The I Voted Early Thread

[joyfulgirl]

Well, voted again! this time with the official absentee ballot. Cost me $5 to express back to the US, too.

Early & often.

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Pfft, vote early? I need my Nader shirt to be highly visible to the largest amount of people. Seriously.

God, I hope it isn't raining on Election Day.

 

[Utoo]

Pfft, vote early? I need my Nader shirt to be highly visible to the largest amount of people. Seriously.

God, I hope it isn't raining on Election Day.

Not a good idea if your area is in the majority of counties/states/etc. banning the wearing of candidate-related shirts, etc. You're better off covering it up with a jacket and then taking your jacket off once you've voted.

 

[Carek1230]

Mailed my ballot so I've done my part. Working at my local polling place on election day too

 

[Tiger Edge]

Took in my absentee ballot to the Supervisor of Elections office in person and witnessed the poll worker drop it into a rickety metal box with a padlock on it. Take what you will from that.

The fun part is that while I was leaving there was this sole woman holding an Obama sign (There were loads of McCain supporters!). When she noticed my bumper sticker on the window she gave me an extra sign and a sticker! I couldn't have been happier.

 

[Vincent Vega]

Took in my absentee ballot to the Supervisor of Elections office in person and witnessed the poll worker drop it into a rickety metal box with a padlock on it. Take what you will from that.

Did you check the underside of the table the metal box was on?

 

[Tiger Edge]

 

[Irvine511]

Memphis and i discussed doing this last night. would be fun to vote on election day, but might be easier to just do it early.

i'm not worried about voter suppression. no one is going to stand in the way of a combined 450 lbs of homo commin' atcha in communist Arlington, VA.

 

[namkcuR]

I voted early today. Took two and a half hours. I did it early because if you vote on election day, you have to have a state-issued ID - driver's license, ID card, etc - in order to vote. I don't have one.

First I had to fill out paper work, then I had to sit in an auditorium with at least a hundred other people and wait for my group to be called, then I had to go to the room outside the auditorium where my group sat with people from the previous group, and then I had to wait to be called individually(they give you a number when you first get there, before you even go in the auditorium), then I had to sit with a lady who ran the last four digits of my SS# through a computer to make sure it matched with my name, it did, then she gave someone else what I'm assuming is the number they have on file for my ballot, that someone else leaves, comes back three minutes later with my ballot, except it's not mine, she accidently took the wrong ballot, so she goes back and gets the right one, then the first lady tells me how to fill out the ballot, then I take the ballot, envelope, and pen and go to the voting area for privacy, and then I actually fill the ballot out.

Obama/Biden. And then I voted straight Democratic down the line. Voted yes to an issue for funding to preserve parks/environment. Voted yes on an issue to allow people to add to issues to the ballot further in advance of the election. Voted no on an issue that would allow people to do what they want with bodies of water that are partially on their private property and partially not, regardless of any harm it might do to the public part of it. Voted no on the most publicized issue in Ohio this election, the issue of whether or not to amend our constitution to allow a casino to be built here. Seems like something that would benefit the wealthy and do nothing for anyone else. Voted no on a bond issue that would allow the state to spend $12,300,000 in tax money on renovation of a rec center and some parks. I am torn on that last one. I am not sure I voted correctly on it.

And then I put the ballot in the envelope - this took five minutes alone because the envelopes they provide are not big enough for the ballots.

And then I gave it to a lady who dropped it in a ballot box, and then I was given 'I voted' stickers. And that was that.

 

[corianderstem]

What is the purpose behind "early voting," anyway? I may not have really been paying attention to elections in the past, and haven't lived in a state where they do it, but I've only heard of it this year.

 

[joyfulgirl]

What is the purpose behind "early voting," anyway? I may not have really been paying attention to elections in the past, and haven't lived in a state where they do it, but I've only heard of it this year.

It gives everyone a chance to vote when it's convenient for them (like, on Saturdays, for example) without standing in line all day on election day, and having it spread out over the course of a couple of weeks reduces the overall insanity of the process. I still think voting day for general elections should be a national holiday.

 

[Irvine511]

i've decided against voting early -- i have all the proper ID, so i don't think it should take all that long. and i have the benefit of having a "creative" job where i can often work from home, which i'll be doing on Tuesday.

i'm also going to head into the city that night. if/when Obama wins, i'm sure it will be an amazing moment.

if he doesn't win ...

 

[joyfulgirl]

One would be crazy not to vote early in NM, lol. It's not exactly a model of organization. The caucus was a nightmare. You'll recall our results were not in in a timely fashion.

 

[Irvine511]

One would be crazy not to vote early in NM, lol. It's not exactly a model of organization. The caucus was a nightmare. You'll recall our results were not in in a timely fashion.

indeed.

Virginia boasts that it's the best managed state in the country (thanks to Dems Warner and Kaine).

here's hoping that's the case ...

 

[joyfulgirl]

I forgot to mention another important reason to vote early: according to the guy who served time for helping to rig elections, Allen Raymond, voting shenanigans happen on election day and early voting ensures that your vote counts, and that you will not be disenfranchised since most of those shenanigans involve preying on the uninformed in all kinds of ways. So the Obama campaign has been hitting this early voting thing hard. You, Irvine, however, are safe, being informed and all.

