Who did you vote for in the U.S. Presidential Election?

[fantom1979]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

In Presidential polls, things can be a bit skewed because pollsters have decided it's more accurate to weigh some groups more than others (i.e. they'll call 40% Dem, 35% GOP, and 35% Indep since that is what the registered voting makeup is).
SI

The fact that the pollsters can't count to 100% makes me believe that all of this is bullcrap.

[Kodos]

A vote for Obama is a vote for Osama!

[fantom1979]

A vote for McCain is a vote for Palin

[Kodos]

Re-elect Mayor Red Thomas, progress is his middle name.

[fantom1979]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Re-elect Mayor Red Thomas, progress is his middle name.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by fantom1979

The fact that the pollsters can't count to 100% makes me believe that all of this is bullcrap.

Whoops. Corrected

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Re-elect Mayor Red Thomas, progress is his middle name.

I think Goldie Wilson ran on a similar platform

SI

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by gottimd

She's a looker!

Where is here picture? All I see is a photo of Ben Franklin.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by molson

"The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."

The size of that sentence could be reduced by about 1/2.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Where is here picture? All I see is a photo of Ben Franklin.

Well, maybe he goes in for pasty, pudgy, and dead for 200 years

SI

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I guess that means the margin of error is 11.76%.

No, it's 17.76%, you unamerican!!!

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

How can people say "I didn't vote" at this point, since election day hasn't happened yet? Are they not registered, are they planning to change their answer when they do vote, or is this poll only supposed to be for early voters?

I don't want to make a big deal out of this (been there, done that), but I already know I'm not going to vote.

[Subby]

Way to perpetuate the stereotype about people with kickass mustaches.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Subby

Way to perpetuate the stereotype about people with kickass mustaches.

Ron Glass didn't vote when he was my age, and I'm just carrying on the tradition.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Ron Glass didn't vote when he was my age, and I'm just carrying on the tradition.

No way! A Ron Glass reference! I so wanted to be him, except, well, white.

[Racer]

I voted yesterday. I think I counted 16 people in line in front of me.

[cartman]

I went to do early voting tonight, but the wait was 2 1/2 hours at 7pm. I'll try again tomorrow, earlier in the day.

[Greyroofoo]

I <3 absentee ballots.

[flere-imsaho]

I've just cancelled all of my team's meetings on the 4th so that no one has to worry about standing for a long time in a line.

Well, cancelled is the wrong word. Rescheduled them to other days.

[SackAttack]

Voted yesterday.

Wisconsin law allows folks to go down to the County Clerk Recorder's office, register, and vote by absentee ballot the same day.

I was one of three people actually IN the office when I went, although some had just left and some were entering as I left.

I was the only one under the age of 50. If early voting really is favoring Obama, McCain might be screwed.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Didn't see a "experiences while voting" thread, so I figure this one is as good a place as any. Just got back from "advance voting", took about 45 minutes give or take. With the exception of one lady who was dropping off her mailed out copy of an absentee ballot, it seems pretty safe to believe my wife & I may very well have cast the only two McCain votes during the entire time. Let's just say that the demographics appeared to lean strongly toward Obama today. But among other things it's a college town, so that isn't exactly surprising.

A couple of thoughts of a more random nature also
-- voting on the touch screens always make me a little nostalgic for the old lever machines. And I think we discussed a few years ago that I think I'm in a minority that never voted on a paper ballot at any time. Always had the lever machines or the touch screens.
-- The thing I absolutely hate about the change to the electronic system is the absence of privacy when voting. I grew up with the walk-in machines, where you pulled a lever & the curtain closed completely behind you so you could vote in private. Now, there's only a small plastic shield maybe a foot taller than the touchscreen AND to make matters worse, the poll worker who collected the little data cards after you voted had a clear view of two of the machines (seated almost directly behind them, basically looking over your shoulder as you voted). That's just wrong.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

-- The thing I absolutely hate about the change to the electronic system is the absence of privacy when voting. I grew up with the walk-in machines, where you pulled a lever & the curtain closed completely behind you so you could vote in private. Now, there's only a small plastic shield maybe a foot taller than the touchscreen AND to make matters worse, the poll worker who collected the little data cards after you voted had a clear view of two of the machines (seated almost directly behind them, basically looking over your shoulder as you voted). That's just wrong.

Yeah, that doesn't make any sense. In my voting location we have touch screens but they are in small cubicle like areas where you are totally out of sight from the people around you and the volunteers are pretty far way on the other side of the room.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Yeah, that doesn't make any sense. In my voting location we have touch screens but they are in small cubicle like areas where you are totally out of sight from the people around you and the volunteers are pretty far way on the other side of the room.

