Put your Voting Story HERE - makes US feel THAT MUCH CLOSER TO WINNING..

[symbolman]

So, how'd your voting go? Any problems? Make new friends in line? See any Repub Lawyers stalking the crowd, trying to screw with people waiting? Did you get ID'd or asked silly questions? WHERE did you vote? Was it cold or raining or too hot? Was it optical scanner, electronic, chads?

I'm really loving these stories but they are scattered all over the site - there's so much HOPE and Dread all balled up, but when I hear a Voter story it just makes me feel THAT MUCH CLOSER TO WINNING..

SO fire away, let's hear it!

[Javamancer]

1. i went last week

I took a friend from work who was voting for the first time in his life. Early voting rocks. We went to the grocery store across the street, waited in line maybe 5 minutes, and then cast 2 votes for all that is good.

FYI, my official Texas state voting poll: Kerry 2, Dubya 0.

[KlatooBNikto]

2. My entire family woke up early this rainy day here in Indiana. We

went to a polling precinct located in a church in our neighborhood and all of us voted a straight Democratic ticket. We have six voting age people, two kids who just turned to voting age.My kids were delighted to be able to vote. I told them they are doing themselves a favor by voting for John Kerry and John Edwards.

One of my daughters who is also the editor of her schools newspapers has organized a GOTV effort at all high schools in our city.This has resulted in 1000 voting age kids voting for the first time, 95% of them voting Democratic! Awesome, as my girls would say! Made me very proud.

[symbolman]

6. jesus

now THAT is getting people to the polls! a THOUSAND?!

Go get your I-VOTED Avatar, we need to see miles of them as we scroll down the threads on the DU today :)

[KlatooBNikto]

12. My kids are all pumped up! They like Cate Edwards and Vanessa Kerry.

[juliagoolia]

3. I was so eager to vote that

I was the first one in the county to VOTE..

Straight DEM ticket.. Kerry got the first vote in this rural TX county.

Will be working at polls today for dem local club

[symbolman]

4. Hope you checked your vote

there have been problems in Austin where if you voted the Straight Democratic ticket that you COULD end up voting for Bush as the Prez..

Minor glitch that they said they fixed..

how come none of these machines that have glitches don't ACCIDENTALLY create votes for KERRY? That's all I want to know..

CONGRATS and Thanks to you all, we're going to kick ass today!

[nykiera]

5. Voted 6:30am

The weather was cool and overcast here in Upstate NY. I passed a few fisherman on the way to the courthouse. Once at the courthouse there was no line, and everything went smoothly. Even though I have not voted in this village before, no one asked for id! Walked over the river back home and started getting children ready for school.

Now is the nerve wracking waiting and anxiety part.

[Crazy8s]

7. Voted Saturday

Hubby and I stood for about an hour in line (Hernando Co, FL). Crowd was amiable, several compliments on the Kerry stickers on my van. Volunteers were passing out ice water and umbrellas to those in line. Folks in front of us were truly disgusted with Bush* and how the last election went--also said some choice comments about Jebby and Katherine 'horseface' Harris. FL dems are fed up!! Here's to taking back the White House and our country!!!!!!!

[LisaLynne]

8. I voted at 6:20 today in Indiana.

I saw a huge "Defend America -- Get Rid of BUSH" sign on my way to the polls. There were more people there than usual, and everyone was happy and smiling. Very friendly. The old voting machines have been replaced with optical scanners, but at least there's still a paper trail!

[symbolman]

11. Actually IF you had to update

electronic VOting then the optical make the most sense, still a paper trail, less breakdowns, cheaper.. at least that's what Greg Palast told us in the interview we had with him..

thanks for kicking Bush's ass :)

[phylny]

9. Quick, easy, painless :)

My husband and I went over to our local polling place about 6:30 this morning. It took us a while to find it (we're new here) but we did because this nice lady helped us. She said, "Who are you voting for?" and we answered, "Kerry." She said, "Me too!" Once we found the room, it cracked me up, because there were two booths - one for district 12, one for district 7. I'm used to standing in line for 10 booths. It's pretty rural here still, so there was no line. We walked up to the table, and I went to pull out my ID. The woman said, "We don't need ID here, ma'am" so I told them my name, and there I was in the books, my signature there for them to compare. I was proud, too, because our oldest daughter was on the rolls, with a notation "Voting absentee ballot" so I know they got that right as well.

After I voted, I had to help my husband vote - we use the old machines that you pull the big lever to close the curtain, then click the small levers for the candidate or issue. I voted straight Democratic, and voted yes for the bond issue. My husband voted K/E, but voted for other Republicans locally - and I don't mind - after all, he changed his vote from * to K/E only this weekend. All in all, very friendly polling place, very nice.

So, I'll watch TDS tonight, and try to avoid everything else but Air America today.

[dry99]

10. I live in Orlando

and voted last week. Took my young co-worker along and she voted for the 1st time. She's from the US Virgin Islands and she was so excited. 2 votes KERRY/EDWARDS.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

93. Awesome.. I'm in Orlando too.

My husband and I both voted for Kerry via absentee ballots.

[Mad_Dem_X]

13. Waited a half hour here in DE

No problems at all, thank goodness.

