I voted Today

[the-dude]

I mailed in my ballot! Anyone else get to vote ahead of election day?

CA has a really good voter education system with mailers sent out containing information and debate on all of the issues (called Props out here) on the ballot. Its nice to be able to take your time, read up, maybe check some stuff on the internet, before voting on an issue as opposed to seeing an issue on the ballot and thinking "Crap, I dont remember hearing about this one".

[justa bill]

i picked mine up the first day we could get them. i still haven't filled it yet. i don't know... just haven't. :\

[mishka77]

I have to vote absentee this year; I got my ballot before I realized I could vote early instead. I will be turning in my ballot in person on Friday. I would not have agreed to travel for work on Election Day if I had looked at the damn calendar and realized what day it was! :mad: I am afraid my vote will somehow not be counted.

[Stoock]

I have filled out my absentee ballot and will drop it off at the Lake County Board of Elections Thursday night when I go for poll worker training.

[Buzzstein]

Yep, I filled mine out last Thursday and it was mailed Friday.

[the happy prole]

You got something to say
You went and voted today
Doesn't matter much to me
As long as you're not dead

You got something to say
You cast a vote in your state today
Doesn't matter much to me
As long as it's not red

[patio]

I think i'm gonna go vote tomorrow.

[Tweeks_Coffee]

Columbus has a nice program where I can go vote ahead of time. I just have to go down to Veteran's Memorial (which is far closer than my actual polling place in Worthington) and vote there. Of course I have trouble finding the time in a normal work day to go down there and actually do it.

[euro60]

I don't want to vote ahead of time. I wanna feel the real experience of going to the polls on election day. Of course I'm a rookie, as this will be my first time voting :)

[weeone]

Did you vote "Married Woman" ?

Ohh !
http://www.kurtericson.com/txroadkill/roadkillpics/dicejacket.jpg

[slmpickens]

i voted this past friday. NC has no excuse early voting available and it was great. very short line and i had a lot of different locations to choice from. now i wish i could stop getting the robo-calls.

[Sovrana]

I don't want to vote ahead of time. I wanna feel the real experience of going to the polls on election day. Of course I'm a rookie, as this will be my first time voting :)

Not sure you will get the "real" experience of voting by waiting for Election Day. This time we expect LONG lines. Interestingly, a more "real" experience is felt at the relatively quiet Board of Elections....this afternoon.

Vote Early! :)

[markalot]

I like election day, I like lines. I like the feel of democracy. I like the idea people are waiting in line to do what they need to do. To me it's more festive than a carnival, even if no one seems to be having fun.

It's the one time where we all do the same thing, millions of us.

Mailing in some piece of paper just doesn't do it for me.

[taylor]

I like election day, I like lines. I like the feel of democracy. I like the idea people are waiting in line to do what they need to do. To me it's more festive than a carnival, even if no one seems to be having fun.

It's the one time where we all do the same thing, millions of us.

Mailing in some piece of paper just doesn't do it for me.

damn skippy!

[Artpunchehorse]

Why can't you just vote online? I'm sorry, this may sound horrible, but I am not waiting in line to vote

[frizgolf]

Unless someone brings a ballot to Art's lap, I think we've heard the last opinion of his in CE/P that any of us have a right to listen to.

[RedRigmaJacket]

why can't you just vote online? I'm sorry, this may sound horrible, but i am not waiting in line to vote

lame.




1234

[weeone]

lame.




1234

ditto

1234

[tori]

I voted last Thursday night at the BoE thanks to the rally downtown and the transportation to do so. I'll be flying over the Pacific Ocean on the 4th, so I wanted to vote early. :)

[REMgirl]

Great post at Politico from Ben Smith:

"For me the most moving moment came when the family in front of me, comprising probably 4 generations of voters (including an 18 year old girl voting for her first time and a 90-something hunched-over grandmother), got their turn to vote. When the old woman left the voting booth she made it about halfway to the door before collapsing in a nearby chair, where she began weeping uncontrollably. When we rushed over to help we realized that she wasn't in trouble at all but she had not truly believed, until she left the booth, that she would ever live long enough to cast a vote for an African-American for president."

awesome

[Sovrana]

Great post at Politico from Ben Smith:

"For me the most moving moment came when the family in front of me, comprising probably 4 generations of voters (including an 18 year old girl voting for her first time and a 90-something hunched-over grandmother), got their turn to vote. When the old woman left the voting booth she made it about halfway to the door before collapsing in a nearby chair, where she began weeping uncontrollably. When we rushed over to help we realized that she wasn't in trouble at all but she had not truly believed, until she left the booth, that she would ever live long enough to cast a vote for an African-American for president."

awesome

That is a great story. Filling out the ballot...the square next to Obama's name was a pretty awesome experience.

[tempo]

That's where I went....really convenient. Also, if you go to a rally, never give your information to those vultures volunteering for Obama. I get a call a day from them now, usually at inopportune times during work. :mad:

Haha! Reminds me of my dad -- he's one of the suckers who signed up for the text message announcing Obama's running mate. Now he gets lots of spam from the campaign. I mock him.

[berzerker]

Why can't you just vote online? I'm sorry, this may sound horrible, but I am not waiting in line to vote

Some people face torture and even death for the chance to vote, and you can't be inconvenienced for maybe 10 minutes??

Fuck.

Seriously - don't ever mention politics again.

