politics .....sigh

 i didn't get a chance to read this whole thread yet, but I wanted to mention that my BF is driving me nuts, all he does is sit on the computer waiting for any 'changes' and CNN is on constantly on the TV. GAH!  he already voted, what else are ya gonna do?? LOL

i actually said 'your obsessed aren't you?' he said 'yes'

ron2

I get off work at 3:30. And a delivery truck had arrived. He only had one pallet so I took it and still got going by 3:30. Got to my polling place by 4:00. No more than 10 minute wait in line (I had already checked last week to make sure we were registered.) They used touchscreen computers this time. I was used to the old punch cards.

There you go bragging again, hee hee we had a line that wrapped round the building into the aux parking lot. Seriously in the quarter of a century living here I have never waited longer than 10 minutes to vote. This was close to an hour ! Then I was moved up because the q-z line was empty.

And then you have to rub having new fangled voting equipment into my face gee thanks Ron... we did get upgraded to (gasp) felt tip pens this year instead of pencils! no closed or even shower curtain voting boothes instead you chose between the long line of tables with particle board dividers that are basically suggestions of not glancing at the ballot next to you , OR the round tables for up to 8 people where you have zero coverage. The Privacy folders that they used to hand out , allowing you to hide your ballot in an oversized folder and hunch over it to scribble your vote has simply worn out leaving only 40-50 still in use. You fill in the missing line on the arrow of choice then when done take your ballot to a row of three machines, hand back your felt tip pen, ( which they gave you sans cap to assure no one walked off with it) , shove your ballot in the machine to allow it to count your votes, and accept your "I voted" sticker.  The process took less than 5 minutes once you had cleared the two tables , the first to find your name on the voters registration list and receive a stamp sized piece of paper, and the second where you sign the book as the vote attendent copies your information in another book and your ballot is finally given to you.

Why the lines and delays I do not understand?  Granted it is the deep south and every other person in line has to chat with at least one person they see and know. Kiss a baby or catch up on life since the last time they ran into you.  It is a different way of life than the big city.

I am proud to say rather than being angry at the delays and tradition, I was actually proud to see so many people of different races and ages showing up. It is the first time I had seen this many people taking part in the process. And it was moving.

Bonita of Bwana

I live in a small town in a rural county and I think that has something to do with it. As for the newfangled voting machines, it was a surprise to me but I think they were determined elections in our county will be efficient and easy to accomplish. Next time, just move here and get registered and it won't take long to get your voting done.

If you have trouble with the voting machines, just ask for an absentee ballot next time. The only equipment you need is a dark inked pen.

Joyce