[xpat]

14. Voted in early October

As an xpat, I got my ballot about the time of the first debate. I was in a quandary - should I vote and mail it back right away, or should I wait until the last debate to be sure about who I should vote for.;-)

Wife and I have hosted Saturday evenings with wine and food for other xpats where we showed video tapes of the most recent debate. A Bush supporter came to the first one, made a fool of himself and hasn't returned. He's the only one we could find here near Paris.

Teenage daughter's friends who came to see the debates are really excited and "political", as she says. The Reps 15-year-old son was embarassed about dad's outburst.

One other xpat hadn't received his ballot from FL last week, so asked my advice. I told him to get in touch with the consulate. Everybody is voting, which has not been the case in previous years.

[obietiger]

15. My Ohio neighbor just voted

and I was not sure how she would vote. She voted Kerry! Said she likes his ideas and he reminds her of John Kennedy.
(I voted absentee a couple weeks ago)

[stlchic]

16. In line at 6 am behind 75 other people...

and the line went out the door! It was great to see.

No problem with getting a ballot, punching my card for Kerry-Edwards was a joy, and not so much as a single hanging chad.

:bounce:

[RebelOne]

17. Not much to tell.

I'm in Georgia. Got to the polls at 6:30 and finally voted at 7:30. I was the 170th person in line.

[Serial Mom]

18. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Just voted straight DEM (outside Milwaukee) in heavily repug Waukesha county. About 100 people in line when polls opened, (I was #31), then line looked liked it was staying at a steady 100 when I left.

GO KERRY, FEINGOLD and all the other DEMS!

[noonwitch]

19. No problems, long line for early morning

I don't know if that's a good sign-the line was mostly blue collar white males and old people.
We use the old fashioned lever machines in Warren. I like them, you can double check before pulling the lever. I had no one challenge my vote-I suspect if that's going on anywhere, it's in Detroit. Then again, most repubs I know are scared to go south of 8 Mile unless they're going to a sporting event downtown, or out to dinner in Greektown.

[Spider Jerusalem]

20. Voting went all right here in Georgia,

I was probably one of a handful of Democratic voters at my precinct, this being such a Republican area that Republicans are running unopposed in local races (I did not, however, vote for any of them...I wrote in "None" in every race without a Democrat or third-party candidate). I had to wait in line over an hour (small precinct, only six voting machines), and I was the 86th voter of the day.

I was, however, encouraged by a few things that happened this morning. I stopped off at a convenience store to buy a newspaper and a couple of bottles of Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino to make the wait bearable, and got into a conversation with the woman behind the counter...she told me she intends to vote for Kerry. And as I was leaving, I said to her "Here's hoping when we wake up tomorrow the world will be a slightly better place". A guy who'd just come in (young, white, late teens-early 20's) overheard me, and said "What, you mean a new President?"

I responded "Yeah. We need to kick that Bush bastard out of the White House."

"I heard THAT", he said, which kind of surprised me.


And as I was waiting on line, a bus full of high school students drove by, and a girl shouted out the window "I hope none of you people are voting for Bush!"

[President Kerry]

21. Watertown Mass here

right outside Boston. The parking lot full, but the polling place well organized--no big lines. Quick and easy. * doesn't have a chance in hell around here.
Hosting an election night party tonight.
Go Kerry!

[Rockholm]

22. Milton, Mass.....HUGE lines at my precinct!

[Corgigal]

23. Summerville SC here

Daughter and I both arrived around 7:20. It took about an hour in line because they only had 3 voting machines. Hardly any parking spaces available in front of the school I vote in.

I'm done. Saw no Bush signs going in. A few Kerry signs on the side of the road. Going out I saw a Bush person waving a sign, so being the good NY Dem that I am, I flipped him off. Ah, voting in America, got to love it.

[catmandu57]

24. We voted at 6:45 this morning

we were 57 and 58 from our precinct. We use optical scan here and I like it, we've never has a problem with the count.
The machine had counted 121 ballots when we left, no problems at all.

[kayell]

25. I voted. (I think) Upstate South Carolina

Hour long line starting at 7 AM. One man had been in line at 6 AM. A couple of black hoodies. Votronic machine, although we were listed on a map I check as going to be optical scanner. That really ticked me off, because if I had known, I would have been working on my county to get voter verified receipts. :grr: One person walked by in the 100 ft area with a sign saying "Pray, Obey, Vote" illustrated with a slew of crosses, but didn't return. Saw her later hanging out at the parking entrance. Mostly light rain, with periods of heavy rain - was predicted to be only partly cloudy. After work, if it's still raining, I'll be running around passing out umbrellas at selected voting sites.

[Buns_of_Fire]

26. Polls here (SW Virginia) opened at 6:00

...and we were third in line at ten minutes 'til. No problems (old-style tab machines -- next year, they're scheduled to be replaced). Quick in, quick out, no problems (our ballot here only really contained two significant things to vote on). Flip the tab for Kerry, flip the other tab for Boucher, pull the lever and that was that. Didn't even hurt.

By the time we left, there were 30 or so people in line, with more driving in (pretty good for a town with only 1800 people in it!). The election official there told me that they'd already had 23 voters in the first eight minutes. Gonna be a busy day up here in the hills...

[oldlady]

27. Madison, Wisconsin

In line 3 minutes after the polls opened & was number 68. Half hour wait. cool beans.

