new license and voting on Tuesday
Two weeks ago, I walked down to the new DDS (Department of Driver Services, née Department of Motor Vehicle Services) office next to the Turner Field parking lots to renew my driver's license*. It's the only place within Atlanta city limits to do it, so I expected a loooooooooong line. I had planned on going on a Tuesday of that week (I even wore a special burgundy colored shirt for the picture), but since it's closed on Mondays, it stood to reason the place would be especially packed. So I went on Wednesday instead to avoid the crowds; that, and I forgot to bring a book on Tuesday. I wore a light blue shirt.
Armed with a book (Hey, Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland, which is still sitting on my desk), I walked into the triple-wide trailer to find … practically nobody.
Really. Maybe a half dozen people scattered around. Go figure.
First stop: general information with Lady #1.
Question: Where do I go? and How can I update my voter registration while I'm here?
Answer: Here's a number. Go sit in the middle. Lady #2 will help you with that.
So I sat in the middle, opened up the book, and began reading. After half a page, my number was called by a pleasant pre-recorded voice.
Second stop: renewal information with Lady #2
Question: What do you need from me other than this utility bill with my new address? and How can I update my voter registration while I'm here?
Answer: This is all I need. Take this paper and go stand over there and wait for either Lady #3 to call you. She'll help with the voter registration stuff.
So I stood over there, the only person in line, and opened my book. Two paragraphs later, "NEXT!" from the Lady #3 on the left.
Third stop: take my picture and receive new license with Lady #3
Question: Here's the paper from Lady #2 and can I use a credit card? and How can I update my voter registration while I'm here?
Answer: Run your card here and stand against the wall while I take your picture. Good. Now wait over there for your new license.
So I stood against the light blue background (damn!), sat over there, and opened the book. Another half page later, Lady #3 called out a variation of my last name (as usual, a certain segment of the Atlanta population simply cannot pronounce "Schwartz") and handed me my brand new, correctly addressed license. When I asked again about the voter info, she pointed me back to Lady #1.
Ah, that's more like it. I knew this was too easy.
Lady #1 let me know, eventually and with the smile of a not-too-bright person confidently answering a question she actually knows the correct answer for, that my new voter registration card would arrive at my new address in six to eight weeks.
I didn't have the heart to tell her the primary would be in just three weeks, so fat lot of good that would do me.
I tell this story because I just got off the phone with Fulton County's voter information people. It should be noted with satisfaction that an actual human being picked up the phone after just a couple of rings and she transferred me to another actual human being who picked up her phone after just a couple of more rings. Well done, Fulton County!
I explained my dilemma (first, in detail to the first lady, who then transferred me to the second lady, to whom I explained it in less detail again) and found that I got lucky. I haven't changed precincts, let alone districts, so all my information will be at the poll location anyway. They won't care that my license address is different so long as nothing, polling-place-wise, has changed. Cool.
Anyone wanna bet the poll worker won't have gotten that memo and will give me a provisional ballot or won't let me vote because my license has a different address than their printout? Maybe tomorrow I'll just walk down to the Fulton County government building and do the early voting thing.
* Hey - look how I spelled liscence license correctly! Go me!
Armed with a book (Hey, Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland, which is still sitting on my desk), I walked into the triple-wide trailer to find … practically nobody.
Really. Maybe a half dozen people scattered around. Go figure.
First stop: general information with Lady #1.
Question: Where do I go? and How can I update my voter registration while I'm here?
Answer: Here's a number. Go sit in the middle. Lady #2 will help you with that.
So I sat in the middle, opened up the book, and began reading. After half a page, my number was called by a pleasant pre-recorded voice.
Second stop: renewal information with Lady #2
Question: What do you need from me other than this utility bill with my new address? and How can I update my voter registration while I'm here?
Answer: This is all I need. Take this paper and go stand over there and wait for either Lady #3 to call you. She'll help with the voter registration stuff.
So I stood over there, the only person in line, and opened my book. Two paragraphs later, "NEXT!" from the Lady #3 on the left.
Third stop: take my picture and receive new license with Lady #3
Question: Here's the paper from Lady #2 and can I use a credit card? and How can I update my voter registration while I'm here?
Answer: Run your card here and stand against the wall while I take your picture. Good. Now wait over there for your new license.
So I stood against the light blue background (damn!), sat over there, and opened the book. Another half page later, Lady #3 called out a variation of my last name (as usual, a certain segment of the Atlanta population simply cannot pronounce "Schwartz") and handed me my brand new, correctly addressed license. When I asked again about the voter info, she pointed me back to Lady #1.
Ah, that's more like it. I knew this was too easy.
Lady #1 let me know, eventually and with the smile of a not-too-bright person confidently answering a question she actually knows the correct answer for, that my new voter registration card would arrive at my new address in six to eight weeks.
I didn't have the heart to tell her the primary would be in just three weeks, so fat lot of good that would do me.
I tell this story because I just got off the phone with Fulton County's voter information people. It should be noted with satisfaction that an actual human being picked up the phone after just a couple of rings and she transferred me to another actual human being who picked up her phone after just a couple of more rings. Well done, Fulton County!
I explained my dilemma (first, in detail to the first lady, who then transferred me to the second lady, to whom I explained it in less detail again) and found that I got lucky. I haven't changed precincts, let alone districts, so all my information will be at the poll location anyway. They won't care that my license address is different so long as nothing, polling-place-wise, has changed. Cool.
Anyone wanna bet the poll worker won't have gotten that memo and will give me a provisional ballot or won't let me vote because my license has a different address than their printout? Maybe tomorrow I'll just walk down to the Fulton County government building and do the early voting thing.
* Hey - look how I spelled liscence license correctly! Go me!