One of my fellow waiting voters told one extremely elderly lady "you've waited long enough for this day-- you go on ahead." And then, when that lady came out, leaning on her cane, there was a little tear rolling down her cheek. What a powerful moment to be a part of....

It was also pretty cool seeing the garbage truck pull up and one of the crew hop off the back and get it the line to vote!

[tulip]

I got to my voting place at 6am. The line went out the door, down the street, around the corner, down that street, and around the next corner to the middle of the block. 6am!! I finished voting at 8:30, just in time to go to my dentist appointment (ooh, fun, fillings!) Now my face is numb and I went by the voting place on my way home and there is no line. Oh well, I'm glad I voted and all the people waiting were in good spirits despite the cold rain falling.

I was witness to two disabled voters using the curbside service.

[Pax]

I voted this morning-- what a wonderful experience. I live in a predominantly African-American precinct, and before today my longest wait to vote was ~10 minutes. Today, it took 1.5 hours (and the line was as long when I left as when I got there). The coolest thing: whenever an elderly person or disabled person showed up, the line by common acclamation sent them to the front. One of my fellow waiting voters told one extremely elderly lady "you've waited long enough for this day-- you go on ahead." And then, when that lady came out, leaning on her cane, there was a little tear rolling down her cheek. What a powerful moment to be a part of....

It was also pretty cool seeing the garbage truck pull up and one of the crew hop off the back and get it the line to vote!

What a neat story!! Thanks so much for sharing it.

[OakLeaf]

One of my fellow waiting voters told one extremely elderly lady "you've waited long enough for this day-- you go on ahead." And then, when that lady came out, leaning on her cane, there was a little tear rolling down her cheek.

Wow, that made me all misty-eyed. Thanks for sharing that.

[Aggie_Ama]

Due to a clerical error I was not registered in my new county when I got my new drivers license and didn't think to confirm before the deadline. :rolleyes:

But I am proud that DH took time to read up on the candidates instead of voting straight ticket like our parents and like he did last time. Not to criticize straight ticket voters, we just prefer to know each candidate. He generally favors one party but this time he didn't like some of the people's ideas or track record running on their platform. I don't know if he voted how he planned but last night he had candidates from all parties selected. He was very passionate about some changes going on near our house and wanted to make sure he got the county and state offices right in his opinion. ;)

He got there at 7:00 when the polls opened and had to wait an hour. The line was pretty long at 6:30 when I drove past for work.

[arielmoon]

I voted this morning-- what a wonderful experience. I live in a predominantly African-American precinct, and before today my longest wait to vote was ~10 minutes. Today, it took 1.5 hours (and the line was as long when I left as when I got there). The coolest thing: whenever an elderly person or disabled person showed up, the line by common acclamation sent them to the front. One of my fellow waiting voters told one extremely elderly lady "you've waited long enough for this day-- you go on ahead." And then, when that lady came out, leaning on her cane, there was a little tear rolling down her cheek. What a powerful moment to be a part of....

It was also pretty cool seeing the garbage truck pull up and one of the crew hop off the back and get it the line to vote!

AWESOME story!

I am voting on the way home from work. I dont anticipate much of a wait.

[Trek420]

OK. I'll be non-partisan for the moment. Red socks, blue socks, green socks ... whatever! Just get out there and vote!

I walked the mutt early, then jogged to my polling spot. There, it's fitness related. :p Don't be impressed, that's 2 1/2 blocks.

At 7 am the line was out the door and around the building. I saw people giving up space in line so that elderly voters could move ahead. Those checking their watches and looking worried about the drive to work we were passing the word around that by Federal law your employeer has to give you up to two hours off if needed to vote.

Duck will be pleased to know that (while we were further out than 100 feet) my neighbor in line and I chatted about some of the work our mutual Mom and Dad did in the old days in the Bay Area.

Normally there is no line at my poll, the line was out the door and down the side of the building :D I'm not looking at the news, not watching the polls ... don't tell me, don't tell me.

Not till it's all said and done. :rolleyes: too nervous.

[crazycanuck]

Thank you for voting!

[Trigress]

Happy Election Day!