[LeftHander]

28. Voted at 7:03 a.m. CST....smooth....

In waukesha WI,

No GOP watchers challenging anyone...paper ballots that I marked myself with a No. 2 pencil and pushed into the optical reader and heard the happy tone. Lots of kerry bumber stickers in the parking lot...

Wife went a about twenty minutes later and had to wait in line an hour...it is going to be very busy today...

[LeftyLou]

29. We voted at 6am

My husband and I cast our votes for John Kerry at 6am this morning. We live in a small town and the women working the elections know us by name. There were already several people there and at lest two others in the booths as we voted.

We then went to my husband's business, at the only stop light in town and made sure our Kerry/Edwards signs had survived the night. We are hoping that in a heavily republican district it will give people something to think about on the way to the polls.

[Vickers]

30. I saw my drunk-ass, no-job freeper neighbor at the polling place

I swear, I almost asked him, "Dude, where is your cooler?" Anyway, he looked pretty hang-dog, so that alone was worth the wait in line.

Also, there was a lady who was voting, and right in the middle she gets sick and has to run to the bathroom...so that voting machine was tied up (out of 5) while she was puking.

While I was waiting in line, the traffic was getting worse and worse, and at one point some dispshit in a van almost backed into somebody, then almost turned directly into somebody, just driving erratically. People were yelling at him, "Hey, just settle down, you're gonna hit somebody!" So I said out loud, "Hey, tell me if he has any candidate stickers on his van, 'cause I'm gonna vote for the opponent no matter who it is" and that got a good laugh.

[RedCloud]

31. Virgin Eye A reporting!

Southern Virginia, long a pro re-pug stronghold is expecting massive turnouts, near 75% today. Several career military officers have Kerry Edwards signs in their lawns. No Bush Cheney on my street!

Went to the polls. Luckily, I was #46 to get to vote. When I got out the line had swollen to about several hundred, from all walks and talks of life! If * loses my precinct he can expect to be decimated nation-wide. There is a very solemn sense of anger here. I saw people in line rejecting repugnant propaganda spiels. The repugs have spent a lot to carry this area but if Kerry carries it, the rout is on!

[MadHound]

32. I voted at 7am CST, at the local community hall

I live in rural Callaway County, Missouri. Heavy, heavy turnout, especially for a small rural precinct. Grey, rainy day, but people didn't care, they're there for a reason. Though this is heavy Republican territory, I personally know that a number of these people were voting Kerry(since I persuaded them to do so). Nothing untoward, people were polite and friendly, joking about their kids, talking about the crops. All in all, a very pleasant experience. I do think that the heavy turnout favors us here, since a lot of these people have been motivated by the Bushco atrocities to vote for the first time in a long time. Many of these people are old school Republicans, and are appalled at where Bushco has taken them. It was a tactic I used many times going door to door, attack Bush from the old school, 'Pug point of view.

Here's hoping that we delivered Callaway County into the Kerry column.

[snooper2]

33. Voted at 7:30 this morning, Dallas County Prec. 1814

Signed a ballot initiative outside in the rain:
Something about making the mayor accountable for vote totals/irregularities if there are any-


Voted on Paper: Straight Dem. Ticket. So many repukes un-opposed it was sad...
#2 behind getting rid of Bush is my POS congressman Pete Sessions-
God I hate that man... Martin Frost is not much better, but ::::

Took about 25 minutes-about 20 people in front of me...

5-ESS paper ballot sucky machine took my Ballot out of my hands...
Voter #187

[anarchy1999]

39. Right behind you Snooper 2, we voted at 8:00, Dls Co Prec. 1813

We stood in line about 45 minutes, we were in the 130's, line was much shorter when we left. Straight Dem with the exception of 2 Libs running against Repubs. Smme paper ballot machine, reassuring to know though, there is a veriable paper ballot.

Funny and sad to see people stand in line for 30-45 minutes to find out they were in the wrong place.

[snooper2]

40. Coolness!

later!

[Tamyrlin79]

34. High voter turnout on MS Gulf Coast

I voted this morning in my precinct and turnout was HIGH. The official who was herding the line said that the turnout for the morning was TRIPLE what they usually had. I got there at 10 till 6 aand was at the beginning of the fourth row of bleachers waiting to vote. Voted about 7:20, so about a 20 minute wait in line... Apparently our precinct has about 1300 people, and at least 300 of that were probably in line to vote this morning. No way to tell who they voted for, of course, but the turnout was very good.

[EOTE]

35. Silver Spring, MD.

I arrived at about 8:30 (I work midshift) to a very long line. By chance, I got in line right next to my like minded neighbor and we had about a 20 minute conversation before I got my voter card. It was my second time e-voting and I'd never seen such a line for voting before. People all seemed very motivated and I couldn't imagine anything stopping them from voting. Considering that Maryland isn't a swing state and I arrived after most people are already at work, I think this is a very promising sign. I proudly voted for Kerry/Edwards, Barbara Mikulski and Chris Van Hollen. I must admit that I was a bit in the dark regarding the local initiatives. I picked up my 'I Voted!' sticker (free taco at California Tortilla) and left only to find the line much longer than when I arrived.

Overall, this experience makes me very optimistic. I think the turnout is going to be HUGE!!!! If you haven't voted already, do so!!! There's definitely electricity in the air. Today is the day, it all comes down to this!!!!

