Your voting experience!

[kaiser soze]

I will be off to the polls shortly and hope it is quite an adventure, maybe I'll run into a Koopa King or something.

No seriously though, please post your experience if you like...I'm sure people might run into those pesky touch screen machines or some protesters, rude poll workers, happy ass voters, how was the weather? did you pick up a bagel on your way?

So far the weather is nice here, we'll be taking a stroll to our polling place.

[100% ILL]

It is overcast and raining this morning. Got to the polls at 7:30 didn't even have to wait in line. A friendly volunteer handed me a flyer of all the conservatives, I was in and out in less than five minutes. (y)

[AceFace]

raining. i waited 45 mins in line. late to work and our polling place
only had 3 voting machines, when we normally have 5.
it makes me suspicious b/c i live in a very racially mixed area.

also, i dunno about other states, but VA just recently
had a law pass that said you couldn't wear anything
at the polls to suggest who you were voting for.
apparently the McCain supporters didn't get the memo,
but weren't made to leave the polls or anything.
saw about 5 big McCain buttons and 2 t- shirts.
i was irritated at that. they kept saying on the news
how you would be asked to leave the polling area until
you removed the clothing or pins. i fought the urge to
tattle tale. i'm a good girl. :p

another big difference i saw was... there was no one
outside giving out stuff for the parties. usually there's
someone from dem and repub asking for your vote and
giving a "pre ballot" with all their candidates on it.

def a different experience than the last few times i voted in a
national election.

[ms.peachy]

Well it was a few weeks ago, but I think I can remember it pretty well. I brought in the mail. I opened the envelope from the Hudson County Clerks's office. I read the material inside. I marked my ballot then hunted around the house for an envelope. Then the next day I went to the post office with my and mr.p's envelopes and handed them along across the counter.

I can't remember if it was raining or not but as this is London let's just say it was.

[kaiser soze]

Just got back from walking to the polls. It is a paltry 45 degrees (felt like 60 with my jacket on) and sunny as hell. A great day for voting.

It was quite peaceful, no protesters for either side. One of the machines was broken and the women running the polls were going at their own pace. I let a few people go ahead of me while I waited for my girlfriend.

One gentleman thanked me for letting him go ahead and I said "eh, I only have school to worry about." and he responded "I have chemotherapy to go to, that's not as fun"

When they realized they were in the wrong ward, they couldn't use the working machine and his wife said "No, let's go, let's not even bother" and I said "No!". The man insisted on getting an emergency ballot and voted. I actually teared up a little.

[Dorothy Wood]

well, it took exactly 20 minutes from the time I walked out my door 'til the time I walked back in. it was a paper ballot, and I had already looked at the online sample and figured out who I was voting for, so I breezed through it. I made some last minute decisions to vote for a couple more green party candidates (the ones I had determined to not be crazy, because some of them definitely were) because my friend told me last night that if the green party gets a certain percentage of votes, it'll become an official party and candidates won't have to jump through so many hoops to get on a ballot.


the workers were nice and helpful, the lady who checked the signatures kept saying, "oh! it is you" when she saw that the signatures matched. heh. she also kept calling the guy who explained how to vote, "the professor".

I helped a couple of people figure out what precinct they lived in so they could get in the correct line. yay! everybody was polite and in a good mood.

thumbs up to voting. (y)

[jennyb]

I got there at 645 and there was a line down the block already before the polls opened! The school crossing guard said she's never seen anything like it. It was beautiful. I had no problems. I was finally out of there at 730 so it took me all of 45 minutes. YAY and I got my "I Voted" sticker! :D


There was something funky that took place in front of me though...

This black guy needed a provisional ballot as I believe he was going to do mail in but just showed up instead or something, not quite sure. Anyhow this white guy is looking through a stack of paper and going through the 'qualifications' and reading them off to the guy. When his supervisor was all 'he just needs a provisional ballot'. Then he looks up at the black guy and says 'You speak English, right?' and they were clearly conversing before he asked him that ignorant question it was so embarassing to witness. This black girl standing next to this let the white kid have it, "what do you mean can he speak English..." and they entered a verbal argument... White guy's supervisor drags him forcibly out of the joint and gave him a talkin to... uh awkward!

So I go vote and when I finished, I walked up to the guy who was having the 'issues' and asked if he was properly taken care of in the end, and he said 'yes' and I gave him like a rolling eyes look and shook my head and smiled and we kind of laughed about it... so all is well that ends well I guess. But it was an awkward moment to say the least.

As I left the joint I drove past the line which continued to be down the block! Awesome. Simply beautiful.

[QueenAdrock]

Got my ballot in the mail last month. Researched the judges and other positions, filled out all the people I wanted, went to the post office. Had to stand in line for a minute or so, and had to pay $2.01 for the stamp back to NC. Lucky for me, Brett had an extra penny on him so I could afford it. :p

My mom's working the polls down in NC - giving the people in line water, food, whatever else. She's also driving some lower income families to the polls. She's been up since 6:00 today working. Yesterday, she was volunteering and got to meet Kay Hagan (running against Dole for Senate) and got on TV! That's pretty awesome. She says she's never seen this amount of enthusiasm or lines this long, and she's been into the campaigning scene since McGovern in '72!