 

[Irvine511]

i've somehow just volunteered to go door-to-door this weekend for Obama.

i volunteered Memphis as well. he told me to have fun. but then i reminded him that he made us play bingo with stroke victims a few weeks ago.

 

[Dalton]

i've somehow just volunteered to go door-to-door this weekend for Obama.

i volunteered Memphis as well. he told me to have fun. but then i reminded him that he made us play bingo with stroke victims a few weeks ago.

Playing bingo with people with impeded speech. Awesome

 

[Irvine511]

Playing bingo with people with impeded speech. Awesome

it's awesome when they loudly accuse each other of cheating.

 

[joyfulgirl]

i've somehow just volunteered to go door-to-door this weekend for Obama.

i volunteered Memphis as well. he told me to have fun. but then i reminded him that he made us play bingo with stroke victims a few weeks ago.

 

[Irvine511]

it was really kind of fun.

 

[kellyahern]

I voted early today. Took two and a half hours. I did it early because if you vote on election day, you have to have a state-issued ID - driver's license, ID card, etc - in order to vote. I don't have one.

First I had to fill out paper work, then I had to sit in an auditorium with at least a hundred other people and wait for my group to be called, then I had to go to the room outside the auditorium where my group sat with people from the previous group, and then I had to wait to be called individually(they give you a number when you first get there, before you even go in the auditorium), then I had to sit with a lady who ran the last four digits of my SS# through a computer to make sure it matched with my name, it did, then she gave someone else what I'm assuming is the number they have on file for my ballot, that someone else leaves, comes back three minutes later with my ballot, except it's not mine, she accidently took the wrong ballot, so she goes back and gets the right one, then the first lady tells me how to fill out the ballot, then I take the ballot, envelope, and pen and go to the voting area for privacy, and then I actually fill the ballot out.

Obama/Biden. And then I voted straight Democratic down the line. Voted yes to an issue for funding to preserve parks/environment. Voted yes on an issue to allow people to add to issues to the ballot further in advance of the election. Voted no on an issue that would allow people to do what they want with bodies of water that are partially on their private property and partially not, regardless of any harm it might do to the public part of it. Voted no on the most publicized issue in Ohio this election, the issue of whether or not to amend our constitution to allow a casino to be built here. Seems like something that would benefit the wealthy and do nothing for anyone else. Voted no on a bond issue that would allow the state to spend $12,300,000 in tax money on renovation of a rec center and some parks. I am torn on that last one. I am not sure I voted correctly on it.

And then I put the ballot in the envelope - this took five minutes alone because the envelopes they provide are not big enough for the ballots.

And then I gave it to a lady who dropped it in a ballot box, and then I was given 'I voted' stickers. And that was that.

Wow, they didn't make that difficult at all, did they?


I feel better about my waiting an hour in line now (although I did hear someone else today say they waited two hours at the same polling place).

 

[agentmissa]

Yay for mail-in!

It finally feels like there are many worthy reasons to vote, with all the propositions concerning equal rights, it seems like a must.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I wish Michigan had a vote early option. I have Election Day off, but I'm still planning on getting up early to go vote.

 

[Jeannieco]

I just want to applaud and thank everyone for voting, whomever you choose.
Thank you for standing in long lines and for being patient and for being a part of the process. Afterall, this is THE most important election of our lives!
Sounds sappy, but I am getting emotional witnessing history unfold before my eyes.

Way to rock the vote!
POWER TO THE PEOPLE right on!

 

[u2gek]

Amen Jeannie! I'm so excited for this election!

Regardless of how people vote, the point is VOTE! Let our voices be heard

 

[dazzlingamy]

It is exciting to watch from abroad, because i can feel a change coming.
Your voting process is totally wack!

Ours is quite easy. Because everyone must be registered to vote if you are over 18 we are assigned an electorate based on where we live (the only pain is when you move, you gotta remember to change details) when the election is called, on voting day (Saturday) you go down in your local area to usually a school and give them your name, they find it in the book of all the people in that electorate, they find it, make a note of it, then give you your voting paper, you vote, pop them in the bin, and you're done!

If we don't vote in an election, and don't have a valid reason, you get a fine. I know i've talked about mandatory voting before, but i seriously think its a good thing. Least then you really know who the country wants as a leader, and because you have to vote, a lot more people follow the election!

 

[Knuckle]

I can't believe that, after all of this, I can only vote once.

 

[sue4u2]

I wish Michigan had a vote early option. I have Election Day off, but I'm still planning on getting up early to go vote.

I wish Alabama did also. Now I'm wishing I voted by absentee since I just found out tonight my drivers license has expired. (I seldom write checks)

It wasn't shocking enough that I got carded in the first place, for buying wine, but that she had to call the manager. This young woman, 18 to 24. tells me she can't sell it to me because my license is expired - she then tells the manager to be sure he tells whoever, that she ask for my ID.
I have no problem with that. The manager knows me but I'm freaking out at this point because my first thought is, I have to have this to vote on Tuesday.
That means standing in line Monday (to get my license renewed) and Tuesday (to vote).
That f'ing sucks.

 

[Sue DeNym]

Oregon is a vote by mail state

Yes, you can either mail in the ballot or drop it off at certain locations. I like it, it's very convenient. We dropped off our ballots last night before taking the kid trick-or-treating.

 

[coemgen]

I voted here in good ol' Johnson County, Kan. I stood in line for an hour. Went by fast though. Beautiful day outside.