[peacefreak]

36. I voted at 8:30a.m.

I live in a little town in Maine. Voting is held on the fairgrounds (not in the cow barns, though). LOL About 30 people waiting in line.
The local candidates were working the crowd. Not big deal usually. Been doing it for as long as I've been voting there. The guy in front of me started yelling that it was illegal. Turned what was a pleasant experience into something a little more tense. So I started singing Landslide. My friend was threatening to say something about big mouths & small peni...Once inside the line went quickly with every voting booth full. More people were streaming in as we were going out. The vote is rockin', folks!

[BluePatriot]

37. I voted on Friday

I stood in line a while, then I had to fill out a form because I never got my absentee ballot. Then I checked my mailbox when I got home and I had it. :crazy: Oh well, it was only a 3 hour drive. :)

[jpak]

38. I saw an albino squirrel at my polling place

in Pensacola.

To the native people of the Great Plains, the appearance of the White Buffalo symbolized the coming together of humanity into a oneness of heart, mind, and spirit.

What does the appearance of the White Squirrel portend???

(beside smart assed replies and copycat threads)

Attended the Edwards rally at the airport last night - more than 2500 showed up in the heart of the Redneck Riviera.

We rocked

Our local news/talk station (home of Rush, Hannity and the Savage Weiner), however, reported only "about 500" showed up.

Liars

Looooonnnnng lines at the polls this AM. I saw one young African-American woman ask questions about her ballot (first time voter???). She was told to get back in line to get a replacement.

She did - and was determined to make her vote count.

I snuck a peek at the-guy-in-front-of-me's ballot as he slipped into the box.

He voted for Kerry

(I live in a heavily repuke precinct).

On my way home from the polls I saw two very attractive young ladies jogging.

They were wearing hand-lettered "VOTE 4 KERRY" teeshirts.

things are looking up here...

:)

[Bunny]

41. I voted a couple of minutes after 7:00 AM.

At my normally sleepy polling place, the little blue-haired ladies were in full force, orchestrating things. I was voter number 8. I was wearing my black hoodie (unzipped with the hood down) and ready for action!

In front of me was a young black guy, which was interesting because my town is very white and kinda old. The poll lady said to both of us: "Boy, you guys are on the ball today!" I wasn't sure what she meant, so I said "we sure are!" She said that she had never seen it this busy so early in the morning, and I replied that I was surprised too. Voting was uneventful, no poll watchers or challengers that I could tell, but then I really didn't expect any, either.

This is bunnyj, Senior Hometown Correspondent, reporting. Back to you, symbolman!

[BlueNomad]

42. Washington DC...

been voting here for 10 years and never had to wait in line. At 7:30 am, the line was out the room, down the hallway corridor, and out the church's front doors..#165...

heavy turnout for a city that generally does not turnout and whose folks already know it's going heavy democratic...pretty amazing..

[Razoor]

43. voted in repuke Georgia

I voted in Georgia. that was the first time I had to wait in line but it wasnt long. my stepdad whos a repuke btw went ape crazy when I told him about BBV since georgia uses the diebold machines. he told me that was all BS and if you just read it on the internet it doesnt mean its true and I said well look all around at all the voter machines having problems.
then thats when he got ape crazy and said I am not going to talk about it. he also called me nonintelligent if you beleive that and also said there have never been problems in my precient but he doesnt know.
then in line I heard the head election judge person I know her personally said the machines are awesome. I just rolled my eyes. but I voted K/E no problems. I voted straight democrat but one race just had one republican so i just wrote in someones name from tv because I am never going to vote repuke. so it was pretty easy but I dont trust the machines one bit.

[symbolman]

44. So that means that all the wonderful

things that people write about BUSH on the internetS aren't TRUE either?

They sure have selective memory don't they?

It's even harder for people to vote in Repug areas, so my hat is off to you!

[Tracer]

45. Just voted in Massachusetts.

Drove over to my local school to vote, and the school parking lot was FULL. I had to park across the road at the ballfield parking lot.

Constant stream of people driving in and out (it's kind of rural ... ya gotta drive).

There was no wait, because the gym was FULL of voting booths Ñ more than I've ever seen in my long residence in this town.

I overheard a policeman in the hall saying that the 10:00 a.m. voter count had gone past 1,800! (the total population of this town is 15,000).

Everyone looked purposeful and DETERMINED!

[myopinion]

46. Big turnout in my town in NH

Hi All,
I vote in Hudson NH and usually it takes me about 5 minutes or less to vote. This morning at 7 there was a 2 mile backup to get the voting place and a line of people that I would guess to be over a hundred constantly. Everyone was in a good mood and the only comments were about how big the turn out was. No hassles, but there were several voting obverses which was different. And of course count 1 for Kerry.

[doctor klahn]

47. Just Voted in NYC

...In East Harlem. Crowded, people were enthusiastic. Lots of volunteers, who were very helpful. One guy who must of been in his mid-30's really excited to be voting for the first time. Asking over and over if he had used the machine properly.

No republican operatives harassing people, but then again, they'd probably be too chicken shit to come into Harlem anyway. Come to think of it, it'd be a pretty funny scene if they did, because believe me people wouldnt take any shit from them...

I turned 18 in time to vote for Clinton's second term and Im damn PROUD to have never, ever voted for a Republican

[DontBlameMe]

48. East Lansing, MI here. Precinct 11.

No problems. Voted at 8:30 am, took the toddler to his first vote. Took maybe 20 minutes, start to finish. Poll worker said they had a line around the building at 7 am when they opened, some people got there as early as 5:30!!!!!!

