vote in the presidential elections 08!

last night just before the polls closed. We got there about 7:40pm. If you are already in the door by 8pm they let you finish voting, they don’t kick you out. Walter was the last person voting at our polling place. It takes him longer because of his eyesight so he was still working on his ballot well after 8pm.

The precinct volunteers confirmed that this is the last “polling place” vote in our state. While I was waiting for Walter I couldn’t help but think about how he would be the last person to turn in a ballot at that polling place – ever. It’s kind of sad. But we were happy we could do it in person this one last time.

using a paper ballot for the first time since my initial experience with presidential voting (yes, I’m cautious—but I want my vote to be counted!). I’m proud to be able to say that I haven’t missed voting in a presidential election, either primary or general, since I was first eligible to vote, in 1980. smile

Voting in America is a privilege AND a right—& today I celebrate it AND all my fellow voters, no matter for whom they may have voted!

I was lucky. There was no line at my polling place. I was in and out in a matter of minutes.

They changed the polling place for my ward. It may have been a mistake to go first thing in the morning, but there was NO PARKING. The line snaked out of the building almost to the street. It is cold here and I had not dressed warmly. A guy kept coming out and asking people with last names beginning with F-J to skip the line.

UM – YA THINK IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO BREAK UP THAT L-P GROUP?

When I finally voted I had to stand in line with my completed ballot hanging out for all to see in another line to deposit the ballot. They only bothered to set up 1 line!

It was a total cluster such as I have never experienced. The people at the polling center said “This is because of the overwhelming voter turnout”. I say “Poor planning”

While I was in line in NH, I was texting with a friend in IL who was also waiting in the cold.

I went to the polls mid-morning and was the 245th person to vote in my polling place. I didn’t have to wait long to get through with just one person ahead of me in line. One of my coworkers went first thing this morning and was number 1 because he was concerned about the lines.

One thing that I disagree with on the ballot is the short-cut vote. I don’t believe that people should have the option of voting party lines. You should have to go and actually select your choice for each position. Sure you may still wind up voting all Republican or Democrat, but you’ve actually selected your candidate of choice instead of just letting the computer do it for you.

has vote by mail or absentee ballots now. I find something satisfying about going to the polls. I think King County is the last county where we can do that. We’ll be at the polls Tuesday evening after I get off work.