Avoid Waiting At the Polls by Early Voting, My Butt!

ISiddiqui · 10-22-2008, 04:49 PM

So, since I had a cable problem and had to have Comcast out here (during work hours), I decided to take the day off and go early vote as well.

I though, well, it's Wednesday 2 weeks before the election. I'm probably pushing it by going at lunch time (12:15ish), but it should be 30 minutes, 45 minutes at most, right?

2 hours and 15 minutes later, I FINALLY got to vote. Man, that was a Hellishly long line. Having only one place in the county to early vote probably didn't help, but damn. Voting on election day would have been quicker!

And to top it all off, since I was leaving during "school traffic" hours, I ended up getting a ticket for driving too fast (who can drive 25 mph anyway)

.

Anyways, let this be a lesson, if you are going to vote, go very, very early in the day (like 7 AM) to avoid the rush. This election may really test people's line waiting patience.

stevew · 10-22-2008, 04:57 PM

The MAN was definitely trying to disenfrachise you there.

And 25mph speed limits are fuckin bullshit.

ISiddiqui · 10-22-2008, 05:03 PM

I think so... the Dekalb County, GA, MAN knew I was voting McCain

Radii · 10-22-2008, 06:01 PM

Wow, just one early voting location in Dekalb County? Wake County(raleigh, NC) had 5 locations open last week and will have 14 locations starting tomorrow: http://www.wakegov.com/elections/onestop/default.htm. There's one in my little hometown, I'll be going Friday or early next week.

ISiddiqui · 10-22-2008, 06:02 PM

Yeah, one location... next week, they open 5 more.

Apparently my friend went last week and said it was only 30 minutes, so it wasn't bad at all. It just jumped massively this week.

Alan T · 10-22-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevew

The MAN was definitely trying to disenfrachise you there.

And 25mph speed limits are fuckin bullshit.

I know this is nothing to do with this topic, but I personally always get an urge to throw a rock at cars that fly through my little neighborhood. I just fear they will fly around a corner at 40 mph and run over some kid or someone walking their dog because they need to get to the stop sign at the end of the street 35 seconds quicker.

DanGarion · 10-22-2008, 06:23 PM

Glad you didn't have any outstanding warrants you wouldn't have been able to vote!

larrymcg421 · 10-22-2008, 06:33 PM

Did you vote for Chambliss or Martin?

JediKooter · 10-22-2008, 07:32 PM

I've got my absentee ballot all ready to go. No lines, no hassles.

Vegas Vic · 10-22-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radii

Wow, just one early voting location in Dekalb County? Wake County(raleigh, NC) had 5 locations open last week and will have 14 locations starting tomorrow: http://www.wakegov.com/elections/onestop/default.htm. There's one in my little hometown, I'll be going Friday or early next week.

We have 24 early voting locations here in Clark County, and I went during lunch today. I only had to wait about five minutes. There were three observers, and I asked them if Tony Romo had been in to vote yet, and they got a chuckle out of that one.

Fidatelo · 10-22-2008, 10:53 PM

Since it is clear that long lineups are a problem every election, why don't they just staff more locations? There is so much money flying around for these elections, you can't tell me it's a cost issue.

For our election last week there was no lineup at all, we just got our ballots and marked 'em off. I think it took more time to walk to and from my car then to vote. In fact I've never had to wait in a line of more than 2-3 people for any election I've ever participated in, and I never hear complaints about it from anywhere else. What do we do differently here?

DanGarion · 10-22-2008, 10:55 PM

So why didn't you just do an absentee ballot?

AgustusM · 10-22-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediKooter

I've got my absentee ballot all ready to go. No lines, no hassles.

yep, I have been permanent absentee for years now.

EagleFan · 10-22-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevew

The MAN was definitely trying to disenfrachise you there.

And 25mph speed limits are fuckin bullshit.

25mph are the speed limits that need to be obeyed the most. They are in areas where there is the greatest chance for kids being in the area and where reaction time is minimal.

I am in a development where the speed limit is 25 and get seriously pissed when I see people flying through at 40-45 with kids riding bikes and playing in the area. That should be a seriously high point ticket. What does it get you, to the light at the exit of the development a minute quicker?

stevew · 10-22-2008, 11:39 PM

There's this one heinous section for a couple miles that I have to drive through every night at 25mph. There is no need for it to be that slow in that location, it's just a state route in a town that thinks too highly of itself. I will obey it, I'm just afraid of blasting through the first part there at 45 or something, and getting a ticket cause their cops have nothing better to do than sit around and write tickets.

Running through a development at 50 is crapola, those are the type of areas that should be marked 25.