There was one poll watcher, don't know her party, but she caused no problems when I was there. Only 1 person had a problem, something about either address or whether or not they were registered.

Straight Dem, No on Prop.1 & 2 (2 is the gay marriage one)

[loudestchick]

49. Hurray!

Just voted...stood in line for 20 minutes...some fine folks were there...we had a democratic poll watcher and a "challenger" behind the tables...very calm and civilized...whew! now it's just the waiting!

[LMG]

50. voted

Set my alarm for 6 woke up at 5:30
My husband and I were # 15 and 16
voted at 6:30

[Beam Me Up]

51. Voted 10.11.04 Oakland, CA

Paper absentee ballot in person and had them verify my signature. Went with a friend who did the same. There was no long line but there were quite a few people voting early. I asked if more than usual and I was told, yes, which I believe is a good sign.

[Aristus]

52. Voter number 6 in my precinct to cast my ballot. Straight Dem

ticket. First on the ballot were local initiatives, but I marked the slate for President first, as a symbolic gesture. I took a few seconds to savor it, then voted "President: John F. Kerry; Vice-President: John Edwards." I took a few more seconds to ensure that that was exactly the way I meant to vote, brushed the names with my finger for good fortune, and cast my ballot.

The election volunteers were all cheerful and in a good mood. The people I was waiting in line with were all cheerful and excited. There were no challengers, no angry faces, and no "Vote Bush, or else..." doomsayers. It was the pleasant, liberating experience I've been dreaming of for four years.

Go Kerry!

[SmokingJacket]

53. Woke up at 5:00, couldn't wait!

Dressed my kids and dragged them out soon after the polls opened at 6:00. Walked down the block to the school. Saw my friend Bob and agreed to walk his dog while he goes to PA to drive people to the polls. Hardly anyone else was out yet.

No line at all, I just walked right into the booth! In NY we have the old lever machines with an old raggedy blue and green curtain around it. My son was thrilled to push the lever marked Kerry/Edwards!

Came home, ate breakfast, and now I'm freaking out...

[Typecast Modulator]

54. I voted absentee so no voting story from me.

But I voted Kerry. And after today we won't have to feel just "close" to winning because we will have victory.

[Mr. Jinx]

64. Same here

However, after checking over that ballot twice (a.k.a. a definitive vote for Kerry/Edwards) and dropping it in the mailbox, I really felt relieved. Four years of waiting for that one moment to come.

[Abelman]

55. Stayed up all night

Polls open at 7am, left at 655. The old tan van I have to drive was really moving along the icy road in a freaky fashion. Got there. Voted, pen and paper. Left. Came back. It was awesome.

[The Icon Painter]

56. Voting in Atlanta

Just came back from voting. Lines (unusual for our area of the city) but only took 30 minutes or so. Well worth it - would have waited as long as it took. Oh - for Kerry, of course.

[William Bloode]

57. Voted at 9am...

Here in lovely western North Carolina, voted all Democrat, Kerry, Easley, and Bowles. No problems and looked like a good turn out.

Sadly my area was polled to favor Bush by 56-40%.But to be honest if we get large turn out i think it will swing Kerry because the average working man and woman really have no use for Bush and his policies. Bad economy, and a poor area, which means we have allot of folks with relatives in the armed forces, and allot of folks who lost jobs in the Bush economy.

Heres hoping for the best!

[Weezy]

58. CHICAGO VOTER

Voted at 7am. Cold drizzly. Way more people than normal voting. About 8. 4 taking booths, 4 waiting. No ID required. Sig. was on file as it always is. Feel very lucky that we seem to live where nothing fishy is going on. YAY!!!

[davsand]

59. A wonderful voting experience!

Walked into the polling place, got called by name, and had the election judges asking about my entire family--by name! Got my ballot, voted (see my new sig line--it sums it all up!)and left feeling good about the day.

On a very interesting note, the election judges told me that about 78 people had been in to vote already (by 7:30.) That number represents a THIRD of the registered voters in that precinct! We always have good turnout (about 70%) but this is just nuts!


Laura

[Jackpine Radical]

60. A Wisconsin story--very heavy turnout

Went to the polls at about 9:20am--a rural town hall. The place was flooded with cars, parking lot full & people parking up & down the street. This was at a time when most people should be at work. 500+ votes, a very heavy turnout. A poll watcher said, "EVERYBODY's coming out to vote in this one."

[amandabeech]

61. Voted in central PA!

I had already served as a poll watcher from 7-9 a.m., but chose not to vote, so that I'd be sure to go check on those standing outside the polling place later. There are now two young, DU types outside showing the flag, and one of their mothers is in poll watching. I live nearby, as do they, but I told them to come get me if they need anything.

The turnout this a.m. was more than they'd every had and some of the older lady election workers had been doing this a long time! All but one older lady was courteous, but the judge of elections, who was one of us, managed to calm her down.

The Puggie poll watcher was pretty nice to me, but kept pissing off the nasty election worker and the judge of elections. The Puggie guy standing outside was pleasant, too. I don't think that either one of them was a crazed freeper type or a rabid anti-abortion fanatic. They were more the Chamber of Commerce or country-club type. I wasn't relishing the thought of some wild-eyed loon challenging every voter, but I was prepared to be assertive if necessary.

