Political Buzz

A team of experienced reporters keep you updated on what's happening in political arenas at the city, county, state and federal levels. From presidential campaign visits to who's running for city council, we've got it covered.

Contributors

Peter Callaghan is a local columnist. He’s covered the statehouse and state politics since 1981. Before joining The News Tribune in 1985, the Stadium High grad worked for newspapers in Everett and Lewiston, Idaho, and for The Associated Press in Olympia and Seattle. Email Peter

Joe Turner has covered state government and transportation issues since 1990. Since the Bellarmine grad’s arrival in the newsroom in 1978, he’s covered police, suburban cities, Tacoma City Hall, Federal Way City Hall and the Pierce and King county governments. Email Joe

David Wickert covers Pierce County government. Before coming to The News Tribune in 1998, he covered local government for newspapers in Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Email David

Ian Demsky is a general assignment reporter who specializes in database-driven reporting. He's been at the News Tribune since 2007 and has previously worked in Nashville, Tenn. and Portland, Ore. When he's not at work, he enjoys hiking and science fiction. Email Ian
Les Blumenthal has been covering Washington, D.C. for The News Tribune since 1990, focusing on issues and politicians involving the state. Before joining The News Tribune, he spent 13 years working for The Associated Press in Seattle, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Email Les

John Henrikson is a local news editor who oversees political coverage. He's worked as a journalist in the Northwest for 19 years, supervising coverage and reporting on local and state government, the environment and growth. Email John

Local politics links
Brad Shannon's The Politics Blog (The Olympian)
Adam Wilson (The Olympian)
Politics Northwest (Seattle Times)
Sound Politics
Horse's Ass
Richard Roesler's Eye on Olympia (Spokesman Review)
P-I's Strange Bedfellows (Seattle PI)
Crosscut
SoundInfo Databases
State Employee Pay
Statewide School Employee Pay
City of Tacoma Employee Pay
Pierce County Employee Pay
King County Employee Pay
Metro Parks Employee Pay
City of Lakewood Employee Pay
City of Puyallup Employee Pay
Pierce Transit Employee Pay
Other Resources
Washington Legislature Bill Lookup
How your lawmaker voted: WashingtonVotes.org

Calendar
July 2009
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 << <   > >>
      1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31  
Archives
XML Feeds
What is RSS?
Misc
Who's Online?
  • Larry LaRue Email
  • Scipio Email
  • eropel Email
  • gregoryrobinson Email
  • benramm Email
  • envyoushawk Email
  • mzmarci Email
  • AKSeahawk12 Email
  • Guest Users: 617
Let's talk politics.
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 01:46:53 pm

Dean J. Koepfler/The News Tribune

Ginger Burchyett has never missed a chance voting in a presidential election.

The long lines at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Tacoma, though, were testing the 30-year-old patience.

“This is the most disorganized thing I’ve seen in my entire life,” said Burchyett, who had been waiting for more than two hours by noontime – and was only in the middle of her line. She was in danger of missing her 1 p.m. shift at a Puyallup veterinary clinic.

Other voters said they were waiting as many as three hours to cast their vote. The Pierce County Auditor’s office brought extra workers to help out, but more than 300 people still packed the basement of the church at 101 E. 38th St. More were waiting on the stairs.

Poll workers originally issued numbers for people waiting in line so they could wait elsewhere, but Auditor Pat McCarthy stopped that shortly after she and other workers from her office arrived.

The issue of handing out numbers frustrated many people waiting in line. Several complained that people who received numbers were allowed to skip to the front of the line.

McCarthy called the move “a real faux pas.”

“It was well-intentioned, but it just backfired,” she said.

The overflow crowd packed the basement, causing the Tacoma Fire Department to get involved. Phil Ferrell, the deputy fire marshal, estimated about 300 people were in the room at about 1 p.m. The basement has a maximum occupancy of 200.

"We'll need to line-queue them so they'll wait elsewhere," Ferrell told McCarthy.

"We're overcrowded everywhere," she responded.

"I understand," he said, "but this is a safety issue."

Ferrell said the department received calls from people who were worried about suffocating or concerned that they couldn't get out if there was a fire.

"Times like this is when things go wrong," he said. "It's a great turnout, but we just have safety issues here."

Ferrell routed many people upstairs, where they waited in the church's foyer or outside its doors. He then stood by the basement doors and kept order.

Andrew Dena said there were two lines when he arrived, but it has since split into four.

“This is the first – and last – time I’ve voted at this last station,” 59-year-old Andrew Dena said. “This is outrageous.”

People have remained relatively patient despite the problems.

“I’ve probably been the most optimistic person in line,” said 42-year-old Cecelia Crawford. “I feel like there was going to be long hours, so I’ve chose not to be angry about it.”

