The Election Day Experience! Share your experience...

elxicano · Post by **elxicano** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:33 pm

Well, November 4th has finally arrived and to many in the forums, myself included are happy to see an end to the constant political postings here... as we remain hopeful that this election will not be one they can steal away from the people.

I voted earlier by submitting an absentee ballot, but the phone calls I've received from family has me feeling very proud so far and excited of our chances this year.

From what I've heard in upper west-side NYC (Harlem, Washington Heights), the lines are long and many are participating in a voting process they normally avoided in the past.

Another great sign is that individuals whom I know were admittedly racist against African-Americans, have moved beyond those feelings to add another vote for the Senator from Chicago.

Now I know New York has never been a question, when compared to places like Ohio or Virginia, but still its nice to hear so far that more people are getting involved compared to previous years and more importantly are putting aside old views in favor of a new direction for the country.

Please share any experiences you have today, good or bad, or comments on the process... and NO, this of course should not be a discussion limited to US only, as we all know this election will affect the world, just as much as other elections affect us.

Thanks and cheers!

nylarch · Post by **nylarch** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:42 pm

Brooklyn @7AM this morning....usually I walk right up and vote, in and out in 5 minutes. Took about 40 minutes this morning - lines were snaking all the way around the room.

elxicano · Post by **elxicano** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:04 pm

Well every every state should now be open for polling...

The first polls close in only 8 hours.

logic_user99 · Post by **logic_user99** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:13 pm

I'll be watching it on UK tv tonight; I love the theatre of the whole thing!

pixelbox · Post by **pixelbox** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:14 pm

Dang! I was in and out in under 20 minutes! Those electronic kiosks are the bomb! Oh, I'm in Houston, Texas, if that matters to you.

Silwolffe · Post by **Silwolffe** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:18 pm

Exhausting, but liberating.

I'm optimistic that the majority will swing in Obama's favor, but I have this foreboding feeling that McCain will win. I don't despise McCain, but I certainly hope that Obama gets the seat on the royal throne.

We'll find out soon enough. Now I shall be glued to the television and cell-phone for the next 24-hours.

ollyb303 · Post by **ollyb303** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:19 pm

I'll be catching up on events when I get home from work.

For the record I hope to hell Obama gets in there!

sparklepuff · Post by **sparklepuff** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:43 pm

still standing in line here in midtown. Been about half hour so far, looks like I've got an hour to go.

elxicano · Post by **elxicano** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:49 pm

Just spoke with my bro, who also voted today in upper-westside. He said he was done in 10 minutes, but the machine he voted on wasn't working correctly... it took the help of two pollsters to get his vote to count. Hopefully others will be just as persistent if they get the same machine.

@pixelbox... How was the electronic vote? Does it give you an option for a paper copy too? I've been very curious about this, of course hearing all the controversy in the news and from both campaigns... oh, and of course it's great to hear about where you voted!

ChiDJ · Post by **ChiDJ** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:50 pm

Chicago: 45 minute wait in line at the polls this morning. Grant Park is under heavy security. 1,000,000 + people expected to gather downtown tonight. No parking anywhere in the loop.

I plan on heading down there later this evening to watch history!

Gonna be a PARTY!

Tod

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:54 pm

It took nearly 2 hours for me to vote yesterday in Oklahoma....record turnouts...we have good ole paper ballots, so it perhaps took longer. I'll be happy if Oklahoma goes to McCain by less than a 15 point spread....that would be big news here!

Gonna have some bears and herbs tonight watching the results come in....exciting!!

elxicano · Post by **elxicano** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:55 pm

sparklepuff wrote:still standing in line here in midtown. Been about half hour so far, looks like I've got an hour to go.

You know, I actually wish I had to stand in line... everyone I talked to that did the wait, was ecstatic afterwards, mostly just because of all the people involved in voting. Well I definitely hope its all worth it for you...

On the news, have been hearing of people in Virginia that waited hours in the rain and when it came to voting, their paper ballots were drenched to the point that they couldn't complete the process just then and were told to drop their paper ballots in a container till they dried.

Hidden Driveways · Post by **Hidden Driveways** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:57 pm

nylarch wrote:Brooklyn @7AM this morning....usually I walk right up and vote, in and out in 5 minutes. Took about 40 minutes this morning - lines were snaking all the way around the room.

Got to my polling station in Greenpoint Brooklyn at 5:51 AM, nine minutes before they were supposed to open (they opened five minutes late). I was 7th in line. I made a point of drinking just enough red wine the night before so I could get to bed early.

Anyhow, as usual the volunteers were mostly people in their 70's who seemed confused, disorganized, and strangely competitive with each other. The voting machine I used likely predated World War II. Was it working properly? I have absolutely no way of knowing. I just pulled a lever and put my trust into this ancient machine, because I have no other choice.

In the next election I'm going to vote absentee ahead of time and spend the day volunteering in a swing state. The misguided and brittle condition of our voting system speaks legions about the foundation of our democracy.

elxicano · Post by **elxicano** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:57 pm

ChiDJ wrote:Chicago: 45 minute wait in line at the polls this morning. Grant Park is under heavy security. 1,000,000 + people expected to gather downtown tonight. No parking anywhere in the loop.

I plan on heading down there later this evening to watch history!

Gonna be a PARTY!

Tod

Now I promise you, no bashing or flaming, but just have to ask out of curiosity... Did you end up voting for Obama?

forge · Post by **forge** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 4:01 pm

I'm totally transfixed - I hate being this involved because if Mccain get;s in I'll feel shattered

I live in fear of the Electoral college

But I'll at least feel a lot more satisfied that the general American public tried a bit harder to keep the evil bastards out this time!