[the_birds]

Why can't you just vote online? I'm sorry, this may sound horrible, but I am not waiting in line to vote

Perhaps you should volunteer to be deported to Zimbabwe. Mugabe will love it when you don't vote...

Maybe we could exchange you for one of their nurses or teachers?

Stop fucking around and go vote. Early vote, its easier and probably faster.

[the-dude]

I'm going to be in the UK during the actual election, so it will be interesting to see media coverage from overseas. I might even start a new thread about it if there is enough interesting stuff to report.

[euro60]

I'm going to be in the UK during the actual election, so it will be interesting to see media coverage from overseas. I might even start a new thread about it if there is enough interesting stuff to report.

please don't... I am so tired of it all. No more election-related threads. PLEASE!

[mike]

I'm going to be in the UK during the actual election, so it will be interesting to see media coverage from overseas. I might even start a new thread about it if there is enough interesting stuff to report.

You'll have no trouble finding stuff about it. I was there during both conventions and it's all Page 1 news in print and one of the top stories on the TV newscasts. We thought it would be well covered but were a little surprised to see it covered so well. BBC-TV ran Obama's convention speech in its entirety at 7a GMT, and covered Palin's unveiling (from my alma mater - surreal) & convention speech pillar to post.

BTW - I've found The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/) a pretty good UK read that has good election coverage.

[Motti]

I voted today!

Yes, but not for Obama. We have mayor election here today. So there.

[The_Deacon]

I don't want to vote ahead of time. I wanna feel the real experience of going to the polls on election day. Of course I'm a rookie, as this will be my first time voting :)
.....but I had a lot of smart input from my close friends.

I am 35. I registered to vote on the very last day possible in Hamilton County, OH.

This is the text I sent to my good friends once I got home this afternoon.

So I just got back home from voting early downtown today. I been told by many
that I would go down there and be in and out in 10 minutes. As I passed the
place before I parked, the line to get in there was going down the sidewalk. As
I stood in line for over a half hour, there were voters and workers talking
about how exciting this was. The lady in front of me was telling folks that she
votes early every time because she traveled alot for work. She said that she had
never seen it even close to this. Anyway, I got one of those "I voted" stickers
on my leather jacket for the first time ever.
>
> PS - I love driving in downtown as much as I like being punched in the face.


Folks, VOTE early!!!!! It was a great half hour. I was surrounded by a variety of different people who all were happy, and determined that they were a part of history, and that all they had to give was 30 minutes of their time. I am sure that on election day it will not be so happy and easy to get your vote in.

Vote Early!!!!!!!

[twentyshots]

awesome, deac....glad it was a good experience for you. it may not be a perfect system but it's the best around....

[euro60]

I voted today!

Yes, but not for Obama. We have mayor election here today. So there.

WHOAA! are you suggesting that Brazil is a democracy? :p (me so bad)

[euro60]

I am 35. I registered to vote on the very last day possible in Hamilton County, OH.
Let me get this straight... you've had the opportunity to vote in 6 pervious presidential elections, and you never voted? wow... just wow. Glad you finally took the time to enjoy your constitutional right to decide the direction of this country.

This is just my take, (somewhat) totally unrelated: if you don't vote, DON'T BITCH AFTERWARDS about how bad the President/House/Senate are doing their job. If you don't vote, just shut up.

I plan on voting in every single election, how big or how small, in a Presidential Election year or not, now that I have finally the right (and the power) to do so.

/rant

[twentyshots]

Let me get this straight... you've had the opportunity to vote in 6 pervious presidential elections, and you never voted? wow... just wow. Glad you finally took the time to enjoy your constitutional right to decide the direction of this country.
/rant
well, you don't know the circumstances. some people come from families that don't emphasize it, some are conscientious objectors, maybe illness plays a role....who knows.
i say better late than never.

it is counterproductive to call someone an ass when they finally vote.

[wileE]

it is counterproductive to call someone an ass when they finally vote.
He didn't call him an ass. Just called hime a wow...just wow (whatever that means).

I will probably brave the lines on election day. The voting place is about a mile from my house, so I will probably work from home and wander over there either late morning or early afternoon in hopes of missing the longer lines.

[euro60]

it is counterproductive to call someone an ass when they finally vote.
My rant was not directed to anyone in particular, and I didn't call anyone "an ass".

I am simply imploring everyone to vote today, tomorrow or any day between now and next Tuesday.

I'm also of the view that if you don't vote, you can't complain afterwards.

[Artpunchehorse]

.....but I had a lot of smart input from my close friends.

I am 35. I registered to vote on the very last day possible in Hamilton County, OH.

This is the text I sent to my good friends once I got home this afternoon.

So I just got back home from voting early downtown today. I been told by many
that I would go down there and be in and out in 10 minutes. As I passed the
place before I parked, the line to get in there was going down the sidewalk. As
I stood in line for over a half hour, there were voters and workers talking
about how exciting this was. The lady in front of me was telling folks that she
votes early every time because she traveled alot for work. She said that she had
never seen it even close to this. Anyway, I got one of those "I voted" stickers
on my leather jacket for the first time ever.
>
> PS - I love driving in downtown as much as I like being punched in the face.


Folks, VOTE early!!!!! It was a great half hour. I was surrounded by a variety of different people who all were happy, and determined that they were a part of history, and that all they had to give was 30 minutes of their time. I am sure that on election day it will not be so happy and easy to get your vote in.