Lathum · 10-23-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

And to top it all off, since I was leaving during "school traffic" hours, I ended up getting a ticket for driving too fast (who can drive 25 mph anyway)

.

better be carefull, Flash may put a flier in your mailbox

ISiddiqui · 10-23-2008, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleFan

25mph are the speed limits that need to be obeyed the most. They are in areas where there is the greatest chance for kids being in the area and where reaction time is minimal.

Even for one that is the main street of a town? If kids are playing in the middle of a town's main street, they really failed life lessons.

stevew · 10-23-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Even for one that is the main street of a town? If kids are playing in the middle of a town's main street, they really failed life lessons.

yy

ISiddiqui · 10-23-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Did you vote for Chambliss or Martin?

John McCain / Jim Martin / Hank Johnson (who was unopposed for his Congress seat)

Schmidty · 10-23-2008, 11:04 AM

I don't understand early voting. Shouldn't people be objective and see what happens throughout the entire campaign, or is it just another case of America's "Rah, Rah!! Go Team!!" attitude?

Schmidty · 10-23-2008, 11:05 AM

Dola.

I'm not saying that I don't have a pretty solid idea of who I'll vote for, but I'll definitely see what happens in case there's a crazy thing that could change my vote.

ISiddiqui · 10-23-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

I don't understand early voting. Shouldn't people be objective and see what happens throughout the entire campaign, or is it just another case of America's "Rah, Rah!! Go Team!!" attitude?

I think by now people know the positions of all the parties (interestingly enough there were only three parties on the Presidential ballot for GA, Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian... I seem to recall in 2004 there were like 7-8).

Schmidty · 10-23-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I think by now people know the positions of all the parties (interestingly enough there were only three parties on the Presidential ballot for GA, Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian... I seem to recall in 2004 there were like 7-8).

I understand what you mean, and I wasn't trying be rude, but it still bothers me.

flere-imsaho · 10-23-2008, 11:26 AM

This is my bad, actually. I heard you were voting McCain so I mobilized all my Obama operatives in the area to create those long lines in the hope you'd get depressed and give up. Clearly they didn't try hard enough so I'll have to beat them later.

ISiddiqui · 10-23-2008, 11:27 AM

I have strong willpower!

Mizzou B-ball fan · 10-23-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

This is my bad, actually. I heard you were voting McCain so I mobilized all my Obama operatives in the area to create those long lines in the hope you'd get depressed and give up. Clearly they didn't try hard enough so I'll have to beat them later.

You live in St. Louis?

JeeberD · 10-23-2008, 11:51 AM

Took me about fifteen minutes total today. The helper lady said that the line was the shortest that she had seen it, though. And it was funny...when we checked in we had the option of either filling in a paper ballot, or using an electronic machine. Every single person (that looked) over 60 asked for paper, while the vast majority of younger folks went with the electronic...

flere-imsaho · 10-23-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

You live in St. Louis?

Nope, but my minions are everywhere. Say, when do you plan to vote?

Mizzou B-ball fan · 10-23-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Nope, but my minions are everywhere. Say, when do you plan to vote?

Election Day around 2:00 PM. I get off work then and avoid the lunch and rush hour crowds. I start work too early to get into the polls first thing in the morning.

flere-imsaho · 10-23-2008, 02:10 PM

OK, I'll send my minions to your location around 1:45 PM. You might want to take the rest of the day off.

Mizzou B-ball fan · 10-23-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

OK, I'll send my minions to your location around 1:45 PM. You might want to take the rest of the day off.

Thanks for the advance notice. I'll take a book along to keep myself busy.

JediKooter · 10-23-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgustusM

yep, I have been permanent absentee for years now.

This is my first time doing the absentee thing and I have to admit, I really like it.

stevew · 10-23-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I think by now people know the positions of all the parties (interestingly enough there were only three parties on the Presidential ballot for GA, Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian... I seem to recall in 2004 there were like 7-8).

Barr/McCain/Nader/Obama are the only ones on our ballot. They tried to block Barr but he won some case.

Radii · 10-24-2008, 01:21 PM

I voted early today. This is only the second day voting at my polling place as been available, we're on the very north edge of the county, so I wouldn't expect many people, and today I was the 2106th person to vote at the Wake Forest location. If you'd have asked me to guess on the way in how many people had voted here in just a day and a half, I would have said 400-500. Things were running smoothly, there were probably ~30 voters there when I arrived, it took me about 10 minutes to get to the booth from when I walked in.

Barr/McCain/Obama only on the ballot here, but don't worry, I wrote in PSU/Bigglesworth like any good FOFC'er should.