That sounds like what I saw the first year (albeit in a different county) or two of touchscreen voting here. But that sanctity has slowly gotten less & less each year & today was just ... disturbing. The poll worker was less than two steps from me with a direct line of sight, and that's how the room was arranged (i.e. she wasn't just wandering around or anything, that's where she was stationed).

edit to add: Another quirky something today that I don't recall ever seeing anything like before. Right next to the counter where you handed over your paperwork to have your registration verified, get your card for the machine, etc., was this little display of knicknacks & stuff. Patriotic themed stuff, a couple of Uncle Sam figurines, a flag, etc. Also in the decorative display were four little stuffed animals with white fur & red and blue stars dotting them: a pair of elephants & a pair of donkeys. Now far be it from me to turn into Mister Politically Correct but ... isn't that sort of prejudicial toward the two major parties? And subtly disenfranchising of the Libs, the Greens, etc?

[lordscarlet]

Paper and no. 2 pencils for us! And there's not a whole lot of privacy for filling them out, either.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I went to vote this morning. I got in line and shouted "I WANT TO VOTE FOR MY COUSIN TANYA!" They asked me what party she was with, and I shouted "I'M NOT EVEN REGISTERED!" They asked me to leave and I shouted "THIS IS AMERICA! I DON'T NEED TO WEAR PANTS!"

So I'm posting from a pretty swanky holding cell right now...

[gkb]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I went to vote this morning. I got in line and shouted "I WANT TO VOTE FOR MY COUSIN TANYA!" They asked me what party she was with, and I shouted "I'M NOT EVEN REGISTERED!" They asked me to leave and I shouted "THIS IS AMERICA! I DON'T NEED TO WEAR PANTS!"

So I'm posting from a pretty swanky holding cell right now...

God I've missed you.

I'm not wearing pants either.

[Izulde]

Mailed in my absentee ballot this morning.

[larrymcg421]

I went and voted today in Dekalb. Got in line at 630am and voted at 830am. I voted for Obama/Martin/Jones.

Unfortunately, Jones doesn't have a shot since it's an R+19 district.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by fantom1979

Obama is going to be pissed

Yeah cause he is a huge socialist, marxist pinko since he wants to help people

[molson]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Yeah cause he is a huge socialist, marxist pinko since he wants to help people

With the exception of that half-brother in Kenya and his aunt in the Boston projects. Everyone else though.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Yeah cause he is a huge socialist, marxist pinko since he wants to help people to other people's money.

Fixed that for you.

[Capital]

McCain...not really a vote for McCain but a vote against Obama.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Fixed that for you.

Definitely recommend people keep clinging to their guns, religion and add money to that now as well. It has worked up to know from the looks of the country. I think this arguement about taking peoples money to give to others is like when baseball fans complain about a baseball team owner over spending a player.As long as ticket prices don't go up becasue of it who gives a fuck how much Steinbrenner pays. So in the same vain I am talking with my brother who is a blue collar guy and nothing wrong with that. He is arguing about Obama wants to spread the wealth and take it from richer people to poorer. So, I am saying "why do you care, since the last time I checked you aren't even remotely rich and may actually benefit from this." My point is Joe ther plumber is complaining but not Bill Gates. YMMV.

[Autumn]

Paper and permanent marker for me. There were a few other people voting early at the same time, but no line. The only wait was because we had our 2 year old with us and he wouldn't let us vote at the same time. "Me vote, me vote, me vote."

We had absolutely no privacy, just folding tables set up. I mean it was empty enough we didn't need to sit near people, but someone could just watch you filling out the slip. Kind of weird.

Not too sustainable -- there was only one town-wide race, and only one person running for it. So there was an entire legal sized ballot form printed out on special paper just so you could mark off this one guy, or not. That seemed rather bureaucratically stupid.

[mrsimperless]

Went and voted early today at the City-County building in downtown Indy. 2 1/2 hour wait, but I'm leaving the country tomorrow so well worth it.

[Raiders Army]

Starbucks Shared Planet

If you vote, Starbucks buys your coffee

On November 4, 2008, Starbucks will give voters a free tall brewed coffee at participating U.S. stores. This initiative kicks off with a 60-second ad during the final pre-election edition of Saturday Night Live on NBC this Saturday.

After voting, voters must go to a Starbucks store, where they’ll be given a tall (12 oz) cup of brewed coffee at no charge (limit one per customer).

This is an extension of Starbucks commitment to community through Starbucks™ Shared Planet™. It lets us immediately support customers who care about the same things we do and who want to make a difference. This idea has also come up a number of times on MyStarbucksIdea.com our on-line forum for sharing customer and partner (employee) ideas.

[flere-imsaho]

Clever.

