I voted at 7am on my way in to work. They had already had 110 voters in that first hour but I had no wait. I know from some past elections that my district had as little as 230 voters turn out so the 110 is amazing. They looked very well staffed.
I was happy to see two 18-22 years olds coming out of the polling place as I was going in. It is not usual for young people to get out early to vote. I am counting on that large unpolled under 25 group to vote heavy for Obama. My basic theory is that they only have cell phones and no house lines and thus the polls miss them.
Columbus, Ohio checking in. Polls opened at 6:30 AM. I arrived at about 6:10 and there was already a decent line, maybe 50+ people. From the times the polls opened until I finished voting was just a hair over 45 minutes. When I left, the line was about the same length as it was when I arrived at 6:10.
There were several workers in the parking lot with hotline flyers for reporting voting irregularities.
I also didn’t think very clearly this morning and wore my “THAT ONE” Obama t-shirt. After I arrived, I realized that they may give me a hard time for “campaigning” at the location. Fortunately no one seemed to care and I actually got a few chuckles from people.
Walked to our polling place to arrive at opening (6am). As we walked down Madison St. in Chicago it was exhilarating to see dozens of other people heading in the same direction to the polling location, a Salvation Army office.
Mild chaos ensued when we arrived as poll workers requested voter registration cards (most people only had their driver’s license). Turns out this location hosts three precincts! Fortunately my husband had his so we were quickly able to get into the correct line. Caught other people from our building to remind them which precinct we live in. From beginning to end we only waited 50 minutes.
Had a scare when they couldn’t find my name! I knew I was registered (left my card at home). Turns out they had a weird mix of my maiden name and married name. Something like “O’White”. Confirmed it was 100% me and got to vote!
No stickers there! And boy did I get attitude for asking if they had those nifty “I Voted!” stickers. “What?! You want some reward for doing your civic duty?!”
I got over to the polling place about 6:30. I was hoping for a short line, but sure enough, like everyone else has said, the line went out the doors into the courtyard. :eek: Easily over 100 people waiting patiently. I’ve seen that before and expected it, but in the afternoon, not when the sun’s not even up yet.
I got in line and resigned myself to a long wait, but a volunteer pointed out to the folks in general that the long line was for one precinct, and the line for my precinct was inside. I went in and there was a much shorter line with 6 people. Go figure. Got my ballot and voted away (up yours, 102!). I was out in less than half an hour with my sticker.
I don’t expect Obama to take Arizona, although I’ll be thrilled if he does. Mainly I’m concerned about 102, because the disingenuous ad campaign has been pissing me off something fierce. We voted against anti-gay legislation before, I’m hopeful we can do it again.
Oh yeah, they couldn’t find my name at first either. Turns out they had an appendix list of everyone who’d registered last minute, and thankfully I was there.
My wife voted this morning at 6:00 a.m. when the polls opened here in our small town in Connecticut. She waited about 20 minutes.
I got there at 7:30 a.m. and waited about 10 minutes. There were about 20-30 people in line ahead of me.
Turnout seems very high. I have never had to wait in line before.
Our town gave out nice stickers this year–not the ordinary “I Voted!” stickers, but nice stickers with a presidential seal. Around the top it says “I VOTED” and at the bottom of the seal it says “2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.” Pretty neat!
First time voting in my new polling place, but it was packed. I arrived at 7:15, 45 minutes after the polls opened in OH, and was one of the lucky ones who had to cast a paper provisional ballot, so my wait was only about 35 minutes. Those that had to wait for the standard machines were probably going to have to wait another 25-30 minutes.
My area (city of Monroe, Butler County if you are interested) is an interesting mix of farm community, blue collar workers who have lived in the area for multiple generations, and 30-45 year old professionals moving into the McNeighborhoods that are sprouting up to replace the farmland. The turnout at the polls reflected this, which was nice to see.
A woman outside asked me if I need republican literature to vote a straight ticket. I kindly declined. I made sure to tell the people working the sites that they were doing a great thing!
