I''ve voting!

[lmurden]

I''ve voted and I''m glad it''s over!

 

[SJS1234]

Me too! 2 hours in line and now the waiting.....
a little too close for my comfort.

 

[lmurden]

It only took me about 45 minutes. I think it is kind of exciting that the election is so close because it means that people will get out and vote and that''s always a good thing.

 

[njc]

I think i am glad i voted absentee after hearing everyones complaints about how long the lines are! Although im sure there are some countries where ridiculously long lines are common... maybe days?

I think the race being close is fun, but id rather it be a blow out in favor of whom ever just so we dont go through what we had to last time... i dont think the country will be able to handle it again. We shall see...

 

[Diamonds4Me]

I voted too

Took all of 15 minutes. I guess there are benefits to living in a very small town

 

[sevens one]

I voted!

(I like this too)
It only took about a half hour.

I hope it''s decided tonight.

 

[jenwill]

I voted early...am in Barcelona right now, struggling to get any real news on election...not just regurgitated BBC stuff.

 

[lmurden]

It''s too early to call!

 

[Judi W]

I voted early this morning before I came in to work. It was the longest lines I''ve ever seen at the polls (and I''ve been voting for many many years!!!). We pretty much know which way it''s going here in Texas but I think that people feel there''s a lot at stake this year and they want to be counted.
I''ve been reading that the turnout will be huge! Let the people speak!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 11/2/2004 12:36:59 PM
Author: Diamonds4Me
I voted too

Took all of 15 minutes. I guess there are benefits to living in a very small town

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I walked in with no wait. I mentioned on another thread. Since we live in a "everybody knows your name" kind a place, you can chit chat w/ the elections board people. As of 1:30 - 3/4 of registered voters in my precinct have already voted.

Boy, was it easy. We have switched over to electronic machines. Only a dope can make a mistake with those. It''s kinda like spellcheck on steriods. Checks & double checks for you. I did hear that there is no paper trail though (difficulty in recount). But, I wonder under what circumstances it would be an issue?

 

[lmurden]

3/4 by 1:30, that''s amazing!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 11/2/2004 4:17:15 PM
Author: lmurden

3/4 by 1:30, that''s amazing!

Yeah, but I have to say w/ big elections (gub., pres & big senate races) turn out is usally pretty good in my area. We only have about 1k registered voters in our precinct. So, you really do see your vote count!

On an interesting note, and probably much to your chagrin

, our precinct is predominately Republican. So, goes to issue about turn out. At least in my little corner of the world, the Republicans are turning out to vote. Mandates have always been important to Virginians though.

 

[alexah]

Wow- I''ve never seen voting lines like today''s- I went after work (7pm) & it took nearly an hour!
I think it''s terrific so many people are voting - I just hope the long lines don''t turn people off so they decide not to vote in the future...

Anyway, from now on, I''m filling out an absentee ballot

 

[Mara]

My voting place said they expected 95% turnout! wow.

I, of course, had a problem because I moved this year AND got married, and subsequently changed my name so I had to do a provisional ballot by hand where they make sure that I'm really me, so mine will hopefully get counted tonite.

The irony is that when I changed my DL at the DMV I checked the box that said 'please update registrar of voters with this new information' and apparently they misplaced over 30,000 of those updates this year, so I guess mine was one of them.

In terms of the paper trail vs electronic, better hope those machines don't crash...is it modem/internet related on how the results get transmitted or does each machine hold them internally and then they collect the machines? I have no idea how these things work...esp since I did mine by hand due to the provisional ballot--but nothing electronic is ever foolproof!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 11/2/2004 9:29

8 PM
Author: Mara

In terms of the paper trail vs electronic, better hope those machines don''t crash...is it modem/internet related on how the results get transmitted or does each machine hold them internally and then they collect the machines? I have no idea how these things work...esp since I did mine by hand due to the provisional ballot--but nothing electronic is ever foolproof!

Well, it sure was foolproof in terms of *who* you were voting for. I had my sincere doubts going into the election about these - as did most of the pundints. What has come out of this is how *little* trouble they had with them. I, too, wondered about how they worked. I asked & they said that (at least with mine) they hold them internally w/ battery back up. What I failed to ask is how they transmit the data or do they read them.

