Free-For-All: Election Day
2008 November 4
We here at FMO don’t care to get into political discussions. But I am curious about how your voting experience was today. Without mentioning who you voted for or the ballot issues in question today, I’d like to know if you encountered long lines while voting or if you had any problems with the process in any way.
We got there at about 8:30 and only waited in line for about a half hour from start to finish (at Centerville Elementary School in Urbana). More importantly, our oldest daughter voted for the first time today. For some reason, her absentee ballot never got to her so we had to go pick her up at school last night and get her back by her 11AM class this morning. Other than that, all went smoothly for our household.
How about you?
16 Responses
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Voted at 9:30am at Talley Rec Center next to Baker Park in downtown Frederick. Only took me a couple minutes! Then I walked over to the downtown Starbucks to get my free tall brewed coffee. The line there was longer than the line at the polling place, LOL!
Ditto for us. My wife and I voted at the Armory/Rec Center on Bentz St. around 8 am. No lines, easy experience. Unlike previous elections, there wasn’t much politicking going on outside.
Didn’t know about the free coffee though!
I voted this morning at 7:15 at Lincoln Elementary School. No lines outside but the lines inside were longer than I had ever seen them. Over the last few years that I’ve voted there, its only taken about 10 minutes start to finish. This morning it was about 30 minutes all told. Not too bad but definitely an increased turnout from what I could see.
Voted at Lincoln Elementary B. Got there right at opening, and a line was well around the front and wrapped into the parking lot. As soon as the doors opened at 7, everyone easily fit in the gym, and about 20 minutes later I was done. I even caught the 7:40 bus from Monocacy. Heading to Ben & Jerry’s tonight for some free ice cream!
Just got back from voting at New Market Middle School ~1:45 PM. No lines but definitely a lot of cars shuffling in and out of the parking lot.
I voted at Tuscarora HS and it took me 17 minutes from the time I left my house to the time I got back in the car…and I had to take the time to fill out a provisional ballot…
No line at all for voters at the Mormon church in Dearbought.
I voted at Lincoln Elementary A at 9:00am and there was no line. My hubby was an election judge along with many of my neighbors, so it seemed like a party!
We voted at Centerville Elementary in Urbana at around 5:30. We were a little worried there might be a line, but we walked right in, got the card and voted. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes.
I voted at Wverly Elementary at 6:00 PM, 10 minutes in and out although in past elections I have typically been the only one there when voting, and this time there was a steady sream of people. Too bad people don’t take this interest in all elections!
I voted around 3:30pm and there was no line (at Orchard Grove Elementary School). In and out in 5 minutes. A neighbor volunteers and told me that the a.m. was very busy.
I voted at Spring Ridge Elementary around 11:15 or so. It took about 20 minutes but only because the greeters somehow missed me and I was standing in the wrong line for a bit. I figured it out when I heard them greeting other voters. Like a previous poster I had to wait in line for much longer getting my freebie…I headed to California Tortilla for my free taco coupon and the line was out the door!
We voted at Urbana HS around 3:30. No line, in and out, but there was a steady stream of voters. All of the booths were occupied, except for one, which I went to right away. I noticed there wasn’t much electioneering outside either.
As an aside, does it bother anyone else that they don’t look at your ID to verify it’s you when you first come in? They just ask for your name, address, and date of birth. You could say you’re anybody and go around voting all over the place, as long as you know that info!
Krista:
The same thing happened to me in the AM!
I’m over the line down in Montgomery Co. and vote in Damascus….arrived at the school parking lot, cast my vote, and departed in 15 minutes flat. Same here on the ID issue–just was asked for name, address, and DOB.
K said: As an aside, does it bother anyone else that they don’t look at your ID to verify it’s you when you first come in? They just ask for your name, address, and date of birth. You could say you’re anybody and go around voting all over the place, as long as you know that info!
Yes, I think this is a major issue and I’ve already e-mailed Rep. Bartlett’s office to see if there is any legislation in the works to get this changed. It is so easy to find someone’s address and birth date! I think voters should be required to present a voter registration card, driver’s license, state issued photo ID or a military ID. I can’t imagine that this would be deemed discriminatory because all registered voters should have a voter registration card, if not one of the other forms of ID.