I Voted

My polling place has changed, and is now two doors down from Rick's Dessert Diner.

So, I decided that I'm going around 10, when Rick's opens, and will treat myself to a piece of chocolate cake while I'm out. :)

Hey - cool!

They didn't have stickers this year....

Lucky you!

Cheryl

I went and voted too, we had stickers also. My treat wasn't stash, mine was 2 bars of chocolate to share w/ DH -- Lindt extra dark, one plain & the other called "intense orange". I am however giving in to a stitching/knitting craving -- I've started the DNA scarf for about the

4th time... hopefully, my knitting skills have improved enough that I can actually make it this time!

EG

Well, we do deserve treats for getting out to vote! Mine was a hefty hunk of French toast and a sausage from Shaw's takeout, on which I poured some of my own gutsy Grade B maple syrup.

Felice

Got my sticker, which made my boss (political bigwig) happy. No stash for me either.

How long did it take you guys? I had a wait of just over 30 mins, but I had a report from a coworker that it took him over an hour and a half!

Caryn

Well, I sort of got my sticker...had 3yo DD with me, so she wanted to wear it . Didn't have a wait at all...went in they verified who I was, got the explanation of how the voting machines work (touch-screen thingies, which are completely different from how I had to vote when I lived in NY), I voted, it was done, and off we went! Was going to buy the kids vitamins, but they were out of stock (all natural, no added dyes), but they will call me when they get them back in stock and will even hold a bottle for me! Went to Lowe's to get closet ideas for DS. DH and I have been talking about how crappy the room set up is, and we are toying with giving him a closet that he will be able to use until he is out of the house (MANY years away!). SO, I wrote down various storage options and shelving options, then bought DH a Christmas present

- a "robot" light...made to look like a robot with clips to hold notes where its hands would be and the light actually shining from where the face would be. It's silly and goofy, but will be an appreciated present.

Back home for lunch, kids are watching the Incredibles with Dad (home sick today) and then I will be back to doing more sewing.

Larisa, who had 2 reeses PB cups as a treat after lunch

I was in and out very quickly--maybe 15 minutes, max?

Best wishes, Ericka

Wendy's new bacon cheddar melt for me! Eat n Park was giving a free cup of coffee to anyone wearing the "I voted" sticker but we don't like coffee.

Was a bit offended to see campus signs attached to a fence on campus (public university) property. Suspect the powers that be don't know they are there or else the construction company (who probably owns the fence but not the land) working there felt entitled to put them up.

No line at all and only one machine (of seven) in use at 11:15am. I was voter #223 for the precinct. DH was there just before 8am and was voter #92 so they had a busy morning. I know those sound like small numbers to many of you, but we are still considered a rural precinct. So it took less than five minutes even with a four-year-old in tow. Had to keep her from touching the screen for me!

I basically walked right in. There was a slight delay at the table where they verify that you're who you say you are (that was okay, got to finally meet a neighbor -- our back porch looks onto her's and vice versa). I'd have to say that it took MAYBE 10-15 minutes.

We had the new push button computerized voting machines. Last time I voted in NY, we still had the lever-machines. The last time I voted in Indiana, we had punch cards. North Carolina -- levers.

Wish I was watching the Incredible with the kids... My screen name "EG" stands for "ElastiGirl" a.k.a. "Helen Parr" (DH's name is "MrIncredible")...

EG

All these high-tech gadgets seem to cause more problems than they are worth. We still rely on the very low-tech but reliable bit of paper with a pencilled cross or crosses.

After decades of punch cards, we now have the bubble-in forms. The candidate's name appears next to the bubble, so you're not as prone to mistakes as on the SATs where it's only a number. Then you personally feed your form into a machine that looks a lot like my laser printer. It "eats" the paper and tells you that you are voter #115.

There were 2 people in line ahead of me, so I did have to wait 2 minutes for them to check in, but there were plenty of open booths to mark the ballot, so once I had my ballot, it was in-and-out.

I LOVE this retirement bit. DH said "come on, let's vote, then I'll take you out to lunch."

Just before lunch, no-one in line (they are not expecting a big turnout here this year, natch). So far, they had had 130 voters out of a precinct of just over 500, but this precinct is one which traditionally has a very high turnout compared to the rest of the city.

p.s., yes, lunch was very good, thanks.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Even quicker for me and as an added bonus, my polling place is also my workplace!

Karen E.

I liked the punch cards myself. We have changed to electronic down here. I was the only one there voting. In the 22 years I've been going to this polling place I've only seen other people on one occasion and that was two years ago. Nobody asked me for ID although I had my book in my hand.

I pushed No on one item and it registered as Yes. So I tried pushing Yes again per the instructions and nothing happened. I went back to the instructions and then it flipped back to the Start. I had to call the IT guy over to get me back to my page. I had to push the next button at least six times each time to get it to react. All in all, I'm not impressed with electonic voting.

Can't blame the weather here for the low turnout, it's 92.

It took me about 5 minutes -- and I took my grandchildren with me. We went right after I picked them up from school today. I hesitated at first to take them with me, and then decided it's never too early to set a good example about voting.

Rick's is still there!!! Have a black-out cookie for me!

Alison

I was number 153 in my small district. The school had at least 6 different districts voting there. (School is out on ELection Day.) We still have the lever machines, I remember thinking how old-fashioned they were when I moved here from California where we had punch cards, but now I really like them.

Alison

I've always taken my kids! Now that they are in middle school and can't go with me (time conflicts), they are very disappointed.

BTW - here we use paper ballots and sharpies to color in little circles. Always feels like voting is a test! The way you tell if you passed or not is if your candidate wins!