Still, Crawford had to miss a medical appointment because the lines were so long. Other voter problems do worry her, though. She held up a pen she said workers were handing out to fill out a ballot and another labeled “ballot pen.” The latter draws a line about three times thicker.

“I don’t even know if my ballot will be counted after all of this,” she said.

Categories: Voting 35 comments

COMMENTS:

joepublic @ 12:42 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I waited 90 minutes to vote at Mason United Methodist at North 27th and Mason, then strolled over to get my free joe at Starbucks. It was great. The election workers seemed to be pedaling as fast as they could.

For some reason, there was almost no waiting in the M-Z line, while the wait for A-L voters stretched nearly all the way out the church door to 27th Street. Poll workers kept coming out and announcing that there was a second, shorter line for the M-Zs, but hardly anybody moved to it.

My theory: People were just too polite to "cut" ahead of everyone else waiting in line, even if they were a Miller or a Zimmerman or whatever.

Everybody needs to lighten up a little. It's a historic day. Savor the franchise. Be thankful that nobody is trying to shoot you or blow you up.
the5comptons @ 12:54 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
The chaos at Bethelem Lutheran is really unbelievable. I was turned away this morning after being given a number, because there were too many people in the church. Came back later and was told to go to the front of the line. Got yelled at (understandbly, I guess) by angry voters and none of the workers would address the issue or clarify the procedure. I was willing to wait as well but was saved by a kind gentleman.

I don't understand how the Pierce County Auditor's office wasn't more prepared for the turnout. Have they not been listening to the news for the last year? Did they not realize this is a historic election? There were workers standing around - workers that could have been addressing the issues and making a more peaceful flow. Packing that many people into a church basement is just ridiculous and borderline criminal. I fully expect to see fights or something worse on the news tonight.

If this was an exercise in convincing people to go absentee, it's working. Disgraceful.
gozer @ 13:20 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
this is the only way to make change?

puh-lease.

get out of the cattle line.

learn your rights and live by them. that's change.
Mychal @ 13:21 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
This precisely the reason I'm so glad Pierce County went to mail in ballots for those who just didn't want to deal with going to the polls. I'm one of those and forgive me but I'm smiling quietly to myself. I feel for the folks who are waiting in long line, feel for the poll workers who are being paid but probably didn't get the proper training. I'm also happy that so many folks are out there voting, what a wonderful nation. Now, if we can just kill the television and radio until aroung midnight.
redgauntlet @ 13:40 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I waited an hour and a half at Immanuel Presbyterian at North 9th and J. The M-Z line was far slower than the A-L line, causing quite a bit of frustration. The poll workers said they could do nothing about it; each worker was assigned to a book. The A-L guy was fast and efficient; the M-Z lady dazedly sojourned through the mysteries of the alphabet, while patient people eventually started to get fed up. I had friends and neighbors who got in line 45 minutes after me vote 10 minutes before I did.
The auditor has gone far overboard in consolitating/closing polling stations. Voters were there from miles around- people who used to have polling places in their neighborhoods. This combined with the very high turnout (which everybody knew was going to happen), has caused a big problem. In 40 years of voting (I'm 60), I've never before waited more than 15 minutes in a presidential general election.
And this was at 10:30 am. I wonder what it's going to be like tonight!
dennyknowles @ 13:40 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
What is wrong with mail in ballots? We don't drive Model A Fords, watch black and white TV or eat dinner at the dinner table and talk our familes. So why are people still driving to the polls and standing in lines? I remember the first time I went to Disney land and how excited and anxious I was. But when I got there, I spent more time waiting in lines for rides, food and the bathroom than I did having fun. With record turn out and the new PC voting system, people need to be patient. Americans are spoiled and expect everything to be served on a platter. This is Democracy, people have fought and lost their lives to get it and protect it so waiting in line and dealing with Government staff and volunteer should not be that big of an issue. I am sure there will be glitches, certain people will blame Mccarthy for long lines, bad parking, their kids cold and the economy but lets get through the day and see what happens.
gigatt @ 13:44 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
This from the News Tribune's endorsement article endorsing McCarthy #2:
Given her record in the auditor’s office, McCarthy is likely to do well at running the machinery of county government.

Hmm...seems almost comical right now.
redgauntlet @ 13:49 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Denny, I would say that it is the contrast with what the situation at the polls has always been before. I prefer to vote at the polls; this option will be gone before long....
I've lived here all my life and voted in every election, from March school levies to off-year primaries to Presidential general elections. I've always voted at the polls in my neighborhood. I've never had a significant wait, even in hot-contest Presidential years.
I waited patiently today, and had a couple of nice conversations. It still was poorly organized-- way too many polling stations have been closed, and that's the reason in a nutshell.
runmomma @ 14:00 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Waited 2 hours in the A-L line at the Mason United Methodist church on N 27th. The crazy thing is the M-Z line was empty the ENTIRE time so those folks never had to wait longer than 5 minutes. There was only one person assigned to the A-L line and 1 for the M-Z line so it was very inefficient and 1 to slowly hand out the paper ballots. It wasn't the poll workers' fault at all but I too wonder why the auditor's office was so unprepared.

