Lines too long to vote in Houston today!

[Darby]

Went by the early voting location twice today - each time line was between 75 and 100 people long.

I had my baby with me so I couldn't wait, but I was happy to see all of the activity and excitement. My neighborhood has Kerry signs almost exclusively.

[TheFarseer]

1. I actually didn't want to hear that!

I was planning on voting early in Houston. I didn't even think of going in on Saturday. You know, TX isn't as Repub as people think - lots of Dem congressmen. Is an upset too much to hope for? My grandfather swears up and down that bush could easily lose Nebraska. He lives up there and says he hasn't found anyone yet that likes bush. Maybe a little of the same here.

[StClone]

3. There is little National polling taking Place in NE

So we really do't know what's going down there with Hagel making noise.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. "You know, TX isn't as Repub as people think" True. DeLay in trouble.

Tom DeLay is actually having to defend and campaign for his seat.

[Longhorn]

2. Up to 1-1/2 hour wait in Dripping Springs today.

In Hays County, early voting is all day, every day at the county elections office (San Marcos) but at selected locations throughout the county the rest of the time. So last Tuesday, today, and next Tuesday are it for Dripping Springs. I heard the wait was even longer last Tuesday.

I was campaigning out front today, then got in line around 12:45. By then, it was down to about 45 minutes. I voted Straight Ticket Democratic, Baby! :bounce:

[sonias]

5. Good luck to Patrick Rose, Longhorn

A long wait in Dripping Springs is good for us. Thanks for working in the campaign, and of course for voting that straight "Big D" ticket.

Sonia

[Longhorn]

6. Thanks, Sonia!

I think Patrick is in good shape, though I haven't seen any polls. The only thing the republicans seem to have against him is "Runaway Rose," since he went to Ardmore, Oklahoma with the rest of the Democrats, but that's a badge of honor for Democrats and I think even most republicans are seeing that Patrick was taking a stand, since the constituents in his district were going to feel the effects of redistricting more than most. Plus you've noticed how unpopular DeLay has become!

I campaigned next to a former student of mine who is supporting Patrick's opponent, Askew, and one guy drove by and said he would be voting for Patrick, but told my former student that he should go back and tell Askew that one reason he would never vote for him is that he never shows up at debates and other speaking opportunities. My former student (I taught him math so I am not to blame! ;)) actually replied that Askew missed some of those events because Patrick told him about it at the last minute or scheduled them on dates when he knew Askew had conflicts. What a hoot! As if Patrick is the one who schedules these things or is in charge of notifying the other participants! But he's just a kid and I guess that makes sense to him.

I'm hopeful that Hays County is going blue this time!

[Jane Austin]

9. I DIDN'T vote a straight ticket when I voted early yesterday in Elgin.

There were judgeships for which there were only a Republican and a Libertarian running.

In those cases, I voted for the Libertarian because I am so sick of Republican rule, Republican rhetoric and Republican tricks.

I doubt the Libertarians will win, but at least I got to vote against the Republicans.

[Longhorn]

10. My husband did the same thing!

I had been there for nearly four hours so I was ready to get in and out! (More than three hours of that was campaigning.)

[crispini]

14. LOL, I did the same thing.

It would be totally funny if the Libs got in because of people like us. :D

[Jasper 91]

7. This may be a silly question

But why aren't there more polling stations ? As the election is only held once every four years , surely that is more than enough time to organise sufficient numbers of polling stations , each complete with a full complement of trained staff .

I remember the last Presidential Election , where there were still queues out the door after the poll was supposed to have closed , and the Republicans were ,'spitting feathers' because they hadn't closed the doors on them . This was a disgrace and should never happen .

Each Secretary of State has a duty to ensure that everyone who is entitled to vote and who wants to vote , is able to vote . If they , and their staff , are so inefficient that they have not provided sufficient polling stations to match demand , then they should keep the polling stations open until the last vote has been cast and there is not one person turned away .

No person who wants to vote should be penalised through no fault of their own , by their S.O.S.'s poor job performance .

[Longhorn]

11. I think cost is a factor. And in the past, people who worked the polls

during early voting always brought a book to read because there would be so few voters!

In Texas, by law, anyone who is in line at the time the polls closed is still allowed to vote so no one should be turned away if they get in line in time. I thought it was that way everywhere?

[Zen Democrat]

8. I have a story that's just as positive in reverse.

Went to vote today in League City. A polling place has opened in the neighborhood to prevent overcrowding at the Galveston County annex. Galveston County is a Democratic county -- but here in the South Shore area it's overwhelmingly Republican. I have the only Kerry/Edwards sign in the neighborhood, but there are only about 5 Bush signs around here -- not like 2000. Anyway, went to the elementary school about noon today and there were only 4 voters there. This is a Republican dominated pocket in Galveston County, and only 4 voters at noon on Saturday.

And you say you had long lines at the polling place in a Democratic neighborhood in Houston? I like the way this is developing.

BTW, in what area of Houston do you live?

[crispini]

15. ooooeeeeeeeee!

I loves me some anecdotal evidence. Ok, completely unscientific, but STILL, I like it! :D

[0007]

12. Loaded in Midland!

[Weembo]

13. Go to another place

Google the Harris County Clerk and go to "elections" then "early vote." Harris County has 28 early voting locations. I realize that the "next" nearest one may be 10-15 minutes away, but I get afraid when I hear of people waiting until the next day when lines may (or may not) be shorter. Typically, the shortest lines are the ones in the more Democratic neighborhoods (but if that is not the case this year, we may have a handful of new democratic judges this year!)

I allowed everyone in my office as much time as they needed to early vote. I required them to bring me their "code" for the voting machine (don't worry, it is only the one that you key in to access the machine -- it doesn't show the vote) to show me that they early voted. If they don't, they know that bonus time is coming and that non-voters are not my favorite citizens. The beautiful thing is that I don't care how they vote, just so that they do vote. Of course, I am a fairly persuasive campaigner, in my own way.

[crispini]

16. Dallas EV is also SMOKIN.

And we're mostly D's as well.

We are forecasting 65% or even 70% turnout.