Vote Early!!!!!!!


It's fucking hell. The system is flawed. If I can pay my bills, purchase good/services, buy stocks, and look at porno on the internet, then it should be possible to do this whole thing online

[twentyshots]

My rant was not directed to anyone in particular, and I didn't call anyone "an ass".

I am simply imploring everyone to vote today, tomorrow or any day between now and next Tuesday.

I'm also of the view that if you don't vote, you can't complain afterwards.

fair enough.
I don't entirely disagree with you either.

I should have said "implied calling someone an ass" :eek:

[Duemellon]

This is just my take, (somewhat) totally unrelated: if you don't vote, DON'T BITCH AFTERWARDS about how bad the President/House/Senate are doing their job. If you don't vote, just shut up.
...
/rantSome people face torture and even death for the chance to vote, and you can't be inconvenienced for maybe 10 minutes??

Fuck.

Seriously - don't ever mention politics again.Okay, uhm... you both can cut that out. In no way is that a reflection of the reality in this society. Especially the ridiculous focus people place on voting.

The very origins of our society speak to voting only being one component & not even the major component. However, as time has progressed the politicians have done all they can to reduce our voice to just a vote. Part of that is for them to make voting seem like the purest, best, & most effective way to make a change. In no way is that true, but by making it such a big deal it "outshines" other outlets.

If you don't want to vote. Don't. You still have a right to complain about the government & it's direction. Between the next 4 years (or next year, if you want to consider local elections important) do something more. Run for office. Hold a demonstration. Propose a new law/amendment. Create a party.

[mishka77]

I turned in my absentee ballot and my husband voted early at the BOE last Friday. It did not take long at all, and even though every voting booth was full and it was raining, there was a spot in the lot right next door. It was just beautiful to see all of those people voting!

As I was waiting for my husband, an older woman waiting for the elevator turned to me and said "We just made history! This is HISTORY! A black man AND a woman! HISTORY!"

I have taken my daughter with me every time I've voted so far - she just turned one, so she has been twice (primary + this one). I want her to know how important it is to vote.

[Duemellon]

Also, if you did NONE of that stuff...
You didn't vote. You didn't rally. You didn't write your representative (remember, they still represent you, whether or not you voted for them). Etc. You STILL have the right to complain because it still effects you.

However, if you did none of that before, but are complaining now, get ready to do SOMETHING about it next time around.

I despise this focus on voting as the pennacle of democratic participation. They (the founding fathers) didn't want the citizenry only engaged in politics once a year or once every 4 years. They wanted the people to care & be involved in it the entire year. That's why the gave certain rights of assembly, free speech, & such basic requirements to serve in office (just citizenry & age requirements? c'mon, that's it?).

If everything was fine & you don't think either candidate is better, then you don't vote & just let others decide. When things start to go ways you don't like, get yourself ready to do something.

[twentyshots]

so i spent an hour and a half downtown voting this afternoon and it was a much more vibrant scene than i thought it would be.....there was not only a line around the corner to vote but the politicians were out wooing that line as well. about 12 of them i would say.... there were kids giving out candy, obama people handing out bottled water, somebody playing a bongo and the vibe was really cool. everyone was talking to each other, discussing issues and the like.

majority black voters, split age wise....young and old alike. everything went smoothly.

the coolest part? i was wearing my 97X hoodie and got called out by not one but two politicians. first, steve brinker (D),running for county treasurer, lamented the death of the terrestrial station and said how he would listen when he lived near oxford. we talked about the HD signal and he said he was planning on catching up at some point. ten feet later chris dole (I), running for hamilton county commissioner, saw my hoodie and said "97X, BAM! the future of rock and roll!". it was so cool. talk about connecting with the voters!

[tempo]

That's completely backwards. If you (general you) vote, and your candidate gets into office and screws everything up, then you are responsible. Those who do not vote have every right to complain because THEY had nothing to do with this ascension of failed leadership. The voters are complicit.

As for the voting process, whatever makes you happy. If you really believe you're changing the world then good for you, but it's completely delusional. I intend to vote as a matter of responsibility, and because there are a number of local ballot issues that should be addressed, but I sure as hell won't walk out doing cartwheels thinking it has any bearing on how this country will function or what direction it will take. It's baloney.

You want change you can believe in? Volunteer at a school or a shelter or pick up garbage littering your streets, advocate for open space or whatever issue directly affects your everyday life. So many people think they've made some grand statement by casting a worthless ballot in a national election then prance happily back to the failing institutions they ignore every day.

I think you're half right.

The president probably doesn't affect your life as much as the mayor of your town. Fortunately the elections that affect you the most (the local ones) are also the ones over which your vote exerts the most influence. And yes, even those local votes have relatively little effect compared to direct action.

Sure, the media tend to overhype the significance of voting because that's their schtick. But that's no reason not to participate imo.

[laurenmarie]

I did my duty. Got there around 5:30 pm - out the door at 7:00pm. Good times.

[euro60]

I plan on voting on Tuesday early morning here in Blue Ash. I really have no idea what to expect.... long lines, no lines, who knows what to expect? All I can say is that I'm really excited about it. My first time voting in a US election.