Speaking for a non-doper---- My mom voted in my old polling place, which is usually a 5 minute wait at most. She was there at 6:20, ten minutes before the polls opened, and still had a full hour wait.
Got in line at 6:00 AM; it was already longer than I’ve ever seen it, Part ofthe problem was that one of the four machines had broken. Didn’t vote until 9:00.
Judging from sbippets of overheard conversation, the line was about 85% Obama-friendly.
Just back from voting in suburban Maryland, a pretty liberal bastion. Little Leaguers selling donuts outside. Got there, parked next to the school, no line. Soaked in the ballot before voting, then out and back home. Entire process from leaving home to returning was under 20 minutes.
I got to my polling station right as polls opened, and waited about an hour and a half to get to the machine…then took 15 minutes to vote because there were like 15 issues to vote on, including 3 state constitutional amendments.
I am so nervous about this election I’m making myself sick. I can’t stomach another 4 years of the Pubbies in office, and I’ve got that dread of a great upset, or that the Bradley effect will hit big time, or that Dems will stay home because they think it’s in the bag, or something.
I know that the likely tremendous voter turnout is more likely to be Democratic this year, and an Obama landslide is much more likely than a McCain upset, but I’m terrified of the latter. Not because I think McCain is evil…I think we’ll get a presidential upgrade regardless of who wins…but because I really think Obama could be truly great, while I think McCain will simply muck around for four years. I AM afraid of a Palin presidency, should McCain die in office.
Whatever happens, you people have sure given me a lot to read. It’s been very enlightening at times… other times it was infuriating, redundant, hyperpartisan or just plain weird, but it’s been something for sure - and it’s kept me hooked into an election that had a fascinating and historic quality from the beginning.
So did you do it? Did you cross over to the dark side and vote for Obama?
I was happier casting my vote today for Obama than in any other Presidential election since my first one in 84 when I voted (and campaigned) for Reagan.
Actually yes, I never thought about it but I user both interchangeably. They have the same meaning at least in the NYC Metro area. **Shayna **is correct in her post.
No line for me, just north of Boston. Went in at 7:15 or so, like I’ve done in the last couple of elections, and got the same lack of line I’ve always gotten. My wife usually votes later in the day and has to wait, but she’s got errands to run today, so she’ll have voted by now.
This is the first presidential election that I don’t feel like I’m voting for the least harm; it’s a strange thing feeling like there was a good choice.
They don’t in Virginia, Northern or southern. I guess we don’t count as East Coast.
I voted absentee-in-person on Saturday, which was fortunate, because I volunteered from 10 to 3 AM. I’ve been sleeping most of the time since then, and I’m still tired. But I don’t have to get up for another while, since my first class on Tuesdays is at 12:30.
I had never heard it before I moved from Michigan to New York City. Everyone says “on line” here and it’s super weird.
*Er, forgot to add that I voted in Brooklyn early this morning. It was fine, but it was the first time I’ve voted in NY so I have nothing to compare it to.
I’ll be voting at 2pm today to hopefully miss the lines in CT. I wish I could take a camera into the voting stall to photograph my hand pressing the handle for Obama. Maybe with my camera phone - I’ll save the pic for posterity for my future kids.
I arrived in line at 7:20 and was in the voting booth by 7:40. Never had to wait in line before, so this seems like a good sign. I was listening to the Grateful Dead, so I can’t say what the chatter in line was about.
There was a young couple there with their baby who had the election judge take their pictures as they put their ballots into the scanner. So cute. I love the palpable sense of hope and optimism that this election is bringing out. For the first time in my life I feel like there is someone to vote for.
We are hosting a big party with drinks, snacks and a big elephant pinata tonight. Going to be hard to concentrate at work today. I am off tomorrow, though; arranged the day right after the Republican convention when it was looking like I might have to spend the day in bed with a bottle of Scotch. As it is I plan to be walking in the bright sunshine of a new day.
