Some limited early voting poll observations.

[mgc1961]

Today is the first day of Tennessee early voting. The turnout
was surprisingly large. Until today, the longest wait I
endured was roughly 20 minutes. This time around the line was
considerably longer. Including the time it took to caste my
ballot I was at the public library for approximately 70
minutes.

I was not particularly happy about the nature of the
conversations going on around me which included some brief
talk about the Left Behind books <gag> and a younger man
directly behind me informed a women in line with us that his
church is 98% Republican to which she responds, "That's
good!" (Isn't pluralistic democracy grand?)

Despite declarations by fellow voters to turn the red tide,
Tennessee is solidly Republican which is why I largely vote
without an attachment to the outcome. Much like 2000 when I
voted for Ralph Nader, even if all Independent voters cast
their ballots for the Democrat they would still lose (IMHO) 9
of 10 statewide elections.

In no particular order and without naming candidates, this is
how I voted today:

Democrat
Democrat
Democrat
Independent*
Independent*
For
Against

* In the state of Tennessee, political party candidates other
than Democrat or Republican are listed on the ballot as
Independent. One of the Independent candidates for whom I
voted is actually a Green.

How about you? Have you already voted? How was your
experience?

[targetpractice]

1. There is no reason on earth...

...that is should take a single person 70 minutes to cast a vote. It's absurd that we've allowed voting to become so complicated.