With all that said, it was so wonderful to see such an amazing turnout and the crowd was extremely friendly and polite. There are certainly worse ways to spend 2 hours and we are privileged to have the opportunity to vote.
patty46 @ 14:04 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I would hate to wait in a long line...absentee is the only way to go..
dennyknowles @ 14:04 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Redgauntlet,

Its comments like gigatt's that are not needed right now. Mccarthy has a job, a real job. While she is doing her job, Goings is out waving signs and calling people who haven't voted. If Mccarthy had ramped up to where people came in voted and left and it costed more money to make that happen, you people would complain about the cost.

If you look on the internet you would see that all over the country, in every county the story is the same....long lines. With so much going on politically, the Dems and Reps spent big bucks to register people to vote and with all the interest in the Pres race, you get a HUGE turnout.

Mccarthy has not had any problems in the past. You people are acting like life is coming to an end. Get a mail in ballot then you can sit down at your leisure, do some homework, vote and mail it in.
But please, stop blaming Mccarthy and please Calvinites, stop trying to connect the dots that this would make Mccarthy unfit to lead.
bobjr94 @ 14:10 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Why do more people just not do mail in ? We got ours 2 weeks ago and were able to fill them out as we wanted.


My wife mailed hers in, I dropped on off this morning at our local polling place in Roy. It was busy but there was no waiting line. I dont see why some places have hour + waits and some no wait at all. They need to spread people out more. And then why the rush and long lines, people have all day.
the5comptons @ 14:24 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I, for one, like to be a part of the process on the actual day. I like to see my ballot going into the box. I like to get an "I Voted" sticker. Sue me.

I'm also willing to wait for the right to vote. But not in an overcrowded basement with one door in, one door out, no semblance of order and no attempt to make it right. That's not whining, that's a safety issue and it's simply ridiculous in this day and age. If we are consolidating polling places, you are telling me the Tacoma Dome wasn't available today? The Convention Center? We had to consolidate thousands of people into one little church basement?

And just for the record - my kid's cold is George Bush's fault. Not Pat McCarthy's. :)
erdw @ 14:28 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I just waited nearly an hour at Mason Church in North Tacoma. The people in line were all very friendly, visiting, joking, etc. The elections workers were equally as friendly, doing the best that they could to move the crowds through. The best part was the feeling of EMPOWERMENT I felt when I cast my ballot! I've voted for 30 years and have never waited in a line like that before. It shows that our citizens are taking an active interest in who's in charge of our government. God Bless America!
dennyknowles @ 14:31 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
You can get your ballot in the mail, sit down with a cup of coffee and your dozens of political mailers, your vote pamphlets, the internet, fill out your ballot and still drive it to an election center or a drop station and put it in the ballot box the day of the election. Would that work for you. The Auditor sent out education pieces about this but since her name was on it, some people probably threw it out.

I dont feel any less an American or any less part of the process mailing in my ballot. I just get to sit back in my warm house, clean my fishing reels and watch the news today. I am retired btw.
michaelsclark65 @ 14:31 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
does anyone know what the wait situation is at the Center at Norpoint in NE Tacoma?
ProblemSolved @ 14:38 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I don't care for the mail-in voting. I enjoy standing at the little podium and voting. I like the big pen. I like the fresh "I voted" sticker.

After the last election, I decided to switch to a mail-in ballot because I almost didn't make it in on time. I sent in a mail-in switch form and didn't hear back. I called and asked if they received my switch form, they didn't and sent me another one. I mailed that in. Rather than a mail-in ballot this last month, I received a card for my new polling location.

Is it a conspiracy? No, something went wrong, no big deal. Besides, I was excited to get to go vote again. I've been voting since 1992 and have never, ever, ever, had to wait in a line. Now, all of a sudden, it's Ohio '04 here?

