I got to the polls just after they opened at 8:00 a.m. Traffic was backed up over a mile from the turnoff to the YMCA where we vote in my town, with an officer waving slugs of cars past, in, out, repeat. I got to honk and wave at my candidate for state representative, standing by the side of the driveway into the parking lot. Lots of folks streaming in and back out of the Y, a fair number with children in tow. The mood seemed mostly serious but buoyant.
The voting process itself was a breeze. The cheerfully competent checkers’ tables and voting machines were set up in the gymnasium, everything was clearly marked out, and I was done and on my way in a few minutes. It took a lot longer to get out of the parking lot than to vote.
Onward to victory, clearcut victory accepted by all!
Dear Og, please let it be clearcut…
I had Limbaugh on via the internet. Less than joyous. Hannity’s in a panic. All these ignorant people voting. What a disgrace it was when the British voted Churchill out of office. Voting Bush out would be even worse. This ought to be good.
Actually, going with the election standards. I remember one of the principal criticisms of the recent White-Russian (Belarussia) election was that the election room was not free from political posters and other political biased material. Re. this, does the US allow you to influence the voters inside the election room?
The early state exit polls put up at Drudge (if you were lucky enough to catch them) were based on 59% women / 41% men. ABC reported yesterday that Kerry leads among women by 7 points - while Bush leads among men by 10 -
Rune, there is a mandated distance that political posters, signs, and campaigners must maintain from the voting place. In Tennessee, I believe it is 40 feet.
Naw, it’s just when a Republican president leaves office, corporations have a lot of “paperwork” (shredding) to do. Stock analyst all know that corporate legal departments are not pofit centers, so stock prices reflect a reduction of revenue.
At the Y where I voted, one walked through a lobby to get to the gymnasium where the machines were. At the entrance to the gym there was a sign posted asking people to remove political buttons and so forth. Sign-holders, smiling and waving candidates and such aren’t allowed within I think 100 or 200 feet of the polls.
“17:12:21 ET // Exit poll mania spread through media and campaign circles Tuesday evening after data showed Kerry competitive in key states… Fla Kerry +1 Pa Kerry+2-4 Oh Kerry+1 Wi Kerry+4 M Kerry+2 Nh Kerry +4 // Senate Winners: Martinez fla Thune SD Bunning ky Salazar Co // Losers: Bowles NC Coors Co [But early 2000 exit polls showed Gore +3 in Florida; showed Gore-Bush even in CO [Bush won by 9], 2000 exits showed Gore +4 in AZ [Bush won by 6]… Developing…”
No one is saying anything early this time…not even any speculation based on exit polls. I’ve heard nada yet. Of course, polls are still open for 2 more hours on the east coast (where some of the major swing states are) and 3 more in the central time zone (where a few more are), so I guess it makes sense.