[euro60]

the coolest part? i was wearing my 97X hoodie and got called out by not one but two politicians. first, steve brinker (D),running for county treasurer, lamented the death of the terrestrial station and said how he would listen when he lived near oxford. we talked about the HD signal and he said he was planning on catching up at some point. ten feet later chris dole (I), running for hamilton county commissioner, saw my hoodie and said "97X, BAM! the future of rock and roll!". it was so cool. talk about connecting with the voters!

that is really awesome!!! I plan on voting for Chris Dole, incidentally

[twentyshots]

that is really awesome!!! I plan on voting for Chris Dole, incidentally

yeah, i was completely surprised by that. both guys were very nice. i told brinker i would mention our exchange on the message boards and he seemed genuinely excited by the idea.

i would think you will still have a pretty good experience on tuesday but i have to say, getting out of my precinct and hitting the nerve center, the board of elections, was pretty interesting.

[The_Deacon]

Let me get this straight... you've had the opportunity to vote in 6 pervious presidential elections, and you never voted? wow... just wow. Glad you finally took the time to enjoy your constitutional right to decide the direction of this country.

This is just my take, (somewhat) totally unrelated: if you don't vote, DON'T BITCH AFTERWARDS about how bad the President/House/Senate are doing their job. If you don't vote, just shut up.

I plan on voting in every single election, how big or how small, in a Presidential Election year or not, now that I have finally the right (and the power) to do so.

/rant

I have never bitched about anything as far as politics. Why? Because I never exercised my right to vote. I was busy exercising my right to NOT vote for a lesser evil. I have never wanted to waste my time doing that. I always told myself that the only time I would finally register, is if there was something, or someone I WANTED to vote for, as apposed to something or someone I want to vote AGAINST. It is just that simple for me. Period.

Euro, no hard feelings. I totally get where you are coming from. You just did not know where I was coming from. You are still my dog, man. :cool:

[euro60]

euro, no hard feelings. I totally get where you are coming from. You just did not know where i was coming from. You are still my dog, man. :cool:

*high five*

[justa bill]

i picked mine up the first day we could get them. i still haven't filled it yet. i don't know... just haven't. :\

i finally filled mine out this morning, and dropped it off at the BoE. I called first to see if i had to wait in the line or what. they said, 'no, just walk in and drop it off in the ballet box.' so i did. i got a few evil looks though walking to the head of the line off of the elevator and right into the room. which was kinda funny.

there were huge lines today and yesterday.
people were honking horns and stuff as they drove by. people brought their little kids. it was neat to see.

[kurt44]

I plan on voting on Tuesday early morning here in Blue Ash. I really have no idea what to expect.... long lines, no lines, who knows what to expect? All I can say is that I'm really excited about it. My first time voting in a US election.

Congratulations on your first official vote as a citizen:D:D

[Slar]

I got my vote in today. :)

C'mon other Hoosiers!

[jneale]

have a friend in Warren Co who said she stood in line for 4 hrs to vote today

[Slar]

Mine took about 45 minutes, and then I spent a couple of hours canvassing. Can't say I've ever done that before.

[monkey neck]

My 9-months-pregnant wife and 2 year old daughter and I waited in line for 2 hours to vote on Thursday. They handled it like a couple of champs. We had to vote via a provisional ballot since we moved recently. Wasn't too crazy about waiting that long, but it was great to see the good turnout.

Cynthia McKinney 08! :P

[thatnewchick]

lame.




1234

Ditto. How else can I bitch for 4 more years?:rolleyes:

[thatnewchick]

have a friend in Warren Co who said she stood in line for 4 hrs to vote today

Exactly why I'm waiting until election day. I feel in some places the early voting lines will be longer.

[the-dude]

I just found out that I'm still registered in Ohio! At least the McCain campaign thinks so, they sent me an email saying as much. Now when I registered in Cali, they supposedly took action to revoke my Ohio voting rights. I'm not sure how to reconcile this, I dont want someone voting for me in ohio.

[X-Ray]

After the horrible 2000 election fiasco in Florida, I decided I had to act. So, in 2001 I moved to Florida, JUST so I could vote Democrat. 2004 comes, and I do my duty*, voting John Kerry. THEN the fiasco is in Ohio! WTF?!?! so I had to move back to Ohio in 2005 to make sure there isn't a repeat here also. Where's it going to be this year? Hopefully somewhere nice like Hawaii, but it'll probably be like Mississippi or some shit. Then I'm gonna have to move there too. THAT's how dedicated I am! What have you done?! Have you at least voted early?!

Duh Neece and I went last Tuesday and voted. From the time we got in line to the time we walked out, it took about 30 minutes. Easy as that.





*doodie-hehe

[Sushi]

I just found out that I'm still registered in Ohio! At least the McCain campaign thinks so, they sent me an email saying as much. Now when I registered in Cali, they supposedly took action to revoke my Ohio voting rights. I'm not sure how to reconcile this, I dont want someone voting for me in ohio.
Get it straightened our, dude. The McCain camp seems to be playing some dirty tricks. A woman came into the Obama campaign office this morning saying that they had received a call yesterday (person calling, not a robocall) from someone who claimed to be from the Obama campaign telling them that their voting location was S-- elementary school. The woman in question has lived in the same place for many years and knows S-- school, which closed at the end of last school year, is NOT her polling place. She told the caller, "Well, that doesn't sound right." We double checked, and it is not a polling location at all. The campaign has not contacted her home since October 21, and this prankster called her Nov. 1. The woman had already called the mayor and is going to call a couple of local news channels.

