I voted in San Diego this am (democratic area)...we have the paper ballots with ink. It's an easy process. It gets put into an optical reader and checks and records votes along with the paper ballot.
I didn't like the guy pointing to Kerry when showing me how to fill in the oval on the ballot. I had heard this happen before..maybe my imagination was taking over he did it the second time but the third he pointed to someone else. I think he knew I was checking him out...there should be a better way to point out how to fill in the ballot without pointing to an oval next to any current name... I asked others (with Bush stickers on their car)as they were leaving and they said they didn't notice anything.
Turnout was high in my polling place, higher than I have ever seen. I have never had to wait more than about a minute or two -all booths were full when usually only one or two people are there. I asked poll workers and they said yes turnout was higher than usual.
My gut feeling is good but I still expect Calif to go to the socialist democrats, but closer than usual.
I haven't heard any poll numbers for the Senate race during this campaign. Are we going to be stuck with Boxer again?
*shiver*
I voted just now in San Diego also - out of a garage polling place. No line, no wait. I was very relieved because I thought I'd have to head down to the Registrar's and deal with that madness with the little one in tow.
The people were very polite and helpful (I'd never used the optical scan system). It's very easy. When he pointed out how to fill out the ballot - he had a chart with examples, no names. As in "not this way (X)" ... "like this (solid bubble)".
When I was leaving I noticed a woman in her SUV watching the polling place from the end of the cul de sac, but have no idea what her affiliation was. Just watching.
She was gone when hubby voted after me not 15 mins later.