I just voted this morning. Then I took my mom back to register and vote (we are able to same-day register in Iowa). She wasn't showing up on the online list, so I was told she had to fill out a new registration. I arrived at the Cavalry Baptist Church, our polling center, about 9:20am. No wait; filled out the information slip, took it to the next table to be checked off the list and given a ballot; went to my "secret booth" to fill in the circles, and fed it in the optical scanner. Took less than 10 minutes, and I was voter #340. Went home, got my mom ready; took her back; they sat her down, we filled out the forms, went to the "secret booth", and she put her own ballot through the scanner; #452.
What is striking is that for both my mother and I to vote (including her registering and voting) we were in the polling place no more than 25 minutes total, between the two trips. I would gladly have waited an hour each time if it allowed the folks waiting 4,6, even 9 hours to also only have to wait an hour. What were your experiences? Please use the "comments" link below to share; I will be posting all that are emailed directly to me, also.
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7 comments:
I’ve never so looked forward to voting in my life. I’m 51 years old and I’ve always voted. But never with this…vengeance…intensity. It felt good.
Protest songs are not what they were in the 60’s. But, for 4-plus years now, this one called “The Problem” by J.J. Cale has been banging around my head. This song was on Cale’s June 2004 release “To Tulsa and Back.” He, like many of us, had this figured out a long time ago. Its been a long 4 years. 8 years. I popped this CD in a couple of weeks back, played this song nearly daily since. I listened to it again on the way to vote. It felt good.
Have you heard the news that's going 'round here
The man in charge has got to go
Cause he dances 'round the problem, boy
And the problem is the man in charge you know
Now, the young knows what I'm talking 'bout
It's a con in the old man's game
The man in charge, he don't know what he's doing
He don't know the world has changed
Power seems to be so far up
The man on the street ain't got a clue
The high top cats running your life
Think the problem is me and you
Born in a time that has gone by
The old tell the young what to do
Have you heard the news that's going 'round here
The problem is the man in charge of you
The problem is the man in charge of you
Power seems to be so far up
The man on the street ain't got a clue
The high top cats running your life
Think the problem is me and you
Have you heard the news that's going 'round here
The man in charge has to go
The man in charge has got to go
The man in charge has to go
I hope the young tell the old what to do. The world has changed. It needs to feel good.
Harold Cross
Archadeck of Central Iowa
The picture of your mom looks great. She's dressed very patriotic too.
Dave and I voted on Saturday. We waited about 40-45 minutes and that was it. The process was smooth. We both felt today the lines might be longer and peoples tempers short so we opted to vote early.
I voted on Sunday, just around the corner from where I live. I stood in line for an hour and a half, and called my daughter (Linda) and told her the lawyer in line with me convinced me to vote for McCain. Needless to say, she didn't buy it.
He had some interesting things to say, was very well read, intelligent, and reasonable. He had the talking points down, all of which I was able to counter. We eventually agreed to disagree, but I enjoyed the exchange and feel that I did get some valid arguments in to some of his issues.
Bottom line, it was a good experience. My wife voted absentee several weeks ago; so at least in this part of Florida (Venice, south of Sarasota) the vote is in.
4 hour wait to vote.
Also alot of people are showing up to vote who are not registered and did not know you had to be registered to vote.
Go figure
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
For my second time voting… I had an excellent 15 minute experience!
I pulled up to the Calvin Community on Hickman to a somewhat full parking lot. Noticed the “vote here” signs everywhere. While walking into the building I was “glanced at” by 3 construction works every step I made until I was in the building. Apparently they get distracted by women who vote :)
Walked in, filled out my paperwork, moved to station 1 where a friendly woman verified I was “Jennifer Pullen”. Moved to station 2 where I received the secret folder and ballot.
While filling out my ballot in my private station I hear a woman to my left reading out loud the directions. She must have been in her 80’s she shared that she had been in politics for 27 years and that she was the first female lobbyist in Iowa! She also mentioned that she held Janet Peterson as a baby and was a lobbyist with her mother.
After some small talk, I filled out the last circle said “have a good day!” and she replied “thank you for all your help!”.
Then I walked my secret folder over to the scanner and sent in my ballot. Noticed that I was the 560th person to scan my ballot!
I walked out feeling great and drove to the nearest Starbucks for my free coffee! I was curious to see if they were still giving away free coffee after announcing it is illegal to only give free items to individuals who vote. I walked up to the counter asked “are you still giving away free coffee?” she replied “yes”. Then she said “thanks for doing your civic duty!” She assumed that I voted and off I went with my free coffee!
Drove back to the office with Starbucks in hand and let everyone know “It’s done – I voted”.
It would be awesome to give the woman the first female lobbyist of Iowa some credit but after searching for 10 minutes online I gave up trying to find her name. You would think for the first female lobbyist she would be findable online?!?
A friend in Indy just told me he only had a half hour wait voting early. They're watching the results come in, and aren't counting on Obama to win, but being SO close, and Indiana finally receiving some attention, that it's not just a given that it will be a red state.
Pat looked good all dressed up in red white and blue. I voted last saturday. I am glad that obama got in. Linda you have put alot of work into this blog. I enjoyed reading it.
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