I wish the McCain campaign would spend more time trying to formulate good policy and less time trying suppress Obama voters.

[taylor]

Where's it going to be this year?

enjoy your trip to missouri. :p

[monkey neck]

I wish the McCain campaign would spend more time trying to formulate good policy and less time trying suppress Obama voters.

Did the call say "I'm John McCain and I approved this message"?:rolleyes:

[Slar]

Did the call say "I'm John McCain and I approved this message"?:rolleyes:That would be tough to do since it was a real person at the other end of the line. :rolleyes:

[jneale]

Get it straightened our, dude. The McCain camp seems to be playing some dirty tricks. A woman came into the Obama campaign office this morning saying that they had received a call yesterday (person calling, not a robocall) from someone who claimed to be from the Obama campaign telling them that their voting location was S-- elementary school. The woman in question has lived in the same place for many years and knows S-- school, which closed at the end of last school year, is NOT her polling place. She told the caller, "Well, that doesn't sound right." We double checked, and it is not a polling location at all. The campaign has not contacted her home since October 21, and this prankster called her Nov. 1. The woman had already called the mayor and is going to call a couple of local news channels.

I wish the McCain campaign would spend more time trying to formulate good policy and less time trying suppress Obama voters.

you are making an assumption that the "prankster" was officially representing the McCain campaign

i had someone hand me an obama flyer & actually tell me that Obama was against labor unions (after I told her one reason why I wasn't voting for him)

the horse shit is flying on both sides

stupid people who don't get the facts for themselves get what they deserve, the person in your story wasn't stupid & got the right information, i wasn't stupid because i knew more than the person who didn't know all the things her candidate's platform

[Sushi]

you are making an assumption that the "prankster" was officially representing the McCain campaign

The person doing the calling wasn't just randomly taking names out of the phone book and calling them (which would be the equivalent to handing a stranger a flyer with misinformation). The campaigns have access to data regarding registration and voting history that average citizens do not have access to. The caller clearly had information that could only have come a campaign or the board of elections.

I see a lot of horse shit flying from the McCain side--this funky call, people telling you false information about the Obama campaign, people in the inner city getting phone calls or flyers saying that they can't vote if they have outstanding parking tickets--stuff like that, not to mention bullshit things like McCain digging on Obama for saying nice things to some players from the Rays and wishing them luck after saying he was rooting for the Phillies? (And no, McCain wasn't being tongue-in-cheek about it.) I mean--this is your campaign speech?

[DaHood]

It's not just horseshit from the McCain side. It's a lot of bullshit I get in emails I get from work friends. I am sick and fucking tired of hearing how Obama is a muslim, he's going to get reparations for black people etc. That kind of garbage is generated by fanatics who want to scare me. Guess what, I am not afraid of Obama. Regardless, I do not believe Obama will be the great President that Obamaniacs keep trying to shove down my throat. Either way it's going to be a hard next four years and I'm not crazy about either candidate. But one thing is for sure to me, Obama isn't a Republican and I have had enough of that. The thing is, I like McCain but I'm not crazy about the aspect of another four years of what we've had for the past eight years. I want a viable alternative to both parties and it just isn't going to happen.

[euro60]

Gone for a couple of hours last night (Sat)... upon returning, I had 7, yes SEVEN, phone messages, from both sides.

[classicgrrl]

Gone for a couple of hours last night (Sat)... upon returning, I had 7, yes SEVEN, phone messages, from both sides.

start saving your voice mails and do a cool mashup sound bit for you tube or something...

[euro60]

start saving your voice mails and do a cool mashup sound bit for you tube or something...

urr... no.... deleted them as soon as I got them... the mashup surely is being done on youtube, right?

[Duemellon]

Obama is... going to get reparations for black people etc.He is? Damn. I'll be rich! But I guess I'll have to pay myself too.

it's an I.O.MeI do not believe Obama will be the great President that Obamaniacs keep trying to shove down my throat.Meh. Great? some people lose perspective quickly. Even Obama said he might not be "perfect" but he'll do his best to ... etc. etc.

[taylor]

an email from trent:

Next Tuesday we will elect the next President of the United States. The result will have great consequences for the nation.

This election offers a choice is between two men with dramatically different visions of the future. We have strong feelings about this choice. But we feel even more strongly that all Americans, regardless of political preference, have a stake in the outcome and should vote in this critical election.

This is likely to be a close election. Your vote matters. Please use it and make a difference.

Sincerely,
Trent Reznor

[Buzzstein]

you are making an assumption that the "prankster" was officially representing the McCain campaign

yeah, that is a pretty silly assumption.

[OldManIndieKid]

an email from trent:I received that one too. As well as this one from his compatriot, Mr. Saul Williams:

Dear History,
I beat you. I stand a generator of generations bearing witness to a world that we are holding accountable for past actions. Me and my friends, we're changing our diets, re-inventing marriage, check-mating capitalism, re-defining ethics, replacing cruelty with compassion, and have sworn not to re-elect the sins of the father.

We are casting our votes for so much more than a lesser of evils, but for change, and greater insight, for wisdom out of the mouths of babes, for races that bleed into ONE.

