Your Voting experience today

I voted early, waited in line for an hour.

BUT . . .

When I got to the machine, I went through all the state issues and candidates, and then saw an initiative from another town in our county. Plus, none of my city council candidates appeared.

I stopped and shouted to the judges..."Hey, this is the wrong ballot! I want my vote to count!!"

They had to figure out how to kill the ballot in their new machines, give me a new control number, and let me revote on the new ballot. Still hoping it works out.

Hey, maybe I got to vote twice! Take that, you righties!

 

Small crowd in the city hall, where all elections are held in my town.

Looked over the ballot carefully, voted straight Democrat, against all amendments (because I make it a policy to vote against any new law), and left. 10 minutes tops.

 

I was going to get in a rather long line when someone asked, "Democrat or Republican?", I told the her I was a Republican and she opened a door for me. I walked into a beautifully decorated room. The temperature was perfect. The quiet and peaceful sound of music was all that could be heard, until someone said, "Over here, sir". I was directed toward an easy chair. As I settled in the chair a soothing voice asked, "are we ready to vote?". "Yes", I said. A screen appeared on the wall before me showing an already completed ballot. "Are these choices to your liking, sir?", the voice asked. "Amazing, they are.", I replied. "How many times would you like this ballot to count?", asked the angelic voice. "50", I joked. "Consider it done." said the voice. I was helped out of the chair, handed a bag of gifts and money, and escorted to my car.

Just for fun, I decided to try again. This time I said I was Democrat. I waited in the line for about 3 hours. Finally, I got to crawl through the tunnel to get my ballot. My clothes got wet and muddy, (it's raining here), but the lady with the ballot at the other end seemed nice. She handed me the ballot and a peice of yarn. "Just push out the chads next to your choices." she said. "Using what?", I asked. "The yarn", she instructed. I couldn't get the chads out with the yarn, so I decided to use my finger nails. Funny thing is, the only removable chads were right next to the choices on the 50 ballots I already cast. Anyway, when I finished with the ballot, I handed it to someone who reviewed it, gave me a big smile, and placed it into a slot next to the trash can. (The trash can was full of ballots that must have been misused). I was then pointed to an exit door. I walked around in a maze of darkness for about a half hour, (I'm pretty certain someone punched me in the gut), then I finally found a door that led outside.

Anyway, that's how my experience went.

 

I voted. Took about 10 minutes.

I showed up, gave my name and address and birthdate, they found it on the book, and they gave me a ballot.

What an absolute joke. They have no idea that I gave them the right information. I could have voted for anyone in the precinct, so long as I knew their name, address, and birthdate (all easily accessible information). That is why we drastically need voting reform including picture ID.

 

I voted early last Friday at the county courthouse. I had a very short wait. As usual my voting experience was top notch.

Well, maybe we'll find out if the Leftist Theocrats and Anti-Christian Secularists(what a combination in a political party) in the Democratic Party take over at least house of the Congress or not. If there are a bunch of extremely close elections we may not know until sometime in December.

 

let me guess, you only watch Fox news

 

==Since I am fed up with both political parties I will not be voting this year. In fact I may never vote again (we will see if any party runs someone worth my vote). In '04 I voted early at the local elections office, used a touch screen computer, and had zero trouble. Everything went fine. Maybe that is because I know how to read directions? Maybe it is because I pay attention to what I am doing? Or maybe it is because I take my time and make sure I get it right? I don't know. Maybe I am just lucky.

In '00 we used paper cards that were scanned by a machine (computer). That was true of all the elections I have voted in up till '04. Personally I like the touch-screen better. Most of the fear people have of them is based on two things: (1) fear of new technology (2) media hype. Could something go wrong with machines? Certainly, but may I remind everyone that "NO VOTING SYSTEM" is error proof (or in the case of some voters...fool proof).

 

==Any machine/computer can be tamperd with or hacked. Even the scan machines. Fact is anytime you vote you trust other people, who you don't know, to act properly. Do they? We trust they do. I am sure republicans and democrats with agendas get into positions where they can play with the vote. Sure. But there is very little we can do about that.