10-22-2008, 05:03 PM	#3
ISiddiqui Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Decatur, GA	I think so... the Dekalb County, GA, MAN knew I was voting McCain __________________ "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams

10-22-2008, 06:02 PM	#5
ISiddiqui Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Decatur, GA	Yeah, one location... next week, they open 5 more. Apparently my friend went last week and said it was only 30 minutes, so it wasn't bad at all. It just jumped massively this week. __________________ "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams

10-22-2008, 06:23 PM	#7
DanGarion Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwest	Glad you didn't have any outstanding warrants you wouldn't have been able to vote! __________________ Los Angeles Dodgers Check out the FOFC Groups on Facebook! and Reddit! DON'T REPORT ME BRO!

10-22-2008, 06:33 PM	#8
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Did you vote for Chambliss or Martin? __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

10-22-2008, 07:32 PM	#9
JediKooter Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Diego via Sausalito via San Jose via San Diego	I've got my absentee ballot all ready to go. No lines, no hassles. __________________ I'm no longer a Chargers fan, they are dead to me Coming this summer to a movie theater near you: The Adventures of Jedikooter: Part 4

10-22-2008, 04:57 PM	#2
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	The MAN was definitely trying to disenfrachise you there. And 25mph speed limits are fuckin bullshit.

10-22-2008, 06:01 PM	#4
Radii Head Coach Join Date: Jul 2001	Wow, just one early voting location in Dekalb County? Wake County(raleigh, NC) had 5 locations open last week and will have 14 locations starting tomorrow: http://www.wakegov.com/elections/onestop/default.htm. There's one in my little hometown, I'll be going Friday or early next week.

10-22-2008, 10:53 PM	#11
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Since it is clear that long lineups are a problem every election, why don't they just staff more locations? There is so much money flying around for these elections, you can't tell me it's a cost issue. For our election last week there was no lineup at all, we just got our ballots and marked 'em off. I think it took more time to walk to and from my car then to vote. In fact I've never had to wait in a line of more than 2-3 people for any election I've ever participated in, and I never hear complaints about it from anywhere else. What do we do differently here? __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

10-22-2008, 10:55 PM	#12
DanGarion Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwest	So why didn't you just do an absentee ballot? __________________ Los Angeles Dodgers Check out the FOFC Groups on Facebook! and Reddit! DON'T REPORT ME BRO!

10-22-2008, 11:39 PM	#15
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	There's this one heinous section for a couple miles that I have to drive through every night at 25mph. There is no need for it to be that slow in that location, it's just a state route in a town that thinks too highly of itself. I will obey it, I'm just afraid of blasting through the first part there at 45 or something, and getting a ticket cause their cops have nothing better to do than sit around and write tickets. Running through a development at 50 is crapola, those are the type of areas that should be marked 25.

10-23-2008, 11:04 AM	#20
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	I don't understand early voting. Shouldn't people be objective and see what happens throughout the entire campaign, or is it just another case of America's "Rah, Rah!! Go Team!!" attitude? __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

10-23-2008, 11:05 AM	#21
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	Dola. I'm not saying that I don't have a pretty solid idea of who I'll vote for, but I'll definitely see what happens in case there's a crazy thing that could change my vote. __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

10-23-2008, 11:26 AM	#24
flere-imsaho Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicagoland	This is my bad, actually. I heard you were voting McCain so I mobilized all my Obama operatives in the area to create those long lines in the hope you'd get depressed and give up. Clearly they didn't try hard enough so I'll have to beat them later.

10-23-2008, 11:27 AM	#25
ISiddiqui Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Decatur, GA	I have strong willpower! __________________ "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams

10-23-2008, 11:51 AM	#27
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Took me about fifteen minutes total today. The helper lady said that the line was the shortest that she had seen it, though. And it was funny...when we checked in we had the option of either filling in a paper ballot, or using an electronic machine. Every single person (that looked) over 60 asked for paper, while the vast majority of younger folks went with the electronic... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

10-23-2008, 02:10 PM	#30
flere-imsaho Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicagoland	OK, I'll send my minions to your location around 1:45 PM. You might want to take the rest of the day off.

10-24-2008, 01:21 PM	#34
Radii Head Coach Join Date: Jul 2001	I voted early today. This is only the second day voting at my polling place as been available, we're on the very north edge of the county, so I wouldn't expect many people, and today I was the 2106th person to vote at the Wake Forest location. If you'd have asked me to guess on the way in how many people had voted here in just a day and a half, I would have said 400-500. Things were running smoothly, there were probably ~30 voters there when I arrived, it took me about 10 minutes to get to the booth from when I walked in. Barr/McCain/Obama only on the ballot here, but don't worry, I wrote in PSU/Bigglesworth like any good FOFC'er should.

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