BS: Lines at the Polls

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Janie
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:33 AM

I work in the same building as what used to be my home precinct. No lines at all because there was a huge early voting turn-out. This precinct is made up of mostly professional folks and well-to-do retirees.

I voted early, but drive past what is now my new precinct location, located in a rural AME church, on my way work. At 7:40 this morning, there was literally a traffic jam there from cars parked on the berm (church lot full and out of parking), and folks arriving and departing the polling place. There was a lengthy serpentine line of people that cirled the church and then wrapped about 1/3 of the way around the edge of the parking lot. Lots of people with smiles, cheerfully standing in the rain, chatting with their neighbors, as they quayed up to vote.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:11 AM

I just voted in Maryland...on Diebold machines. One of the initiatives on the ballot was to allow early voting...and it's already been decided to do away with the machines.

This was the longest line I had been in during my 25 years voring here, but it still took only about 20 minutes. There were about 12 machines, and it all done very efficiently.

It's really interesting how, when standing in line, no one even attempts to talk about their voting preferences.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:56 AM

I suppose the thing is, you are holding a whole bunch of elections together, which makes it more complicated. With us it's normally just one, or maybe two on occasion, so it' sin and out in a couple of minutes and never any queueing in my lifetime.

But those massive queue do seem to indicate that there is something wrong. Supermarkets have pretty complicated transactions going on, but they are generally able to keep the queues relatively short.

But it's impressive seeing those people waiting for hours to cast a vote, reminiscent of the first free South African election.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:42 AM

Population: 4000 does not mean 4000 eligible voters.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Maryrrf
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:39 AM

In Mechanicsville, Virginia (just outside Richmond) I turned up at my polling station at 6:15 and couldn't believe my eyes. The elementary school parking lot was full, cars parked all down along the side of the rural road and off onto the side roads....I turned around and went home. I'll leave work at 3:00 o'clock and vote in the afternoon. I've always voted early in the morning and have never had to wait more than 20 minutes to half hour or so. This turnout is amazing!

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:38 AM

Seen today on a blog I read (don't blame me!)

Why do Americans have to queue for so long to cast their votes? Is it just another aspect of the general American concern to make it tricky to cast a vote that's been kicking around for quite a while now, or is there something else going on that I don't know about? Or do the press just pick up on the long queues in some particularly inefficient parts of the country, even though most Americans can just pop along to the local polling station and cast a ballot in a minute or two, as in the rest of the democratic world? From my memory of living over there ten years ago, Americans don't much like queuing. Not like us Brits, anyway.

I think Charley may have supplied the answer, or part of it -

In my small town in Maine (4000 population) there is only one polling place

One polling station for 4000 voters? When I go to vote it's at a polling station which serves about a fifth of that. They have five or six booths set up (with pencil-and-paper voting an extra booth isn't expensive), and I'm in and out in five minutes.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:26 AM

Because of so many problems in the past, Ohio has tried to rectify the situation. Early voting has made a difference already as the lines in the major cities are not (at this point) very large at all. There was a massive turnout during the early voting period.

Here in little Bremen in rural Ohio, our polling location (2 blocks away) was well equipped with working voting machines, at least 3 times more than in the past. They offered paper ballot options and had three screened tables setup to accomodate 9 people at a time for that option. Our touch-screen machines were easy to use and gave you multiple options for review and change before casting the ballot including a review of the printed ballot. Karen and I were gone from home only 25 minutes.

There are a few adnvantages to living insmall town America...............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: MaineDog
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:18 AM

In my tiny town in Maine, I called the town hall last Thursday, and asked if I could vote then. They said yes, come on in.
When I arrived, they handed my my personal absentee ballot, all filled out except for the votes and the signature. No id required.
In a civilized place we all know each other, and value each other.
MD

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:10 AM

"...working hard to get out the vote". I have to admit, it sounds like a line from a mining song. Or perhaps fishing.

Whatever, work hard folks! And I agree with SINSULL about not being complacent; true of any election. X% + 1 vote is always better, for all values of X.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:08 AM

DO NOT BE COMPLACENT!!! I don't care what you hear on the telly, even if it looks in the bag, you get up off yer royal backside and get to the polls. Remember 2000 and 2004, and remember that we are looking for a mandate here, and a rejection of the destruction of our society and its most important ideals. We must send a clear message to the world that we intend to rejoin in with our friends from around the world, in a sense of real partnership and leadership and restore the direction to a more caring and progressive planet.

DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!!!

All the best,

Mick, takin' it home.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:08 AM

BTW, anyone besides me who lives in a battleground state, and who has the time... the Obama campaign needs people to get out and canvass for them today. People can call their local Obama headquarters to find out where to go and what to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:06 AM

In my small town in Maine (4000 population) there is only one polling place and the line-up at 8 am was only long enough to delay voting for about 20 minutes. I expect the lines in the late afternoon and early evening will be longer. Polls close here and statewide at 8 am.

I'll be coming back much later in the evening to monitor the vote count and report the results to the local candidates, the county committee, and the state HQ. In 2006 the vote counting did not conclude until 2 am and I expect it will be even later this time around; we're still using paper ballots.

As soon as polls close I'll be out on the road collecting campaign signs, and carting them off to our local political recycling shed.

Things look good in most races in Maine for Democrats, with the exception of the U.S. Senate race where Republican Susan Collins is expected to be re-elected by a wide margin.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:03 AM

I'm heading out in about an hour and a half to do some more canvassing for Mr. Obama to help make those lines even longer. And that's part of the good news. The Obama people haven't let up... they're working very hard to get out the vote.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:02 AM

Get out and vote, folks! I'll be going after work myself. I'll definitely be going. My state is solidly for Obama, but there are lesser races and ballot questions that make things interesting too. Besides, it's a duty.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:02 AM

YOU have a long night! Our "Election Special" programmes here begin at midnight... There will be a lot of bleary-eyed office workers phoning in sick tomorrow...

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:53 AM

The worst thing that could happen right now is for anyone to become complacent and decide that their vote won't matter. Every vote counts. And in local elections, every vote is critical. So...don't count your chickens before they're hatched. We have a long night ahead of us.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:45 AM

I voted at 7:30ish in Pittsburgh, PA.

For some reason, about five years ago, my voting location was changed from a public school that is about a block away from me to a cultural center that is about 7 blocks {up and down hills}. My neighbor across the street still votes at the school. She told me that she voted at 7AM and the lines were long {which is unusual}.

It's an unseasonably warm day in Pittsburgh, and that will probably add to what was already going to be an uncharacteristically large voter turnout. The cultural center where I vote has three different voting districts. I didn't have to wait in line, and there didn't seem to be a line in the second floor voting area that is entered from the outdoor stairs. However, the other voting area that is on the same floor next to mine had a line going out of the door. And the poll worker who I know said that many more people are voting then usually do. I should note that there were five people behind me in line, and other people were coming in as I left.

Fwiw, the demographics for the people who vote at each of these locations that I mentioned are mostly African Americans. I expect that Barack Obama will receive at least 97% of the vote from African Americans in Pittsburgh, PA and elsewhere. And I expect that Obama will win Pittsburgh and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And at the end of this very long election, Obama will be America's President-Elect!

Hallelujah!

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:01 AM

By the way, I was asked only for my name. When there were duplicates of my name, they asked for my address. No ID. In fact, a large sign at the door said that it was illegal for them to require ID from a registered voter. Those registering had to provide a Driver's Licens or some proof of residence - a utility bill, a tax bill, a check book.

There were also numbers clearly posted if someone had a problem and a note that even if your vote was challenged you had the right to vote a provisional ballot with the understanding that you would probably be required to proove residence later.

I have never seen such care taken to make people's rights clear.

Subject: RE: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: GUEST,Justin Urquart
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 08:52 AM

Funny I thought that myself looking at those waiting to vote. I says I betcha there isa a line or two of coke in there boy.

Subject: BS: Lines at the Polls
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 08:44 AM

I will try again - this went walkies a minute ago.

I arrived at my polling place at 7:15AM to two lines of 200+ people each. This was after waiting for a parking spot for about five minutes.

The place was packed with young and old, people in wheel chairs, people with babies, people in suits, people in jeans. Some were wearing Obama buttons. I saw no McCain voters proclaiming their support.

I have always said that if someone could motivate high scholl and college students to vote, we could change the direction of the country. Someone did. There were groups of awkward teens registering with pride. Apparently, it is now "cool" to vote.

I hope the enthusiasm carries over to the "minor" elections where a single vote really can make a huge difference.

Anyone else vote today?