THREAD: Your experiences voting

[NastyRiffraff]

Post them here: good, bad, exciting, uplifting, etc. Be sure to post where you voted!

[Brainstormy]

1. Georgia lines are LONG!

3 hours in some cases. I mailed it. Hubby went to front of line by virtue of being a VOP. (very old person.)

[NastyRiffraff]

6. Wow! Go Georgia!

Great news

[crazycatlady]

2. Voted in NJ

Technically from PA. I sat at my desk at work and filled out my ballot. Then I put it in the mail.

[NastyRiffraff]

10. More and more people are voting by mail

I never have, just because I'm a sucker for going to the polling place. But mail does make sense.

[crazycatlady]

25. I haven't voted in person in about a decade

Then again I work on campaigns so I'm never around on e-day.

One thing I've never received was an 'I Voted" sticker. My laptop needs it.

[MaryMagdaline]

3. Smooth sailing in Fort Lauderdale

I get the ballot mailed to me. Then I walk it in. I always take it to a heavily democratic early voting place. Went to African American Research Library. Wish there had been more people voting but they had act together. Outside democrats were handing out BLue Cards with all suggested votes, even for constitutional and charter issues.

Smooth and efficient.

[NastyRiffraff]

7. Good to see Florida has its act together

Who doesn't remember the hanging chads in 2000? I love Florida, BTW; I lived in Tampa for about 10 years.

[Blue_true]

64. Somebody waiting in line with me joked about no hanging chads yesterday.

People were talking about the scanners that are being used across Florida now.

[yardwork]

4. Early voting in very blue precinct and city in purple N.C.

Lines were longer than usual Sunday afternoon for early voting. Enthusiasm among voters seemed high. The precinct workers were very careful and meticulous.

In my city, it's always a choice between progressive and even-more-progressive, so not representative of the rest of the country. However, heavy turnout here is needed to win progressive races statewide.

We have some nasty underhanded amendments to defeat. Beyond that, no significant statewide races this year in NC.

[NastyRiffraff]

8. Yay, NC!

Always good to see long lines & enthusiasm. And precinct workers who know what they're doing!

[yardwork]

9. And we have paper ballots that are scanned and saved.

I love my town.

[NastyRiffraff]

11. Same in Maryland

I'm SO glad MD got rid of those voting machines. I was an election judge when we had them and it was chaos. People were complaining that the machine kept changing their vote. It was a nightmare.

[TomSlick]

5. Easy going in Arkansas.

New voting machines that print out completed paper ballots which are scanned and saved.

If poor rural counties in Arkansas can do it, why can't everywhere else?

[NastyRiffraff]

13. Good question!

[ProudLib72]

12. Less painful than a flu shot for sure

Got a ballot in the mail, filled it out, sealed it up, signed it, dropped it in the box at the elections office.

I have also been asking my students if they have voted. No, I don't pressure them to vote a certain way. I just politely ask if they have voted or are planning on doing so.

[NastyRiffraff]

14. What do they tell you?

I'm very interested in student voting...are they doing it? Are they enthusiastic? Knowledgeable?

[ProudLib72]

15. Yesterday I asked two of them, a white dude and a Hispanic woman

Both are 18. The Hispanic woman said she had filled out her ballot already and had her dad put it in the box. The white dude said he hadn't received his ballot. I may have said something to him about how he should be excited that this is the first election he could vote in.

Mainly, I'm trying to generate some enthusiasm among the younger voters.

I will keep on asking till Nov 6th. I'm curious too.

[NastyRiffraff]

16. Thanks for doing that!

We really need to get young people to vote.

[Cha]

17. Great idea, Riff! Thanks to all of you who

have already voted. I vote on Nov 6, 2018.. a few blocks from my home

[Texasgal]

18. Texas.

Went yesterday morning and the line was around the building! Didn't have time to wait and had a full day today, So I will try again tomorrow.

[NastyRiffraff]

34. Great to hear about long lines

I usually hate lines, but I won't mind at all if there's a big one when I vote tomorrow.

[Blue_true]

66. Try during the 1:30pm-3pm time slot. You may need to jig your schedule.

Some times are off hours for voting, try going then.

[Tavarious Jackson]

19. Oregon vote by mail...

It was a family affair. Coffee and muffins at the kitchen table with a lap top open. Very nice0

[NastyRiffraff]

35. Ooh, sounds like fun!

A family gathering to vote is beautiful!

[True_Blue]

20. Super easy! I mailed mine in last Wesnesday

I was so happy the day my ballot came. I've been praying for the midterms ever since Putin put Trump in the WH. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, could've kept me from voting in this election.

[Jamaal510]

21. I received my ballot

in the mail a few weeks ago, and have taken my time with researching the candidates and measures, and who they're endorsed by. As for the candidates, I chose Gavin Newsom for governor, Barbara Lee for re-election in Congress, and Cat Brooks to replace Libby Shaaf for mayor.

[lithiumbomb]

22. No issues in Fulton County, Atlanta

I voted yesterday in a deserted library. No issues.