[Flur]

Voted this morning. I remember really secret voting from my childhood (this is the first year that I haven't had to vote via absentee ballot), with curtains around the voting box, but this was not that. People were sitting around on the floor filling out their ballots! I have to say it was a step up from the caucus. I didn't write my vote on a torn slip of paper and stuff it in a hat today.

[alpinerabbit]

kudos to everyone who exercised their rights as a citizen. more to those who voted with regard to the real issues.

Here's someone cheering from afar -

Oh gods and goddesses of all times and places of this world - may the winner be the one who will increase peace for all existence - in the north, south, east and west - to the best of abilities. So mote it be.
http://greenearthhost.com/images/anihands_hold_spinning_earth.gif

[trinena]

Just came back from voting w/ DH & the dog (we took turns or our dog could intimidate voters!). No line and I took choc. chip espresso cookies for the poll workers. It was emotional for a sec there to be able to vote who I voted for.;)

[7rider]

Done!
DH went at 11 and the line was out the door and the wait was an hour+.
I went at 3 - after my dentist appointment - and was in and out within a half hour.
I did pass by the students selling cookies and the boyscouts selling popcorn, too! :cool:

[redrhodie]

I voted at around 9:30. No lines here :confused:. Where was everyone?! Well, I did my part.

[Blueberry]

I voted at around 9:30. No lines here :confused:. Where was everyone?! Well, I did my part.

More than 1/2 of the people who were eligible voted early here. So, no lines:)

CA

[alpinerabbit]

I voted this morning-- what a wonderful experience. I live in a predominantly African-American precinct, and before today my longest wait to vote was ~10 minutes. Today, it took 1.5 hours (and the line was as long when I left as when I got there). The coolest thing: whenever an elderly person or disabled person showed up, the line by common acclamation sent them to the front. One of my fellow waiting voters told one extremely elderly lady "you've waited long enough for this day-- you go on ahead." And then, when that lady came out, leaning on her cane, there was a little tear rolling down her cheek. What a powerful moment to be a part of....

Not many things bring me to tears.

[Tuckervill]

There was no line at my polling place at 9:00, either. Except a few people waiting to vote on the machines (2), and one waiting to vote on a paper ballot behind the little shields. I used a paper ballot just because of the line for the machines.

I watched Obama and his family voting this morning, how he talked it over with his kids. My 15-yo (tomorrow) decided to come with me and we talked over all the acts and amendments on the ballot, too, as I considered them. It was fun, and he was very interested!

Karen

[jesvetmed]

Here's someone cheering from afar -

Oh gods and goddesses of all times and places of this world - may the winner be the one who will increase peace for all existence - in the north, south, east and west - to the best of abilities. So mote it be.

Well said!

[Geonz]

We had a line but it was moving quickly because you could either go into a booth, or step behind the booths to the city council chambers and sit in on of their seats to fill it out.

Friend of mine says he usually doesn't vote 'til five, because they tell you what number you were as you leave and he likes to knkow - and it's been at most 200. Today he voted in the morning and was in the 600's. I was 227, before 8:00 a.m.

It's not logical... there's no reason for people around here to get any more excited about voting than any other election. We're so not a swing state. I don't even think people are all that excited about our referendum about having a whole constitutional convention... but it seems it's the thing to do.

Had to squeeze the bike in the inadequate bike rack... and there were totally differetnb ikes on it on my way out. That wasn't true in previous elections, either.

[OakLeaf]

I walked the mutt early, then jogged to my polling spot. There, it's fitness related. :p

Ha, I thought about running to my polling place, but figured I didn't want to stand around letting my muscles get cold while I waited and voted. Instead, I ran up there this afternoon to check on the line (2-1/2 miles each way). It was just a trickle but then it was like 4:30, most everyone who wasn't at work had probably already voted, and the ones who get off work at 4:30 or 5:00 hadn't got there yet.

[crazycanuck]

Geonz, you might not be in a swing state but it's obvious that this election means a sheep load to people in the US. It's nice to see more than 50% of people voting...

Perhaps something like this might not go amiss?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_electoral_system#Compulsory_voting

I'm jealous atm. I haven't paid enough attention to things in NZ & Canada in order to vote in thiers. (Canada's just past)

[Pax]

Thank you to everyone one in the US who took the time to exercise your right to vote!!! We are so lucky to live where we have the opportunity to have a voice.