[Alan T]

Went in to vote this morning before work along with evidently everyone else in my precinct The lines were longer than anyone has ever remembered, which likely means a ton of Obama votes because of the area I live in being radical liberal. The voting part once in was quick though as we only had 3 proposition questions and only three races that even had any kind of contest in them. (President, US. Senate and State Senate). I ended up voting Libertarian, Democrat and Republican for the three. (Kind of interesting seeing I am the only person here who voted Libertarian though, talk about minority minority!)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Went in to vote this morning before work along with evidently everyone else in my precinct The lines were longer than anyone has ever remembered, which likely means a ton of Obama votes because of the area I live in being radical liberal. The voting part once in was quick though as we only had 3 proposition questions and only three races that even had any kind of contest in them. (President, US. Senate and State Senate). I ended up voting Libertarian, Democrat and Republican for the three. (Kind of interesting seeing I am the only person here who voted Libertarian though, talk about minority minority!)

I think we're going to see a lot of lines early on for this election. There's a lot of suggestions that the polls will be very busy all day. A lot of people in Missouri are reportedly taking that to heart and heading over to the polls early to make sure they get in to vote.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Starbucks Shared Planet

Not in Georgia they won't. Turns out the deal (and several similar ones from other businesses) is illegal under state law for both the giver and the recipient.
They can give away whatever, you just can't limit the offer to those who voted.

[terpkristin]

I voted this morning. Got there at 6:39 a.m., this was the line: Voting Line, 6:39 a.m. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Finished at 7:27 a.m.

/tk

[Alan T]

Based on the 15-20 minutes that the Obamas have been in the polling botth live on msnbc so far, I sure hope that Chicago has a 10 page ballot of various votes.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Based on the 15-20 minutes that the Obamas have been in the polling botth live on msnbc so far, I sure hope that Chicago has a 10 page ballot of various votes.

He likely has a hanging chad.

You think the voters in line behind him are bitching?

[Kodos]

Voted for Obama and voted no on amending the Connecticut constitution to ban gay marriage. There was a little traffic coming in, but once inside, it was a well-oiled machine with paper ballots.

[JPhillips]

No line here. There are some benefits to living in a small town I guess.

[Cork]

Got to the polling place at 6:50 am and was done voting by 7:15 am. The paper ballot process was smooth as silk.

I voted for Obama, another democrat, a republican and all of the uncontested candidates which outnumbered those in an actual race.

-Cork

[Subby]

Got to the polling place at 5:30am. Was 50th or so in line. Probably 200+ when they opened at 6am. Got through in about 15 minutes once the doors were opened. Paper ballots (after years of electronic voting). Went split ticket - Obama (D) for Prez, Warner (D) for Senator, Wolf (R) for Congress. Voted yes on a bond initiative for parks and open space. Kind of regretting the last vote.

[Fighter of Foo]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

edit to add: Another quirky something today that I don't recall ever seeing anything like before. Right next to the counter where you handed over your paperwork to have your registration verified, get your card for the machine, etc., was this little display of knicknacks & stuff. Patriotic themed stuff, a couple of Uncle Sam figurines, a flag, etc. Also in the decorative display were four little stuffed animals with white fur & red and blue stars dotting them: a pair of elephants & a pair of donkeys. Now far be it from me to turn into Mister Politically Correct but ... isn't that sort of prejudicial toward the two major parties? And subtly disenfranchising of the Libs, the Greens, etc?

Hijack:

Third parties have to worry about actual disenfranchisement more than anything subtle.

In Texas, the Lib party was the only one to meet the Texas state election board's deadline for submitting a candidate, as required by law. Both the dems and Repubs missed it. No reason other than they didn't do it. The board then announced that, in fact, Obama and McCain's names would appear on the ballot.

The Lib party sued, saying that it's written very clearly you have to submit your candidates by date X. The court dismissed it without giving any reason whatsoever.

Next door in LA, the Lib party missed the deadline to file, because the election office was closed due to a hurricane. When the Libs came back the next week to file the response was, sorry, you missed it.

America: Hypocrisy in Action

[VPI97]

Parked at the polling place at 9:01, out the door and finished at 9:06. Smooth sailing.

[flere-imsaho]

No issues for me in suburban Chicagoland. The poll workers said they had a line when they opened at 6:00, but by the time I showed up at 7:00 there were maybe 2 people ahead of me.

I will say, though, that it was more busy than at the same time in 2004, when there was no one in line and several voting stations were open. It's also a beautiful day in Chicagoland today, so I think we're going to see not only a huge turnout at the polls, but a huge turnout downtown for the Obama rally tonight.

Originally Posted by Alan T

Based on the 15-20 minutes that the Obamas have been in the polling botth live on msnbc so far, I sure hope that Chicago has a 10 page ballot of various votes.

Nope. We only had two ballot measures, but somewhere along the lines of 20-30 judges to vote on. That's what takes (or took me) the bulk of the time on the ballot.