[Akacia]

23. Voted at my kitchen table in Washington State

with my daughter. It was her first time voting. We studied the voters guide for info on some of the initiatives but other than that straight Democrat.

[NastyRiffraff]

36. Wonderful that you voted with your daughter

I bet she'll remember this always.

[sakabatou]

24. Never had a problem since I vote by mail

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

26. Already did a week or two ago by mail in Maine 2nd district

Super easy. Not much else to say there.

[herding cats]

27. I voted Monday in Texas.

I lost my drivers license apparently somehow over the weekend doing flood cleanup and had to use my passport for my ID. Other than having to explain to the person there it is a legal form of ID, it was seamless. The wait was only 30 minutes. I arrived at 1:30 and was out at 2:01.

[NastyRiffraff]

37. Glad to hear you weren't overly hassled

over your ID. Go Texas!

[Dem_4_Life]

28. San Antonio, TX

There was already a long line when I got there and then saw Beto for his mini-rally which was awesome then myself a some friends headed over to the line. The line was to the street and we waited in line for maybe an hour (not sure my phone battery died). The line was moving fast since the election judges were not questioning people like they usually do and scanning id's having you sign and then get in line for a voting machine. They had 15 machines set up and as soon as I was done they would rush someone else to the next one. Very efficient. I saw on the numbers that at that location yesterday there was about 1400 people and there was 1500 people yesterday.

[NastyRiffraff]

38. Long lines in Texas!

Wonderful to hear, and particularly good to hear that they weren't questioning people.

[LeftInTX]

57. In San Antonio too!

Beto came to my EV location at Maverick Library. It's cool cuz it's right in my neighborhood. I made flyers and invited a bunch of people.

[Dem_4_Life]

59. Awesome! I watched that one on FB Live.

He came to my neighborhood too at Brookhollow. It was so cool to see him over in my neighborhood LOL

[aquamarina]

29. I am a permanent absentee voter in Orange County, CA

For the first time in my entire 30+ years of voting, my absentee ballot never made it to my mailbox. So today I called the registrar of voters to ask where my ballot was. I was told it was sent on October 9th so I asked them why I haven't gotten it. They confirmed my details and suggested it was possible it got hung up at the post office or maybe put in the wrong mailbox. We have those multi box units in my complex so it could have been put in someone else's box. They will be sending me a new ballot that I should receive by October 30th but that I should check back this Friday and Monday to track its progress. I told them in no uncertain terms that I was not happy about this and will be leaving a little note in my mail box for the postman.

[NastyRiffraff]

39. Yikes! Hope you get it soon

I know you'll be keeping an eagle eye out. People are fired up!

[aquamarina]

44. Absolutely.

I protect my right to vote with as much vigilance as I protect my social security number and credit information. No one gets to f*&^(*&^k with my right to vote!

[yuiyoshida]

30. Mine was easy,

Received my ballot in the mail. Sat at home at my desk, filled it out. Walked one block to the mail box and dropped it in. Done and Done.

[rsdsharp]

31. I voted about 2 PM last Friday afternoon

at an early voting satellite location (which happens to be my normal polling place). Very few people there when I arrived, which by design on my part. It took about ten minutes to fill out the ballot, most of which was devoted to the judicial retention portion.

Technically it's an absentee ballot, but I prefer to do it at the polling place rather than at home and then mail it in. The only thing missing is feeding the ballot into the scanner myself. Instead you hand the absentee envelope to an election worker.

[NastyRiffraff]

40. Interesting. I've never heard of that.

The in-person absentee ballot, that is.

[rsdsharp]

53. There are places in Iowa that do it. Primarily in the metro areas.

I live in Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines, and the public library has been a satellite for early voting (or at least part of early voting) in mid term and presidential election years for 10-12 years. It opened on October 8th, and continues through Halloween. Early voting started several days before that in Iowa.

[UTUSN]

32. The MAGAgites were out in force, were easily identiable

The "caravan invading us" is doing its job of whipping them up into their default hysteria and frenzy and cram the polling sites. They were identified from their BURNING EYES, their zealous determination on a mission when they strode around, their fierce suspicion of others who might not be one of theirs. Plus on the local news an ignorant wingnut was complaining that he had not been allowed into the voting area because he was wearing his idiotic MAGA red cap, but he said he is going back today to vote. If it were the other side going back twice, the wingnuts would say he was VOTING twice.

[NastyRiffraff]

41. Not surprising they the MAGAts are out there.

Of course they have a right to vote, but I hope there's no violence.

[KatyMan]

33. We voted about noon today

in Ft Bend County TX, west of Houston. A very diverse area. The line was sort of long, not out the door long, but took about 20 minutes to get to the booth. Lots of different people, young and old. It was pretty easy, no nastiness (we live in a pretty posh area even though our subdivision and the one next doorish aren't). All in all quick and easy.

We were thinking it's a shame we don't have a stronger Dem candidate for governor, although I suspect that was a lost cause anyway.

Go Beto!
Go Sri Kulkarni!

[NastyRiffraff]

42. Go Texas!

The eyes of the country are on you!