It's going to be a long day, but I am feeling hopeful.

Good luck to all of you!

[JennC]

62. Voted in MA with cloudy skies, paper ballot, short line

They were running it beautifully. I noted that the grumpy looking guy next to me had the bush sticker on his car and frankly I couldnt stop grinning. I am SO happy with my vote : )

Wine cooler is chillin for tonight!

[proud patriot]

63. I went in this morning

we didn't have a line , but there were many more people
there than in past elections this early in the morning.

I'm in a conservative suburb of San Francisco .

[Hell Hath No Fury]

65. San Francisco 7:00am this morning...

I have been voting in the same garage since I was 18 years old.

Today I went there at my usual crack of dawn and saw something I have never seen in my 26 years of voting there -- a line!

They had six voting stations set up (we do OptiScan) ad they were all occupied, and there were at least ten people in line. Now that doesn't sound like much, but we have so many polling locations in SF that the neighborhood polling places are rarely crowed at any time of election day.

Here in CA they ask you for your name, then you sign next to your listing on a print out, then they request your address and they check that off on another print out. That is it.

As each poll worker helped me through the process I was thanking them for volunteering. Some idiot in line in front of me turned around and stared at me strangely, then kind of cleared his throat the first time I did it. The second time I did it he turned around and just GLARED at me with a look of death and actually GROWLED at me! I have no idea what his fucking problem was -- it's not like I was screaming "Vote for Kerry!" in the polling place.

Otherwise it went very well and was a good experience for me.

One other thing I noted: we had three poll watchers! In all the years I have never seen one, so to see that many was quite the shock. By their look I don't think they were GOP, but more likely Dems who were watching out for voters.

I just heard from friend that her polling location in the Mission was packed as well. Her experience was a little differant then mine. She was asked by a poll worker if she had ID when she went to vote. (That is a NO-NO here in CA -- you are never required to show ID when voting.) Maureen snapped back no, she didn't have any and she didn't have to show him ID anyway. He backed down and shut up after that. She also mentioned that there were three gals in front of her line line who HAD shown ID, including passports. I should mention that her polling location is in a very Latino neighborhood. She didn't hear if the gals were requested to show ID or had voluntarily done it.

[BeatleBoot]

66. Michigan - Heavy Turnout

Every time I have voted in the past, I get there right when the polls open. I am usually within the first ten voters for election day.

Today, I waited in line for one hour! The polling place was PACKED!

I have never in my life seen so many people voting at one time.

The local radio has described turnout as "healthy".

[nickfaldo7]

67. Oklahoma

I was the first one in line in a small rural county outside of Tulsa. Voted at 7:05.

[KayLaw]

68. Tampa Bay area

Long lines - took about an hour and a half. Met two guys from my neighborhood who I think were voting for Kerry. One said he saw a bumper sticker he liked that read, " Clinton lied, nobody died." They both wanted to be challenged so they could fight back.

Saw my fundie neighbor waiting in line to cancel out my vote. Here husband was the principal of a fundie school until last week when he was busted for solitating a prostitute and lacivious behavior. I thought that might keep her away from the polls but it didn't.

When I got home, another neighbor came over to ask me where to vote as she and her husband were just laid off and are sick of Bush.

I saw a young guy voting in a Bush/Cheney shirt which I thought was against the law.

[Wapsie B]

69. Mason City, Iowa

No problems at my precinct as of 10 AM CST when I cast my vote. I was 150th person to vote there as registered on the ESS scanner. I think turnout should be well over 50%.

Plus there are Dems canvasing the area making sure that people get out to vote.

[Z_I_Peevey]

70. Rural Southeastern Oklahoma here

No lines, lots of smiling faces. I was voter #195. Usually I'm anywhere from #50-#70 at about the same time of day.

Heard the little old lady poll workers saying that earlier there were lines. Everyone was so happy and upbeat.

P.S. We're the Democratic stronghold of the state.

[Jivenwail]

71. No problems where we were in VA

But over abundance of B/C supporters working the line, asking for any undecided voters, handing out sample repug ballots, etc. Just as we entered to vote, the Kerry/Edwards people showed up to put up their signs.

We live in Chesapeake, VA which is a HUGE repug community. We could overhear some conversation in the line, but overall everyone was respectful and up beat. We did observe one person in our line that asked for a provisional ballot and received one.

We have punch card voting and there were signs all over reminding voters to make sure that you did not have any hanging chads. And since we only had two choices to make (president and congressman) we were in/out very quickly!

[Xenus Sister]

72. Chicago, Vietnamese church, 10:00am, 5 min wait, Punch card, no problems

As I walked to the church (3 blocks away) I saw several Kerry Edwards signs in people's windows. Also, there were all kinds of Kerry Edwards and Obama signs all around the church.

There were at least 2 different precincts using the church so it was kind of crowded. All the booths were filled, but the line was short. I imagine was hectic earlier and will be again when the after-work crowd comes.

Method: Punch card (I checked for hanging chads).

It was with pleasure and pride that I punched Kerry and Obama's names.

[noise626]

73. Voting in Colo Sprgs

First off, it's flippin' COLD today! But nothing short of a shark attack would prevent me from voting (and even then, it better chew me up but good).

The polling place was a bit busy when I showed up at 7:15am. About 40 or so people. The pollster were all nice older ladies who got me in the right direction real quickly. All and all, very smooth...