Dear History,
You are behind us and we are no longer looking back. We are standing on the threshold of new times, new days, new worlds, and charging forward without battle cry or trumpet, while cynicism, apathy, and cowardice take their place beside you, behind us.

Dear History,
We no longer believe in you. We have invested our our thoughts and dreams into the present moment and opportunity to shift our reality into one that does not resemble your dog-eared books.

We stand on the shoulders of those who have dared to dream and on the necks of those who have wasted their time and ours proclaiming a past past its prime.

Dear History,
Blitz! It's my turn now. You can have your mounds of flesh, leather boots, cannons and sabers, nooses and guillotines, warships and fighter planes, trails of tears and blood, genocides, dungeons and dragons, ghost stories and fairy tales..........


Come on guys! Help me out! ~ Saul

[purple_octopus]

I just got back from voting. It took me 40 minutes, and I got there when the polls opened. When I left, there was a line out the building.

Interestingly, most of the people who arrived after 6:40-ish were complaining of receiving a postcard from the election board giving them the wrong polling place. They first went to the location on the postcard only to be directed to their actual polling place. I'd roughly estimate that 30 percent of people standing in line were white and 60 percent were black. No white people complained of receiving this postcard that I overheard. I know that I did not receive one. Just an anecdote from my voting experience - take from that what you will. I didn't think things like this really happened.

(On the other hand, I don't think it's going to keep anyone from voting. Obama has his stooges everywhere making sure people get to where they need to be. Only one woman complained that the postcard was preventing her from voting - she stated this was because she didn't want to have to wait in line once she got to the new polling place, so she was just going to go home. Of course, she was still making a big deal out of it as though she were a disenfranchised voter.)

[Duemellon]

(Of course, she was still making a big deal out of it as though she were a disenfranchised voter.)Because, in effect, she was. She, like many other ppl, probably had a job, or other responsibilities, that required her to be at a certain place at a certain time. She probably made a special effort to get there at that time.

Someone disenfranchised her through intentional misinformation. It might not work for all ppl scammed, but if it works for a few of them, with just a dubious letter sent? Then it's a win for them. As far as I know, Dems are the only ones being targetted for this.

[frizgolf]

check-mating capitalism

Don't kid yourself, Saul.

[rocketman70]

It took me an hour to vote-and it was worth it!!!


The lines around here (not surprisingly) are incredible.

[Poolio]

It took me an hour to vote-and it was worth it!!!


The lines around here (not surprisingly) are incredible.
Lines were pretty long here at 6:45am but it only took me 80 minutes to vote. Not too bad, people were polite and it was somewhat fun. Although now I need a nap. :)

[Artpunchehorse]

I'm nervous. I haven't voted in 4 years and obviously this is my first time voting (if the lines aren't too long) in NC. I hope they have those punch ballots that I am used to. I also hope I get voter intimidation. I'd go on all the shows yelling about it

[Fourthisto]

I'm telling everyone I see with one of those "I voted today" stickers on the following:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/Fourthisto/OLD%20STUFF/Want_A_Cookie.jpg

So far, I've gotten three nos, and two sures. That's the poll results you need to know thus far today. Back to you in the studio!

[Unrequited]

20 minutes to vote in my little Kentucky hamlet. Kentucky will vote McCain of course, but I'm hoping to take down McConnell.

[Sushi]

Obama has his stooges everywhere making sure people get to where they need to be.
I'm going to be one of those stooges later on today.

Big kiss, honey.

[jneale]

I'm going to be one of those stooges later on today.

Big kiss, honey.

we overnighted a bunch of pens up there to the board of elections....if all those dead people voting your way use a Preventa pen at least germs won't be an issue.....

[Sushi]

we overnighted a bunch of pens up there to the board of elections....if all those dead people voting your way use a Preventa pen at least germs won't be an issue.....
This isn't Chicago--we don't let dead people vote.

I'll think of you when I vote this afternoon and use a Preventa pen.

I actually think of you almost every day when I take the kid to daycare, because the side street we turn onto is called "Kneale." I always look at the sign and think, "No, that's supposed to be "Jneale..."

[akip]

i suspect the voter fraud paranoia is much inflated, and the few instances will be easily weeded out during the process.

[Duemellon]

i suspect the voter fraud paranoia is much inflated, and the few instances will be easily weeded out during the process.The amount of votes which are fraudulent would barely be a statistical blip & I find it to be something Repubs use to intimidate, disenfranchize, & otherwise challenge legitimate voters who have made simple, obvious, & easily correctable errors from wrong apartment numbers to being named Samuel but going by Joe.

[markalot]

I voted, Hebron Kentucky, nearly a 2 hour wait for two machines.

[twentyshots]

I voted, Hebron Kentucky, nearly a 2 hour wait for two machines.

2 machines!!?? what do you mean?

[markalot]

2 machines!!?? what do you mean?

I mean we have a location for our district and it has two machines. They needed at least 4, but being government run there's no one there that cares enough to try and predict turnout.


Hebron has a lot of voting places, not just this one. This was the one I was assigned too.

[rocketman70]

i suspect the voter fraud paranoia is much inflated, and the few instances will be easily weeded out during the process.

Yeah-I agree with you. I know the MSM is just hoping for a chaotic election day and yeah-there will be some glitches and problems here and there-but I think what problems happen will be over-reported and hyped by the media.

This isn't Chicago--we don't let dead people vote.