[Pity Puddles]

43. Received the mail-in ballot

Sat down, after helping my son with his math homework, opened up the ballot, filled out the first page straight Dem. Then came the 2nd and 3rd pages of initiatives, voted on them, stuffed it into a new envelope that requires my signature. Signed it, and added 71 cents to the envelope and mailed it. I'd say the stamps were the poll taxes. But, whatever gets the job done. I already posted the general acceptance notice from my ballot trace letter.

In addition, I'm registering my non-political wife to vote this year.

[NastyRiffraff]

47. Excellent!

Every new voter is a prize.

[CTyankee]

45. I love Election Day. I enjoy the brief trip to the polls in the cooler Nov. weather...

I feel very patriotic and grateful that I CAN vote...

[lunatica]

46. I voted today in Santa Fe, NM

Slow moving lines of cars going in and out. Dozens of voting booths and maybe 10 people taking preliminary information. This made the lines of people move very quickly. Two machines taking the ballots.

People looked pretty determined.

I feel really good because I know the Democrats are the early voters!

I voted straight Democratic ticket.

[NastyRiffraff]

49. New Mexico

I usually think of NM is kind of a sleepy, easy-going state with very kind people. I was stuck there once when our van broke down; the people in the little town were VERY nice and helpful.

[lunatica]

50. Yes! The people here are polite and friendly

Everyone greets everyone. People seem to like it here a lot. I’m new but I already love it. Lots and lots of ethnic cultures here too.

[mulsh]

51. Got our ballots a couple of weeks ago. I filled mine out on Friday, wife filled hers out on Saturday

On Sunday we took a nice drive down to Alameda County Superior Court's ballot drop box. Dropped our ballots off and then a short drive around Lake Merritt and our neighborhood on a sunny autumn day in Oakland, CA

For a couple of elections after we move to this neighborhood there were problems opening polling place and residents were offered the option of being permanent absentee voters. Which we took and have opted to retain.

The local polling place is a firehouse. I have only heard good things about the process from my friend who is currently stationed there.

[NastyRiffraff]

52. Interesting process

I'd never heard of it before today; someone else in this thread posted something similar.

[NastyRiffraff]

54. FINALLY! My turn

Early voting started today in Maryland. In a close-in DC suburb there was no line outside but lines inside the building to all stations (check-in, ballot pickup, and scanner). I had to wait for a voting booth...I've NEVER had to wait for a voting booth, even in a presidential year. Waits weren't long; process was very efficient.

[DFW]

55. Boring. I got my absentee ballot in the mail from the States.

I filled it out, took it to the post office (€3.45 due to size and weight for overseas mail), and sent it off to Dallas.

Are you breathless from all the excitement yet?

[NastyRiffraff]

56. Which is why I prefer to go in person

Of course I do understand why people vote absentee (especially when you're overseas!). But I have fun voting, and I always meet some cool people.

Thank you for voting! I'm excited for every single vote.

[Revanchist]

58. Can't vote yet, it's not election day

No early voting, mail voting and very limited absentee voting in my current state.

[lunatica]

60. Kick

[Glimmer of Hope]

61. I am in California and I am glad I received a mail in ballot!

So far it has been a bit time consuming. I just need to figure out the judicial section. Any guidance on the judges would be much appreciated!

[Blue_true]

67. On Judges, check the California Democratic Party website.

Or try the League of Voters. Judicial retentions are tough. You may try reading up on each one online and see how they were first appointed and who appointed them. Brown appointees should be a yes, Arnold ones not so much.

[Glimmer of Hope]

68. Thank you!

[skip fox]

62. I first voted in Wood County at 18 years old 1968.

I remember two of my write in: Dick Gregory for president and Eldridge Cleaver for sheriff.

Very uplifting and I keep telling my students about it, trying to encourage them to vote. How great it feels at 18, etc.

[NastyRiffraff]

69. That was my 1st year voting too

In Falls Church, VA. Voted for Hubert Humphrey, but my preferred candidate had been Robert Kennedy. I was devastated when he was assassinated.

[Blue_true]

63. Voted early. Had around a 10-15 minute wait in line.

All else went smoothly, finished voting in around 20 minutes. Got my "I voted" sticker.

[NastyRiffraff]

70. I'm always glad to hear about lines

In many places, including where I vote, that's unusual in midterms.

[Sunsky]

65. 1st day of early voting

I voted in Northern Broward county (same place I've been early voting for a few years now). I couldn't find parking and I've never had that issue before. There was a line but not too long. There were numerous minority voters. I also noticed that there were more voting booths than usual and I had to search to find an empty booth (only 2 were available). Normally there would be many empty booths.
Issues- (Minor) the ballot pages were handed out in a different order than my sample ballot, so I had to sort them out. It's the 1st I'm having this issue.
While at the booth, I heard someone complaining about a jammed machine.

[NastyRiffraff]

71. I had the same issue with finding a booth

It wasn't a big deal; in fact one of the poll workers was walking around helping people find an empty booth. But it was something I hadn't seen before, even in a presidential year.

[Sunsky]

72. Hopefully it's a sign of good results on election night nt