Now I get to sit at work all day and wait.........

The suspense? You can cut it with a chainsaw dammit!!

GO KERRY!!!!

pax
ant

[Historic NY]

74. I feel good!!!!

Went in this morning the first time I ever had to wait around to vote in 30 yrs. I looked around saw a few of the usual poll workers that know me and my family but everyone else was a stranger or a new voter. My district had the longest wait. I think the one old blue haired lady took about 10 minutes to vote, I could hear the clicks and she was very slow and deliberate. I had to vote for a high court Judge (a Republican) in my county so people who live here would not have to deal with a foreign judge who knows nothing about us. The good part is he has been a fantastic high court judge, for all the people. I left went and got some coffee and was whistling unconsciously, a few people asked me why. Oh I'm just so happy I voted. I am absolutely over the moon, can't wait to see the returns coming in.

2 votes me & 91 yr old uncle JK.

[ladyVet]

75. Voted in NC

I took my mother to vote (her first time! It took me 20 years to get her to vote)at 8:30 this morning in our rural part of a NC piedmont county. It took us two hours, the line was around the perimeter of our elementary school gym and out into the hallway, and was the same when we left. There were six machines, but one didn't work most of the time we were there.

Our area is mostly farmers, and poor people. I saw lots of old people and black people. The lady at the sign in desk said turnout was very high, and had been all morning.

I didn't see anybody challenging voters, only one republican handing out fliers for a congress critter, there was a big tent with democratic people with information on candidates.

Other than the loudmouth woman behind me who screeched and nagged at her kids the entire two hours, it went really well. She did say something about voting for Easley for Governor, not that it was any consolation: she said people should form a class action suit against Kerry, because he didn't do anything in the Senate while he was running for President. Oy.

[faithnotgreed]

78. hi ladyvet! a big thank you to both you and your mother.

were glad youre here... and appreciate you sharing your voting story with us. its great to hear from all over the country (except when its someone screeching behind you in line for 2 hours!)

[rbnyc]

76. Not much of a story, but...

...when I went to vote at 10 after 7 this morning, there was a line. There has never, ever been a line at my polling place in the 8 years I've lived in the neighborhood. Most people looked to be in their 20s to early 30s.

[young_at_heart]

77. No problems in North Asheville

We've been having record-breaking heat the past few days and it's quite warm right now....no rain yet, so that should mean lots of people voting today.

[bemildred]

79. Quick, easy, painless, with paper-trail.

Paper and ink. Ten minutes, in and out, no sticky residue,
no belligerent morons, a pleasure all around.
But I'm in California.

[OneTwentyoNine]

80. Forty minute wait at 10:30 AM here in Wichita

Never here in Wichita have I seen lines this long at that time period.Your usually in between the morning group and the lunch group but thats not the case today.I can't imagine what the wait is going to be from about 5:00 PM on.

[ace2u_in_MD]

81. Bowie, Maryland.

Took my time getting ready for work today. Arrived at the polling place at around 8:15 AM. Drove thru the parking lot (with "No Surrender" the Jersey "Vote for Change" tour BLASTING from the truck) and it was jammed. 45 minute wait. Some people getting anxious due to some SLOW moving poll workers.

Voted touch-screen for all Democratic candidates. Voted down all county ballot questions.

Noticed that the machine said A/C off line. Brought it to the attention of the election worker, who at first seemed perplexed until I pointed to the power indicator. He said thanks and started to work on the machine. It LOOKED like that is was at less than 50% power remaining. Hope that they checked all other machines.

Guard at the gate asked me how long it took me to vote. I told her 45 minutes and worth it at 10 times the wait.

Pulled into the lot with "No Surrender" BLASTING from the truck. Hope the Freeper who works out here and hated seeing all the Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers could hear it.

Hear that? That is the sound of change blowing in the wind...

[DustMolecule]

82. Western Suburbs of Chicago

The family got up extra early....my daughter was among the kids chosen to greet the families dropping off kids at school to remind them to vote today and hand out stickers saying: "Voting Counts" (she was dressed as John Kerry, btw....but Theresa, George, and Laura were all represented in the school driveway)...it was pretty cute.

We have optical scan machines where I vote. Only 2-3 people in line ahead of me at 10:00 am, but this is the first time I've ever had any kind of wait. The election officials did a vote count tally while I was there (machine count of received ballots vs. their paper tally)...the count was just under 200.

[never cry wolf]

85. NW Chicago burbs here

Similar story, I waited until about 10 to miss the before work rush and beat the lunch rush. The parking lot at the library was packed, about a dozen people in line when I got there, after I checked in I had to wait a few minutes for a booth to open up but all in all I was in and out in 15 mins.

Still, I have been voting there for 16 years and have NEVER seen it that busy. We use optical scans too and only had like 6 races to vote for so it mover fairly quickly.

I was proud to cast my ballot for Kerry, Obama and Bean!

[twenty2strings]

83. very friendly indeed...in fayettville, ar. come see us!

my polling place was really fun. laughing and joking but no tension whatsoever. i wore my washington d.c. tourist hat with an official looking seal and the words owner-operator on it. molly ivins has a fun send off. it`s cheery..take heart you all in nervous places. love ya.:bounce:

[robbedvoter]

84. NYC - E Village - unprecedented lines. 3 black hoodies in my line

Lady on the way out told me she hates both candidates but did vote Kerry to get rid of Bush (pretty much sums up my neighborhood - which usually doesn't vote)

[mike_c]

86. Blue Lake, CA....

Small town, no lines. Walked the block or so to the poll on a sunny, seventy degree morning at about 10:00 AM PST. Absolutely beautiful!