As for a paper trail. That would be nice, but again not error proof.

The machines our county used looked nothing like what I see on tv. They were medium sized blue computers. A card was put into the machine, you selected your candidates by touching the screen, it allowed you to verify your vote (each time), and then you had to review your vote before hitting submit. You take your card out and turn it in. What happens after that? I have no clue. Just like the paper ballets. We have to trust the poll workers.

I doubt it matters in my area though. I believe Bush won my county easily even though democrats won most of the local offices. Nothing new though. Around these parts democrats rule the local offices, but republicans win the national offices. I think the last democrat running for president to win this area was Jimmy Carter. I, myself, fit right in with the local trend. I have always voted democrat for North Carolina governor. For local offices I vote for the people I am familiar with or personally know who are in agreement with my views on local issues. They are usually democrats. In fact this area is so heavily democrat, on the local level, they warn about voting a straight republican ticket (some offices don't have a republican running).

 

Among the news channels I probably watch MSNBC more than CNN or FoxNews.

I watch C-SPAN more than any of the news channels.

 

==Of the three networks I watch MSNBC more as well. I find them to be more "fair and balanced". Fox News can't stop spinning for the republicans, or talking about missing rich college students long enough to get to the important news. CNN spends most of its day promoting the democrat talking points and looking for some age old problem to report as if it is new news. MSNBC has a good mix of hosts, they are more likely to be talking about the important news, and they have some good common sense people on there.

 

Blammo, you are a hoot!! Thanks for the laugh!

 

That's bad. Here in Colorado, we have to show a photo ID.

 

Voting motto of Chicago, where 'walking around money' can earn you
100-120$ for NOT VOTING:

VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN!

Voting motto of Central Texas, where one county had
148 living voters and 243 dead Democratic voters.

VOTE EARLY, VOTE FOR 227 years!

In Early December 1963 my Grandfather said: "I'm mad at Dad".
We said: "Your Dad died back in '52".
He said: "But he came to life to vote Democratic and didn't
even come to see me".

BTW, Nixon lost in 1963 because of the Illinois vote and the Texas vote.
Later, when Nixon was elected, it was because he had works in
central Texas Counties and in Chicago Precints looking for exactly
the problems i've noted here.

 

Not much of a line for me today - one lady who had difficulty walking (she had a rolling walker). The poll worker said that turnout was relatively good, but that doesn't seem to be saying much.

We still have the good, old, reliable mechanical switch type machines at the local elementary school.

There were several "third" party lines available. My favorite had a strong showing with several candidates who were not on either of the main party tickets.

It will be interesting to see if Hevesi gets reelected or not - nearly all his fellow Democratic candidates have distanced themselves from him - Spitzer (governor) even withdrew his endorsement.

State attorney general is also a contest - Cuomo (Andrew, son of Mario) vs Jeannine Pirro (her husband went to jail on tax fraud, but she got off as an "innocent spouse" even though she is a high-powered lawyer - go figure). My favorite, Mark Green, didn't survive the primary.

 

Drove myself to the Rattlesnake Drive Elementary School. While walking in, I met a good friend, Richard, who is a world-famous enviromental writer. Says he....

"Goin' in ta cancel my votes, there, Curtis ?"

Says I...

"Yep."

After showing my ID at the same trable I've done it at the last three elections, recieved my ballots, voted republican, & constitution where I could, wrote-in a couple of locals, voted the best I could on the local ballots, I had some good Godly, pastoral advice & the rest I relied on prayer. No lines. No fuss. No intimidation, 'cept for all the wide-eyed third & fourth graders wondering why all the grownups came to their school. Kids can be kinda scary.....

 

My voting experience was smooth and easy ...as always.

Not a democrat lawyer in sight anywhere.

 

I went to vote after the midnight shift. There was quite a line. In the past, it was easy to walk right in, especially in a year we are not electing a president. Once I got in, the voting went smoothly. Kentucky is a very red state. I think that will change to some degree tonight.