chargirlgenius: (Default)
chargirlgenius ([personal profile] chargirlgenius) wrote2008-11-04 12:43 pm
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Obligatory Voting Post

Drove up to the local school. Parked close to the door. Walked in through an empty corridor, my heels echoing. Went right up to give my name. Stood for about 30 seconds while waiting for a poll worker to finish explaining the machine to an elderly gentleman, so she could lead me to my machine. Voted. Got my sticker, walked out.

Total time, about a minute and a half.

That, folks, is what voting in rural America is like.

And yes, I teared up slightly as I walked out. :-)

[identity profile] peronel.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I've voted in every election since I've been old enough.

I've never got a sticker.

I wanna be in America.

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
It’s all about the sticker. :-) I actually still have mine from 2000. I voted, came home, and started work on a 14th century dress (I’d JUST started playing in the SCA). I stuck the sticker on the side of my sewing machine, for some reason. As the night, week, and month went on, and I continued work on that dress, I had the TV on behind me, watching election coverage.

That sticker is still on my sewing machine, and it brings back very specific memories.

[identity profile] ornerie.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
no lines at the polling place across the street from my house. we'll see what its like this evening when folks get off work.

or, everyone like me voted absentee. we dont get stickers when we vote absentee. I feel kinda robbed....

[identity profile] greta-k.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I voted in-person absentee two weeks ago. They wouldn't let me leave without a sticker.

I guess it really IS all about the sticker . . .

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I wonder what it was like in the morning, and what it will be like in the afternoon. I think I'll drive by on my way home and see if it's any better. It was almost disappointing!

[identity profile] ornerie.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
our state is hugely absentee and early voting. some folks really like doing it in person though :)

I have to admit its kinda like christmas! so much build up and now we wait for santa... (who hopefully doenst leave us coal! ;))

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Even with the right to do it, I might not. All depends. If I can walk in and out, it's no problem. But if Jeff's on travel, I have both boys, nobody to watch them, etc, then it's more attractive to vote early.

[identity profile] glasseye.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
This is the last election where we'll have polling places, after this we're 100% absentee. I may never have the chance to see the inside of a polling place! :-D

Even with this election, only two counties in the state have polling places (King and Pierce)

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, and one of our ballot measures was to allow early voting in the future. *crossing my fingers*

[identity profile] pinkleader.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I opted for that measure too. I may not need it, but I like the ideal of flexibility for those who have less flexible schedules.

[identity profile] aeliakirith.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, my polling place was mobbed at 7 AM. Line stretched out around the building. I'm leaving work in half an hour or so to go vote.

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I've heard that it's been easing up in many places.

[identity profile] aeliakirith.livejournal.com 2008-11-05 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it was very quiet when I went. I picked the perfect time, I think, since it started to pick up a wee bit later in the afternoon.

[identity profile] rufinia.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
They don't give stickers in this state.

It's less real without the sticker.

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
How do you know it counted?!?

[identity profile] spikywheel.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I think we should go to the blue thumb. No chance of voting twice if your thumb is blue.

Of course it would be funny to see folks running around with blue thumbs for 2 weeks. Esp folks in the media, tv, etc.

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I was thinking about that this morning, a bunch of Americans running around with ink on their fingers...

[identity profile] kevindharner.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I was in and out in 5min

[identity profile] chargirlgenius.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
That's impressive in your area. What time?

[identity profile] kevindharner.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
like 815amish
went in, went to approp. table for my last name, showed ID, was asked if I wanted to do paper or machine (I went for machine; don't want my votes getting "lost"), voted, got my sticker and left
GO OBAMA

[identity profile] bdeb.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
That is how it is voting out in the small town my folks live in. I voted there up to this election. I'd go in at 5:30 walk right up, and vote. Doing it in the burbs of Chesterfield this year sucked.

[identity profile] laracorsets.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, how come everyone gets a sticker but me?

I want a sticker.

Mine was quick and easy too. Here by NYC you simply need to choose your timing well. 10:30am, perfect.
Edited 2008-11-04 20:09 (UTC)

[identity profile] dawnhutchings.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I walked into my polling place at 8:15 and was in my car talking to my mom by 8:28. I was in a longer line when getting my coffee this morning.

Got a free taco at lunch for wearing my Vote sticker. Every day should be sticker day!

[identity profile] glasseye.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
A local store here is giving out free "marital aids" for those who voted. ;-)

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/swminsea/archives/153326.asp

[identity profile] maggiebowgirl.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Middle of DC and mine only took about 30 minutes this morning. What helped was that there weren't very many F-K's so I just sailed right up past the line. :)

[identity profile] thornbury.livejournal.com 2008-11-04 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
About eight minutes from me; I opted to go just before lunch. Jessica said the same thing when she went mid-morning, too.

If I was a P-Z, I could have been out in record time.

[identity profile] beckishadow.livejournal.com 2008-11-05 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
That's how it was in non-rural America too.

Except I didn't get a sticker. :(

[identity profile] ealdthryth.livejournal.com 2008-11-05 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Voting in rural SC was a different story. We waited almost 4 hours! The lines at our precinct were at least 3 hours all day. They really need to split the precinct up.