[annabanana]

87. I voted here in a true blue part of blue NY..

Mid-day, like I usually do. ..Never really see anyone else except the old ladies at the tables, and an occasional mom with kid..

But today!! Shoulder to shoulder..men & women, all ages ....lines at every machine! Everyone with a look of purpose on their faces.

I LIKE the old lever machines. When you pull that lever you really feel like you've accomplished something!

[FarLeftRage]

88. I voted today at 11AM...

Under rainy skies and a cold, gray day to boot.

I wore my black hoody thing and no one there at the polling station asked me about it.

Not many folks there.

One person requested a paper ballot to use.

[ComerPerro]

89. Voted 3 weeks ago at 6:15 am in my underwear

absentee, of course.

IL 8th district, Kerry Pres, Obama Sen, Bean House.

[stanwyck]

90. Voted in Atlanta-7am

with my husband and college senior daughter. 3 votes for Kerry. (AND Cynthia McKinney). My son voted absentee...for Kerry. We got to the school at 6am. Finished at 8:30am. Went to breakfast. We're very optimistic. However, did note that our Reich-wing neighbor was NOT asked to remove his Bush-Cheney sticker on his T-Shirt. He made it all the way through; wondered if a Kerry supporter would be so fortunate.
My daughter said one of her roommates got a call YESTERDAY saying her absentee ballot was missing a signature. (she had several people check her ballot before she mailed. Including her government class professor.) She was told she could correct it at the courthouse before noon. Trouble is, she's in college in Rome, GA. and the courthouse is in Dothan, Alabama.
She mailed the absentee ballot two weeks ago.

[SarahB]

91. I wasn't the youngest person there!

For years, whenever I went to vote, it was myself and a room full of elderly people. Not this year! In part because I'm getting older (32), but also because I think people are beginning to give a damn- to see how voting affects their lives. Not only were there many people younger than me waiting to vote, but they were male and female and represented a variety of ethnic groups. THAT is definitely something new. :thumbsup:

I have hope! I've been a cynic. I don't trust the Republicans and the lengths they will go to to win, but today, I have hope!

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[mojavekid]

92. We Voted in Pacific Palisades, CA.

My wife and I voted this morning, it went smoothly with very little wait. A poll watcher was present as well. Everyone was very helpful and vigilant, and you could feel the veiled excitement in the room!

A Beautiful day for a Kerry win here in So. Cal!

We dropped off our son at his school first and stayed the 15 minutes on the playground watching him play before class. Next to me were six second and third grade students filling out homemade voting ballots, and two fisrt graders walking by were discussing * and Kerry!

Last week my son's class voted (first grade) and Kerry won, that however did not satisfy a friend of his who kept insisting to my son that Kerry is a liar. My son decided the best way to settle this would be a race, telling his friend "If you win, Kerry is a Liar, If I win then * is a Liar, and isn't it just too cool that my son won!

This is my first post on DU, having lurked here for a long time and I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you. I have learned and grown from all the awesome Discussions, Links and Humor!!!

[LibDemAlways]

94. I vote in a suburban area north of

LA that's pretty evenly split. I have voted at the same polling place for 25 years. Today is the first time I've ever seen young people (18-25) voting! If they are turning out to vote here in laid back land, that's an excellent sign for Kerry. I think the thought of a Bush draft is motivating them.

[Qanisqineq]

95. I voted in Colorado Springs

No problems, hardly any line. I got ID'ed. I voted in Colorado Springs and it was warm, the snow from Sunday night was melting. It was a way I've never voted before... by filling in the little circles with a marker!

When coming back onto the military base where I live, the civilian security guard at the gate said, "I hope you voted for Bush". I shook my head and he laughed and jokingly said, "step out of the car please ma'am." It was funny and offensive at the same time, at least he was good-humored about it.

[hedgehog]

96. Oswego County - Rural Upstate New York in the red zone

It's 2-1 Republican to Democrat here. At noon today there had been 300 voters at my precinct - that's the normal total. Polls are open until 9.
I had to wait behind 4 people - that's never happened before! The young woman behind me was really excited - it was her first time voting. I stopped off at the pharmacy on the way back. The pharmacist went on and on about how he wished there was one card for everyone just like social security, He's a Republican, but he's ready for a change!

[lacdep]

97. Northern VA

I voted this morning and waited for nearly 90 minutes. The crowd was calm yet very determined. I saw several people with Kerry or Bush shirts or pins voting but there was no big deal made of it. We used computer touch screens and it was simple. The poll workers said that the line had been like this since 0600 when they opened! This yr. I also got my dad to vote for Kerry, dad hasn't voted since the nixon era! We are going to rock VA for Kerry!

[kungfugrip]

98. Just voted in a garage in North Hollywood, CA

Its a small polling place, but they said that there were 20 people waiting to vote at 7:00 AM.

All went smoothly with the inka-dot system.

Keep it up.

[telex54]

99. There was a guy with a mullet in front of me.

Other than that everything went fine. I just forgot to get an "I Voted" sticker. :(