I’ve fixed the misspelling in the thread title, as it has been grating on my nerves.
Columbia, MO voter here, proudly wearing her “I Voted” sticker. I tried to change my address on the Boone County Clerk’s website because my freshman year dorm address was the one on record, but it ended up having the wrong zipcode (probably my error) and they were trying to send my all the way across town, so I ended up going to one of the three ‘super precincts’ so I could vote. It was 1pm and only 3 other people were there voting. A girl changed my address in the records and I voted. They gave me the choice between the touch screen and the fill in the dots ballot, and I chose the latter - the older gentleman looked a little confused at my quick decision to not use the new one. When I fed my ballot in to the machine, I was only the 20th person to use it, so I suspect most everyone else used the touch screen. I figured I was already familiar with the paper and Sharpie version so I’d just use that. It only took me two minutes or so to do.
I will definitely be surfing the net tonight at work checking the polls.
Dude, if a coder couldn’t design a system that counted the numbers they wanted, while simultaneuosly printing out what your thought you input, they would have to turn in their Blackberry. In other words, it’s very nice that there’s a paper print out- but so what?
St. Louis Metro checking in. Voted at 3:30 PM, about 3 doxen people in line waiting and already voting, with about an even turnover. Officials, were organized, knowledgeable, and polite.
And I checked my paper receipt as I voted, to ensure that it reflected my actual vote. Right down the line, it got every one of my picks accurately.
Just voted. I didn’t vote straight Democrat, but I came so close that it hardly matters. Course, in Bama, I’m pissing in the wind, but still.
Just got back from voting.
Drove to the polling place which I suppose was my first mistake since it’s just a few blocks up the street, but I didn’t feel like walking. Anyways, so I pull into the lot next to the polling place and park near a sign that says “Voter Parking Only”. Head inside, there’s about a ten minute wait. I fill out my ballot, very easy on our optical scanners, feed it into the scanner and head out.
To find a cop standing next to my car writing a ticket for being parked on private property. I point out the sign that I’m parked right next to. Oh, that’s only for the lot on the other side of the sign. As he’s explaining this, a tow truck pulls up. At my incredulous look, he points out a sign all the way across the parking lot attached about 20 feet up the side of the building. “Private Parking. Violators will be ticketed and towed.”
I managed to talk him out of towing my car but he won’t tear up the ticket, because he’s already started writing it. So for taking the time to vote I’m the proud recipient of a $35 fine. Ah, the rewards of doing one’s civic duty!
So… the collected paper printouts are a physical record of the actual vote, that can be checked later against what the software counted.
Looks like we’re having problems in Colorado , too. From the article:
I’m glad I had the foresight to request an absentee ballot - sitting down with my ballot and the Internet so that I could research as I went sure beats standing in line waiting for the election officials to get the computers working.
Dio it shockingly didn’t feel all that great. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to vote AGAINST Ricky, but I have some serious issues with Casey, Jr. (and I really disliked his dad). Should Rip-Off Rick lose, the world will no doubt be a better place and either way I’m a better person for voting against him.
Somebody asked about the touch screen write in process…it was surprisingly easy. In my state senate or rep race (they’re brothers) one of them was running unopposed and I loathe both of them. So rather than just skip that vote, I hit the “write-in” button. A touch keyboard appeared on the screen and I was able to type in the name of my candidate. I figured that Pat Paulsen was dead, it would be too egomaniacal to vote for myself, so I chose that bastion of corporate America, Mickey Mouse. I’m probably a worse person for doing that, but I had to express my dissatisfaction that Operation Cleansweep didn’t get anybody to run against Mr. Costa.
Like I said in GD- OK, but in most areas where a paper copy was available, it was optional. So, all they’d have to count was those who asked for a paper copy. If there is a master paper copy, how do you know that the master is recording your vote correctly?
Voted this morning. My polling place (Fenton, MO) is… horrid… if it’s a national election. So I showed up at 5:50 am. Still took an hour.
I felt sorry for the 70+ year old and very confused volunteers who had no idea how to work the touch-screens enough to show anyone. But it didn’t stop me from taking an opti-screen ballot and starting a new trend (“What? We can do the good ballots, still?”)
The only experience I had worthy of the Pit, though, were the goatfelching troglodytes foisting their cackhanded propaganda against Prop 2 – about 5 feet in front of the “No campaigning within 25 feet of polling place” sign. The avoided my ire, barely, in that they didn’t actually refer to me as “brother in Christ,” but only “young man.” (although I’m not; I’m 40. twit.)
I’ll just reply in GD so we won’t have to keep track of two identical conversations. 
Wow, I didn’t see anything like this, and I actually voted at a Catholic church that’s been very vocal about opposing 2. There were two people handing out literature for the Republican and Democratic House candidates, but they were both very polite and friendly, even to each other.
This is fucking bullshit! If you could read the sign from where you were parked, how in the hell could it have been for the other parking lot? I hope for your sake you have one of those cell phones with a camera in it, took plenty of pictures, and can find the time and resources to fight this one all the way up the line.
What’s Prop 2? 
Massachusetts voter checking in. My polling place was in the gym of the local YMCA and as usual it was run with dispatch and efficiency. I voted around 1:00 p.m., which is between rush hours, and when a lot of the retirees vote. There was a steady trickle of voters entering and leaving, and only a handful of people ahead of me checking in to get a ballot. We’re still using the fill-in-the-oval ballots, fed into the ballot-hoover after voting. In and out in probably five minutes.
It felt GOOD. I left smiling. Not even the nerve in my arm that had been irritated by the needle when I gave blood yesterday, and is grumpily zinging me off and on, could spoil my delight in Sending. A. Message.
Essentially, it allows embryonic stem cell research to take place in Missouri according to federal guidelines.
CNN is reporting that the request for extension has been denied. I’ve also heard that the Republicans in Douglas County are considering asking for an extension.
I am so glad I early voted this year! Heads will roll at the Denver Election Commission after this.
Two lots separated by a grass strip about five feet wide. The sign was sitting in the grass strip.
Facing your direction?
Not facing either lot.