[jennyb]

^ you and your family are truly inspirational.

[little j]

woke up an hour early.
got to elementary school around 7:10... waited in line. ran into a friend of seth's from highschool, so that was fun.

got moved up in line because my last name starts with a "p"
waited in line some more.

gave my ID to the volunteer dude, and looked down and saw my name on the list, but he didn't... took like 2 minutes for him to see it. had to recite my name and address
got my paper voting card
gave the paper card to the next volunteer who gave me a plastic electronic card.

waited a few more moments for a machine to open.

put my card in the machine and VOTED MY ASS OFF!

woot!

(y)(y)(y)

got home around 8 (live like 2 seconds away from poll place) so it took roughly 50 minutes.

[YoungRemy]

after a nice walk to the polling station, i was upset when NOBODY ASKED ME FOR MY ID. i was asked to show my sample ballot or my voter guide, anything that the little old lady working the station could match with my address. she had me sign my name after she found my line, and then moved me to the next volunteer, the lady giving out ballots. she verbally confirmed my last name and sent me to the booth.

I stopped and asked if anyone was going to make sure I was who I said I was and the little old lady said "Are you who you say you are?" and I replied,

"YES, and I have an identification card to prove it. I wish you would have asked for it."

so if anyone out there sees a voter guide or sample ballot laying around the trash, or if you just want to vote on behalf of your apathetic neighbor, family, or friend, just stroll on into my polling station and cast your vote away in someone else's name!

NO ON PROP 8

[Dorothy Wood]

after a nice walk to the polling station, i was upset when NOBODY ASKED ME FOR MY ID. i was asked to show my sample ballot or my voter guide, anything that the little old lady working the station could match with my address. she had me sign my name after she found my line, and then moved me to the next volunteer, the lady giving out ballots. she verbally confirmed my last name and sent me to the booth.

I stopped and asked if anyone was going to make sure I was who I said I was and the little old lady said "Are you who you say you are?" and I replied,

"YES, and I have an identification card to prove it. I wish you would have asked for it."




so if anyone out there sees a voter guide or sample ballot laying around the trash, or if you just want to vote on behalf of your apathetic neighbor, family, or friend, just stroll on into my polling station and cast your vote away in someone else's name!

NO ON PROP 8



they have your signature on file, right? they didn't ask for my ID either, I just passed her my voter card and then she looked me up and I signed a paper and the the signature matched the one she had in the book. she compared your signature probably. I hope. ?

[kaiser soze]

Yeah no asking for my id either....I voluntarily flashed my voter registration card

and they didn't give us "I Voted" stickers :(

[jennyb]

I handed the guy my driver's license but he didn't even look at it, he seemed overwhelmed. My sample ballot he scrutinized though. They found my name and I signed on the line and I was clear to vote.

[kaiser soze]

and I'm sure it kicked ass!

[Randetica]

this year i was closer than ever before to get my ass up and vote

maybe in a few years ill vote fo realz

[RobMoney$]

Not my experience, but I wish it was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCeD1RcJjAg

[Documad]

They never ask for ID if you're already registered. You sign your name under oath. If you lie about who you are it's a serious felony.

I assume that if you showed up and someone else had signed in your spot they would ask for your ID, have you fill out a provisional ballot, and report the problem to the secretary of state.

I had absolutely no wait. We had about double the usual number of booths and more workers, plus I went at an off time. We always have a huge turnout in my neighborhood so it was nothing special today.

[kaiser soze]

Not my experience, but I wish it was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCeD1RcJjAg

Definitely idiotic, inappropriate, and intimidating behavior. Was that Joe the Panther? Now do you know the history of that polling place (demographic of voters, history of voter intimidation or threats to voters in the neighborhood ) You should know something a bit more than all of us seeing that you live in Philly.

The girl in the background looks threatened :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU&eurl

So how was your experience?

[RobMoney$]

Definitely idiotic, inappropriate, and intimidating behavior. Was that Joe the Panther? Now do you know the history of that polling place (demographic of voters, history of voter intimidation or threats to voters in the neighborhood ) You should know something a bit more than all of us seeing that you live in Philly.

The girl in the background looks threatened :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU&eurl

So how was your experience?


History of that polling place? No.
People usually just go to their polling place, vote and go home. Not very much history to be had usually.

I am familiar with the neighborhood. 12th & Fairmount is called Northern Liberties. It's a predominantly black neighborhood, but it's not the badlands.


My experience was unremarkable really.
I came home from work, parked, walked across the street to the Rec. Center and voted. There was one other person in line at the time (around 5pm). Total time was approx. 4 mins. tops.
Walked out front to see a dump truck decorated with Obama signs driving by and honking it's horn. What I think was a woman (it was hard to tell) with a hard hat on yelled out the window "Teamsters for Obama" to which I replied with a hearty "BOOOOOOOOOO!" in typical Philadelphia form.

[Bob]

Not my experience, but I wish it was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCeD1RcJjAg

you wish that the black panthers were trying to prevent you from voting?

[RobMoney$]

I'd love for them to try to pull that shit in my neighborhood.