Hubby''s Grandfather was singularily responsible in changing his state over the machine voting. Those big things. Ironically, those were installed first in the precincts that he had to be escorted by State Troopers & carried a gun. The paper was soooo easy to "loose" & "change" votes. That is why he & many were there at closing w/ little time to mess w/ the ballots. The machines could be padlocked directly after poll closing. We used those machines in our precinct untill this year. My understanding was that not only were the parts hard to find (as they were constantly breaking down), but they were too big to store. We had two voting machines. This year we had 5 electronic machines.

Yes, nothing electronic is full proof. But, a whole lot fool proof than humans!

Until something blows up, I''m sold on these. And, not only more foolproof as far as understanding as definitive who you were voting for, they were much faster.

I don''t think I would think to have to update my voter registration when I married. I''m glad because my first election was in another state - had to register anyway. But, I''m sure your rockin Repub hubby''s vote counted.

Also, I found out I am one of those crazy registered democats! I must have registered to vote in a primary (which you don''t have to do anymore). Funny, I am strictly an independent.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 11/3/2004 11

9:33 AM
Author: Feydakin
From what I''ve heard so far, one polling place in Florida lost 40 votes to a power failure.. Apparent;y someone forgot to plug them into a UPS

Steve

That''s interesting. But, only 40? They must have some sort of eternal save feature. I''m making it my charge to see how these things really work.

 

[Mara]

F&I....I don''t know if his vote ''counted'' here in CA...what with all the Demos. Read this week that the BayArea is the most blue of the entire state of CA--due to more liberal stands on some items that Bush is directly again. Berkeley and SF and all.

I had to laugh when Greg came home from pre-voting (the day before, we had that option here); and plunks down his scribbled-in-ballot-notes-thing and tells me "You can use this to help you tomorrow. This is how the ''household'' is voting". Then he opens it up and shows me ''See, Bush...and Republican for Senate..''.

I almost laughed him out of the room.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 11/3/2004 11:48:53 AM
Author: Mara
F&I....I don''t know if his vote ''counted'' here in CA...what with all the Demos. Read this week that the BayArea is the most blue of the entire state of CA--due to more liberal stands on some items that Bush is directly again. Berkeley and SF and all.

I had to laugh when Greg came home from pre-voting (the day before, we had that option here); and plunks down his scribbled-in-ballot-notes-thing and tells me ''You can use this to help you tomorrow. This is how the ''household'' is voting''. Then he opens it up and shows me ''See, Bush...and Republican for Senate..''.

I almost laughed him out of the room.

Too funny. This is the first time since I can remember that we actually voted for the same people. And, we peacefully co-exist.

Actually, I was surprised how much support Bush did get in CA. Doesn''t surprise me one bit about the SF bay area being so liberal. Can anyone say Haight Ashbury?

I do have one funny story about your area. Hubby has had business in past there. On one occassion we traveled together & took some time to explore & go up the coast. Miles of Beautiful vistas up the Pacific Coast Highway. And true moments of sheer unadulterated TERROR! Like all of a sudden the road is in the sea. No guard rails with straight drops.

We were going a little further when we asked a homeowner what lay ahead with the road. She proceeds to say in a sing songy voice as she tended to her organic garden "What are your issues?" To what I replied simply "I''m scared to death". She replied "Oh, you must be from the East Coast. You must relax & breath. Enjoy the experience. It means you are alive"

We thanked her and moved on as she was shaking her head to how uptight us East Coasters are.

An East Coaster''s reponse. "Well, here''s the condition of the road. Here''s an alternative route. You either choose to go or not. Get over it".

I''m sure Californians think we are equally as odd.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 11/3/2004 12:27:55 PM
Author: Feydakin
My concern with the electronic voting issues are more technical in nature.. I''m not convinced that the internal security of the software itself is everything it should be.. But then, I feel that way about any security realted issue that is not open source and open to peer review..

Steve

But, if they opened it up to peer review they would be subjecting themselves to more security issues. It appears to be rather simple technology. The u-scan it''s don''t seem to have problems.

Our local "Gazette" publishes all voting numbers. I can sure test it out as I''m pretty certain that I could see if my vote counted.