The most satisfying vote I've ever cast
We've never experienced anything like this before. So we couldn't really predict what the polling place would be like today. I had the idea to be there at opening time, 6 a.m. to beat the crowds, everyone anticipating long lines. Since I'm usually up until at least 2 a.m., if I slept I would not be likely to wake up early enough. So I stayed up all night to be able to be there when the polls opened. By that time it was so exciting I was just running on adrenaline. I took along catskillmarina.
We waited in line for over an hour! The line wrapped around the elementary school from the back to the front. The place was mobbed. Fortunately there was another woman near us in line we could pass the time in conversation with, another New Yorker like catskillmarina. She remarked how in Virginia you're not allowed to wear campaign buttons into the polling place. That's why I was wearing a bright blue skirt suit; I joked about my "gang colors," making it clear which side I'm on. I accessorized with a stars and stripes scarf.
Then later in the morning, people told me they were in and out in 5 minutes, no waiting. Huh. I could have slept in. But I'm glad I went early in nice weather, because after that the rain started. I was hoping the weather wouldn't depress the Democratic turnout.
At my precinct they provided 20 paper ballot booths and 10 touch-screen machines. They offered everyone a paper ballot, and if anyone preferred the touch screen, they had to ask for it. I was glad for the change, thinking paper ballots are so important, making the vote harder to steal.
We waited in line for over an hour! The line wrapped around the elementary school from the back to the front. The place was mobbed. Fortunately there was another woman near us in line we could pass the time in conversation with, another New Yorker like catskillmarina. She remarked how in Virginia you're not allowed to wear campaign buttons into the polling place. That's why I was wearing a bright blue skirt suit; I joked about my "gang colors," making it clear which side I'm on. I accessorized with a stars and stripes scarf.
Then later in the morning, people told me they were in and out in 5 minutes, no waiting. Huh. I could have slept in. But I'm glad I went early in nice weather, because after that the rain started. I was hoping the weather wouldn't depress the Democratic turnout.
At my precinct they provided 20 paper ballot booths and 10 touch-screen machines. They offered everyone a paper ballot, and if anyone preferred the touch screen, they had to ask for it. I was glad for the change, thinking paper ballots are so important, making the vote harder to steal.