Oh please. That doesn't happen anymore. :p

[classicgrrl]

didn't have much of a wait on the West side of Cincinnati - 15-20 min.

my voting experience was less than steller however. I had to do a provisional ballot because I had not registered here in Cincinnati.

I took a pay check stub with my new address and a bank statement, had my SS card and drivers license.

I was still told that I had to do a change of address form in 10 days which, according to the Secretary of State website, is incorrect.

the poll workers were giving out incorrect information and one was doing nothing but yapping on her cell the whole time.

most of the voters were black and this is a predominately black neighborhood. I am actually writing a letter to complain to the Secretary of State because of how mis-or uninformed the poll workers were....

[silentpaul]

I voted, Hebron Kentucky, nearly a 2 hour wait for two machines.

I voted, Beverly Massachusetts, no wait to fill in a paper ballot at any one of 12 booths. Helluva contrast.

[classicgrrl]

so i called the Secretary of State's voting rights institute (VRI) hotline who assured me that my provisional ballot would count.

she also told me to wait a couple of months and check the website to see where they had me registered. there is a form i can download to change my address (I already knew this but was double checking).

she asked me if I filled out a registration form which I did before I voted. She told me I would be find and my vote would count.

[DLDude]

So I put my absentee ballot in the mail last night, and I'm not sure it got picked up until today. I found a note saying that is has to be postmaked by Nov3rd, so I'm nervous it won't be counted. Should I go do a provisional ballot at any random polling place here in Columbus?

[WalterSobchak]

Voted in VA! No wait at 9:30am. Thanks to everyone who voted early to make the slightly later lines nice and smooth.

[ThomasC]

So I put my absentee ballot in the mail last night, and I'm not sure it got picked up until today. I found a note saying that is has to be postmaked by Nov3rd, so I'm nervous it won't be counted. Should I go do a provisional ballot at any random polling place here in Columbus?
Yes. I don't think your absentee ballot will be counted.

[markalot]

So I put my absentee ballot in the mail last night, and I'm not sure it got picked up until today. I found a note saying that is has to be postmaked by Nov3rd, so I'm nervous it won't be counted. Should I go do a provisional ballot at any random polling place here in Columbus?


So sad, but proof that you could offer voting 364 days a year and on day 365 someone will be telling you they were disenfranchised.

[Tweeks_Coffee]

30 minutes in an out in Worthington. I'm not big on those electronic ones, but I guess after the chad debacle of 2000 the manual ballots are all but gone now.

ETA: Kids got the day off from school. The hell? I doubt 90% os students are even eligible to vote anyway.

[FencingFreak86]

after standing in line for 1.5 hours this morning before work i finally voted. it probably only should have taken 30 minutes...but the people running the poles were absolute morons and thus the polls were chaotic (the back of the line was separated by last name, but the front of the line was separated by district...so half of the people in the A-K line found out they were standing in the wrong line once they got to the front, because they SHOULD have been in the DIST 4 line...and when someone finally brought this to the attention of the workers, they didn't understand what the problem was...UGH).

but i guess i can't complain all to much...the big reason it was so chaotic was because voter turnout was astronomical compared to recent elections, which is a good thing.

EDIT: and i just realized now there is a "voting stories" thread. oh well.

[berzerker]

Voted here in Kettering - 25 min wait.

Only problem was I noticed at the end that the little print view window wasn't blank - the paper was crinkled, and there was printing over printing all over the place. I said "hey, there's a problem with the printer..." A poll worker came over, hit "print" and of course it printed page 1 of 4 in a nice 1/16" black line... she unlocked it, opened it up, fixed the paper roll, closed it, locked it, hit print, and it printed page 2 of 4, then 3, then 4, all with no problem. She said, "OK, your ballot is cast."
I know the paper is just a backup, but, in case they need that backup, my first page is illegible. The one where I voted for the President of the United States.

Forgot to mention - I voted against the only clearcut, no grey-area issue on the whole ballot - the Amendment that would create jobs, a loophole, and a monopoly... ;)

[akip]

it's an absolutely gorgeous day here today. i walked to the polls.

[ICONOCLAST420]

have a friend in Warren Co who said she stood in line for 4 hrs to vote today

I only had to wait 10 minutes to vote today.

[mongoose]

it's an absolutely gorgeous day here today. i walked to the polls.

Me too!

10 chr. limit......I voteded.

[taylor]

i always walk to the polls . . . just feels ceremonial and more like i'm taking it seriously. last year was bitter cold. this year was beautiful. i'm still sweating a bit. no line. bing. bam. boom. 2 flags on the scanner up. i just wish we could use sharpies instead of pens to fill in the huge boxes.

[berzerker]

Vote = get free shit (you also get to elect your representatives...)

Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Chick-Fil-A, Ben & Jerrys...Story here. (http://promomagazine.com/incentives/news/1104-starbucks-krispy-give-voters-freebies/)

[classicgrrl]

So I put my absentee ballot in the mail last night, and I'm not sure it got picked up until today. I found a note saying that is has to be postmaked by Nov3rd, so I'm nervous it won't be counted. Should I go do a provisional ballot at any random polling place here in Columbus?

call the secretary of state like I did and ask: 1-877-868-3874

[cuneyt81]

I only had to wait a few minutes at my polling place in San Diego. It's raining this morning, which is a welcome change, and though some might take that as a bad sign, it actually makes me feel pretty good. I like rain.

