(Vanity) How Are Things At Your Polling Place?

[Quilla]

Welcome to Free Republic!

[La Enchiladita]

*GRIN* That's classic; I remember oh so well from my Santa Monica days.

I still live in Los Angeles County, in a HEAVY lib area. I was about #12 in line at 7:05 a.m. (6 were already voting).

My voting experience was somewhat comical. First of all, those cardboard "booths" are SO flimsy. Then, once you insert your paper ballot into the slot, you stick the inker thingy in the holes in the middle. They did not exactly align and, also, the inky thing would get stuck in the hole so, when I pulled it out vigorously the whole booth would shake and shimmy. Also, this un-sticking procedure made a distinct sound.

So, there I was, making popping noises and trying to keep my booth upright... ahem... *sigh.* Oh well.

Then at the end I removed my stub and inserted my ballot feet first into a machine, got my sticker and left. It's not the same feeling as the old days, when we had real booths, spaced apart for privacy and punch-card ballots. And when polling places were totally quiet.

Said upthread how I voted.

[TBP]

Is anyone noticindg a patternhere. It seems that for the most part, those of you in GOP precincts are reporting pretty good turnout but FReepers in Democrat precincts are reporting lighter turnout.

Taht sounds liek a good sing for the GOP.

[usapatriot28]

Northern Virginia - Nice steady flow of folks. Had the option of paper or electronic(only one machine however). Chose paper and saw 15 people(5 booths) vote by paper in the time it took one to vote eletronically.

Sounds like we might be in the same precinct. I had the choice of paper or electronic (which I thought was strange) there was only 1 machine and a line of half-dozen or so people waiting to use it. There were 5 booths for paper voting, all of which were in use, but no line waiting. I choose paper, the whole thing took about 7 minutes and most of that was reading the ballot. The only questionable part was that they did not provide the privacy envelope that they use to with the paper ballots.

[EdReform]

What are the conditions at your polling place?

My polling place is a medium size United Methodist chruch (~400-450 members, IIRC). It's a very nice facility with ample parking and four police officers directing traffic. The parking lots were about 1/3 full at 7:30 this morning. They use the large dinning hall for voting. Approximately 75 people can vote at one time.

How is turnout?

Good at 7:30 this morning, when I voted (straight R). There were a few places open, so I didn't have to wait. There were another 30 or so people signing in when I left.

The weather?

Cool in the 50's with light, steady rain.

The voting equipment?

Paper ballots are used here.

Was checking in easy?

Yes. And we have to show a photo ID.

Were there people outside electioneering?

Noone at 7:30 this morning.

[SengirV]

I guess we don't have the same precinct, because we had the 20 year old dog eared privacy envelopes at mine.

[navysealdad]

Yes

[Caesar Soze]

It's been raining all day. I finally put my coat on and struck out at 1430. After a short walk, I stood in line (indoors, thankfully) for 15-20 minutes before signing in. There was a bar code missing from my entry in the register, an anomaly the election officials had never seen before. I suggested it might be because I was a first-time Michigan voter and registered by mail (therefore technically supposed to show ID to vote), but the lady dismissed it, making a note and sending me on.

We used optical ballots; fill in the bubble, do not make an X, etc. Southeast Michigan Republicans tend to be fairly liberal -- no offense guys, but it's how I see it -- so I had to send a few carefully-targeted "message" votes by voting Libertarian. The most liberal "Republican" of all, an admitted wannabe Democrat, race-baiter, and class-baiter ... well, I swallowed down my vomit and voted for her. Just to try to get a party majority in the state house. But I doubt she'll win, as she seems to have stopped campaigning back in September, after insulting her constituency and her party.

[b9]

It's not the same feeling as the old days, when we had real booths, spaced apart for privacy and punch-card ballots. And when polling places were totally quiet.

That's so true ~ it used to be almost reverent, with quiet respect, like a library.

At my poll, there were several empty electronic booths, while many tried to find space to fill out hand marked ballots.

What an odd feeling, wondering if your ballot will be counted accurately.

[msgtusarmy]

I got harassed exiting the polling place, harassed about charges that had been dropped or ammended in a criminal case. It was a ex candidate from a past election that had ran against me, that had said this. Stated this as if it was a fact that there was a conviction for a specific charge that he stated as it was entirely false, it was a attempt to embarrass me within 20 feet of the voting place doors. And even stated "I am surprised to see you would even show your face here". It would seem to me thats a attempt to harrass a voter into not going to vote?

[Sue Perkick]

Thankfully almost deserted. Mine is a highly dem precinct. Looks like the rain kept them away.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Boxborough, MA, town of about 5,000, one precinct.

Voted at 4:45 PM, smallish line, chilly, overcast, no rain. Congenial atmosphere inside.

I figger the town will go 65-35 Democrat. Oh, well.