6 Of One, 1/24th Gross Of The Other
NukeMom took the day off so we could spend some much deserved time together. The last time we had this much time alone together was when Clinton was in office. So what did we do to commemorate the day? Get your minds out of the gutter…that happened later; no, what we did was: we performed our civic duty and early voted! Early voting saves you SO MUCH time. Yeah, right; if you’re an ACORN volunteer in Ohio, maybe, but not in good ole North Carolina. This is the last time I stand in line for an hour and a half and come out of it without concert tickets.
We pulled into the parking lot of the public library and noticed 20 or so people standing in line. “Oh! This should be quick”, NukeMom stated. We took our place in line and were immediately assaulted by a woman claiming to be a lawyer who was brandishing pamphlets. We listened to her spiel and politely accepted her campaign paraphernalia. It was thick card stock, and in color! I started to wonder how many trees had to die so that I could throw this card in the next waste basket. Judges are listed on the ballot as “non partisan” and therefore you have no clue who to vote for unless you want to reward the one who raised more money and could afford a TV commercial. Unfortunately, I hadn’t done adequate research on the Judicial candidates, so I did the only responsible thing that I could do: I skipped that portion of the ballot. Better to let those who were more informed than me make the decision. I’ll study next time, I promise.
It took us 25 minutes to make it to the door to enter the building. “We’re almost there!”, I exclaimed. A few more feet, enter the building, vote, we’re outta here, right? Wrong. When we got to the door, we saw the staircase. At the bottom of the staircase, we saw the next door. At the next door, we saw the hallway. At the end of the hallway, we saw the second, longer hallway. At the end of the second longer hallway we saw the door and the 7 voting machines behind it. Yes, I said 7. Not 70, not 17, not 77, just 7. Once we hit the bottom of the staircase, we were committed. We’d already been in line almost 45 minutes; couldn’t turn back now. When we saw the second longer hallway, they should have had us committed. A straight-jacket would have been more fun than this. All told, we spent a total of 1 hour and 54 minutes “early” voting. They say early as in; “You better show up a few days early” if you expect to vote. Next time I’ll wait until election day and spend 1/8 the time in a line 4 times as long. We’ll all walk at a steady pace and once we hit the hardwood of the school gym floor we’ll see the acres of voting machines. Diebold nirvana. Get ‘em in, get ‘em out; the way it ought to be. Somebody behind me said; “Ah, vote today, vote next Tuesday; 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other, it’s the same thing.” I beg to differ.
Weaselmomma
Glad you were able to vote. I so don’t get the early voting. Absentee voting I get. I think in my great state it just opens up more avenues for fraud. We don’t need any extra opportunities in this neck of the woods. In the words of Mayor Daley the senior, “Vote early vote often”.
(NukeDad) Agreed. They’ve got to do something. I could have given any name I wanted and then voted again on election day if I had wanted.
Weaselmommas last blog post..Safety First
Oct 29, 2008 @ 6:37 am
Melisa
They should have offered a “Fast Pass”, a’la Disney World. That Mouse knows what he’s doing.
At least you weren’t standing in line for…ack, never mind. Standing in line that long totally sucks.
No concert tix, no iPhone, nothing? At least you voted. And had a romantic time waiting with Nukemom.
(NukeDad) Funny you should say that; I DID invoke Mickey Mouse while we were in line. The romance was later; if we’d done it in line they would have asked us to leave.
Melisas last blog post..Out of Left Field
Oct 29, 2008 @ 7:43 am
Tara R.
I got out on the second day of early voting in Florida. Took about 20 minutes and I was done. Yesterday the Gov. extended the hours to 7:30 p.m. so people wouldn’t be turned away. I hope this is a good indicator that the overall turnout will be huge.
(NukeDad) I think turnout will be huge; about time more people get involved!
Tara R.s last blog post..Random Wednesday ~ patience
Oct 29, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
tom
It’s good to live in Oregon. My wife and I will be filling out our mail-in ballots tonight over a couple of Margaritas.
(NukeDad) Hope it doesn’t have an ACORN return address.
toms last blog post..Our Little Dem
Oct 29, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Stacey
Just a thought……….what ever happened to BWW???
(NukeDad) Funny you should ask! BWW will be returning tomorrow as a bi-monthly feature. Yea!
Oct 29, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Steve
After considering our options for President and Vice President and looking at all the take aways coming our way when either of these two get into office I’m voting for Buddy and Penny. Now I just need to figure out how to get them on the ballot.
(NukeDad) A Milkbone in every pot. I like it!
Oct 30, 2008 @ 8:45 am
StewartAllyn
22 minutes for me. I even had a guy lend me his galsses when he saw me struggling to read the “sample ballot” while on line. At least I wasn’t accosted by “informants” while on line. There were signs and spotters all over the place to keep the “politicing” out of the polling place…seems odd, but true.
(NukeDad) 22 minutes? That’s like 1 episode of The Office on TIVO! I’m jealous.
StewartAllyns last blog post..Family Night at the Gym
Oct 30, 2008 @ 11:55 am
matt
Thanks for the heads up, man. I’m one of those “six on one” people. Maybe I am not as smart as I think.
(NukeDad) Things may be (and probably are) better in your state, Matt. I don’t think NC had any idea the early turnout was going to be this big. Hopefully your place will have more machines.
matts last blog post..Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Oct 30, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
Mike
Man, that sucks. We have in California the mail in ballot. Been using that for many years now. Saves time in long lines (hate Disneyland) and gives the opportunity for my wife to see my ballot so that she can vote the opposite.
(NukeDad) I was looking for the FastPass station, but I didn’t see one.
Mikes last blog post..For Sale
Oct 30, 2008 @ 7:54 pm
Audubon Ron
Happy Hollow Weenie
(NukeDad) I guess that’s better than Happy Severe Blockage Weenie
Audubon Rons last blog post..Mello During Working Hours – Is it a Crime?
Oct 31, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Karen
I am with Barb. I have a bit of a problem with early voting, what if our president elect had been indicted between then and now? I say that if there is a corrupt Chicago democrat (by definition that means all of them and is really a redundant phrase) in the race early voting should not be allowed!
(NukeDad) In the words of Steve Buscemi in Armageddon; “Sit back and embrace the horror.” I think there is going to be a tremendous amount of buyer’s remorse by next Christmas.
Karens last blog post..Decision 2008
Nov 05, 2008 @ 4:39 am