[Lonestar]

Voted this morning in L.A. county. Got to my poll about 7:30 and the line was almost a block long, but it was fairly quick and I was out of there at 8:30. :)

[C. Doves]

Yippee, I did the deed! :cool:

[frizgolf]

Yippee, I did the deed! :cool:

Yeah, but did you vote, too? :p

[euro60]

We went to the voting polls in Blue Ash around lunch time, No waiting line whatsoever. We were done in a matter of minutes. :)

[drougan]

We went to the voting polls in Blue Ash around lunch time, No waiting line whatsoever. We were done in a matter of minutes. :)

Congrats !

[epeolatry]

I don't want to vote ahead of time. I wanna feel the real experience of going to the polls on election day. Of course I'm a rookie, as this will be my first time voting :)

Congrats! :)

Great post at Politico from Ben Smith:

"For me the most moving moment came when the family in front of me, comprising probably 4 generations of voters (including an 18 year old girl voting for her first time and a 90-something hunched-over grandmother), got their turn to vote. When the old woman left the voting booth she made it about halfway to the door before collapsing in a nearby chair, where she began weeping uncontrollably. When we rushed over to help we realized that she wasn't in trouble at all but she had not truly believed, until she left the booth, that she would ever live long enough to cast a vote for an African-American for president."

awesome

That was awesome-- I got to vote behind a young African American couple who were voting for the first time. :)

20 minutes to vote in my little Kentucky hamlet. Kentucky will vote McCain of course, but I'm hoping to take down McConnell.

Good luck!

I voted, Hebron Kentucky, nearly a 2 hour wait for two machines.

That's how it was in Oberlin back in 2004.

[purple_octopus]

Because, in effect, she was. She, like many other ppl, probably had a job, or other responsibilities, that required her to be at a certain place at a certain time. She probably made a special effort to get there at that time.

Someone disenfranchised her through intentional misinformation. It might not work for all ppl scammed, but if it works for a few of them, with just a dubious letter sent? Then it's a win for them. As far as I know, Dems are the only ones being targetted for this.
Someone definitely tried to disenfranchise her. And I have no doubt that by the end of the day, many in my district will have been disenfranchised by this fraudulent postcard. Especially the ones that show up to vote a minute before the polls close, when there's no way they'll make it to the right place. However, this women clearly stated that the reason she was "disenfranchised" is that she didn't think she should have to wait in line. She had over 12 hours left in the day to cast her ballot, and I seriously doubt she had anywhere to be in her house slippers and curlers. And even if she did, by law she had the right to take time off to vote. I should know, because Obama texted it to me. Really, I don't blame her for being outraged. But damn, over half the people there had the same thing happen to them. Get in line and vote already. Bitch about it while you're waiting in line, even. But don't say the poll workers "won't let you vote", when what's really going on is that you're pissed and you think you have an excuse to cut ahead in line. The dozens of other people going through the same thing weren't acting like she was. Everyone else was (justifiably) irate, but still reasonable.

As an aside, all of the illegal campaign literature that was working its way around the room was all Democrat-leaning. Certainly less repugnant, but it looks like both sides are certainly breaking the rules.

[purple_octopus]

I'm going to be one of those stooges later on today.

Big kiss, honey.

No fair! Our stooges were nowhere near as hot as you.

[berzerker]

I'm going to be one of those stooges later on today.

Big kiss, honey.

http://www.theclubhouse1.net/museum/images/stooges3.jpg

[twentyshots]

We went to the voting polls in Blue Ash around lunch time, No waiting line whatsoever. We were done in a matter of minutes. :)

that's great!

I am starting to find it odd that these lines are so short....

[tempo]

i suspect the voter fraud paranoia is much inflated, and the few instances will be easily weeded out during the process.

As far as I know, the number of documented cases of in-person voter fraud over the course of American history amounts to literally 2 or 3 voters. That's why Indiana's voter ID requirements are absurd remedies for a nonexistent problem that has been hyped up solely to erect more barriers to voting. [/rant]

Counting the votes of dead people... now that's the way to steal an election. :)

[Cyclone]

Voted here in Harrison with no wait around 1 PM this afternoon. I did to sit at one of the tables however because the stands were full, which isn't something I have ever seen here in the past.

[akip]

i was all happy after i voted, but then i got nervous this afternoon, paced around from the tv to the computer, couldn't get much done. finally went out and raked some leaves. that sort of menial repetitive activity is actually calming.

[twentyshots]

results just in said republican voting was DOWN 10% in ohio today compared to 2004. that would account for the light lines in places.

[taylor]

After the horrible 2000 election fiasco in Florida, I decided I had to act. So, in 2001 I moved to Florida, JUST so I could vote Democrat. 2004 comes, and I do my duty*, voting John Kerry. THEN the fiasco is in Ohio! WTF?!?! so I had to move back to Ohio in 2005 to make sure there isn't a repeat here also. Where's it going to be this year? Hopefully somewhere nice like Hawaii, but it'll probably be like Mississippi or some shit. Then I'm gonna have to move there too. THAT's how dedicated I am! What have you done?! Have you at least voted early?!

Duh Neece and I went last Tuesday and voted. From the time we got in line to the time we walked out, it took about 30 minutes. Easy as that.
enjoy your trip to missouri. :p
i rarely make a call but zoowy! (http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/mo.htm)