Also, if they cry about a lack of volunteers, they can bite it. There was a story on the TNT website about hiring volunteers for this election. A co-worker and I both called in to volunteer and left voicemails with names, addresses, and phone numbers. I never received a call back. I would have loved to volunteer - get paid to be around the voting? Hell yeah!
m9078jk3 @ 14:42 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I voted at Hope Lutheran Church.There was a line of about 40 people ahead of me.Just 15 seconds after standing in line some one at a table called out"I am taking anyone with the last names of A through K".As it turned out I was the only one and voted immediately.All the other people must have been unlucky and had last names with the letters L through Z.It took me just 5 minutes top and I was out of there.
eagle2roost @ 14:44 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
90 minute wait in University Place. Like many others, I have voted at the same location for years and never had to wait more than five minutes. The crowd was patient and good humored, but the realization that it wasn't the record crowds that caused the delay, but rather it was the closing of local polling places was upsetting. Whomever made the decision to close so many polling places during a presidential election should be fired.
It's not that Americans are impatient (OK, we are) - it is that our tax money goes to so many trivial things- and voting is not trivial. And no, absentee ballots are not the answer. Voting is a symbolic act. Joining fellow Americans at the polls, dropping the ballot in the box- it is like saluting the flag. People bring their children so that they can feel the excitement and pride of voting- you just can't get that licking an envelope.
Hopefully by the time we do this again, we will put the thought and resources into voting that it deserves. Meanwhile- pack a lunch and bring a book if you haven't gone to the polls yet. Whatever you do- don't give up your vote!
dbreneman @ 14:53 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
http://tildebang.com
Absentee voting is the one method of balloting most susceptible to fraud. I want my vote to count; I go to the polls. If some people value convenience above above all when they cast their vote, that's their business. But they have no cause to look down on their fellow citizens who take voting seriously. Thanks to absentee voters, how many days or weeks will we need to wait until we know who our governor is? How many opportunities will Seattle have to game the system during that wait?
redgauntlet @ 14:58 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Denny, this isn't about Pat McCarthy, I have no ax to grind against her, but you keep bringing her up...
I don't need to sit at my kitchen table with my cup of coffee surrounded by political flyers and voter's pamphlets. I've done that. I know how I'm voting going in.
I'm with those who believe that going to the polls is an important civic act. I've done it for 40 years. My parents did it. My grandparents did it.
We've had cars, coffee, kitchens, and mail for generations. So mail-in ballots aren't because of "modern conditions". Those who don't like to go to the polls should quit trying to persuade those who do that it would be so nice and easy and sensible to abolish the polling place. Rubbish!
nurse1986 @ 15:01 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I work 12 hour shifts as a nurse and have to be at work before 7am and work till 7:30pm (that's assuming I don't have to stay late), I don't have a choice about using absentee voting if I want to vote and I am scheduled to work that Tuesday. For this reason I have voted by absentee ballot for years. People who talk about absentee voting being for "lazy" people have never worked as a nurse in a hospital! (Same goes for police, fire department, and any other 24 hour type job locations).
dennyknowles @ 15:05 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Dbreneman,

How is your vote more serious than mine if I mail it in? Thas like Palin saying there are areas in America that are more American.

Absentee voting has increased voter turn out since it is so convenient so it has brought more voters to the table and that is what makes us American by God.

They count the absentee votes first so they are out of the way fast. And if you get your ballot in the mail, fill it out and bring it to a drop station or poll voting location on election day and drop it off and watch the attendent put it in the counting box whats the difference if you stood in line, filled out your ballot and dropped it in the counting box?? If you want to feel the excitement at the polls then hang out and talk to your fellow Americans after you dropped off your absentee ballot.

You Pollasaurases can't have it all. The last I remember voting at the polls was people rushing in to vote so they could get home to sit in front of the TV and have dinner with their family. But I guess thats America.
konasmom @ 15:07 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
2 hours and 45 minutes...this is how long it took for me to cast a vote at Immanuel Presbyterian Church on J Street standing in the M through Z line.

45 minutes...this is how long it took for others in the A through L line. I have never seen such an unorganized, unprofessional set-up in my life. It was agonizing to watch the volunteers plunder their way through lists, slowly turning each page, then calling out a number - sometimes three times - to another volunteer to get the right paperwork matched up, only to have to get up, go over and grab the ballot themselves.

I'm really wondering if the long lines and consolidated polling places aren't a way to get others like me, who were fed up and FUMING by the time they handed over their ID, to switch to absentee/mail-in ballots in order to close polling stations down for good.

Icing on the cake was that when folks were finally finished voting, they wandered around lost, looking for help to sort out where the heck they were supposed to PUT the ballot they'd just spent nearly 3 hours waiting to fill out with frozen fingers.

I stuck with it...as did nearly everyone else in line. I overheard one woman indicate she couldn't wait any longer due to work, and she left. I really hope that she is able to come back and vote...it would truly be a shame. Many take pride in the fact that they can still go to a polling place - but can't risk consequences that may result due to a lack of organization and incompetence.
dennyknowles @ 15:14 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
I AM GOING TO SAY THIS ONE LAST TIME -
GET A MAIL IN BALLOT. THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY, THREATS OF TERRORISM, BAD KARMA OR LONG LINES.

adrian1 @ 15:29 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
But if you get a mail-in ballot then what would you complain about?? Humm...The taste of the glue on the envelope?
ladybugvote @ 15:51 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Question....Why is Pat McCarthy "visiting" the polling stations? As a candidate for Executive she is campaigning at the polling places when she is shaking hands. I cry foul!! She should have stayed at the Auditor's office where she belongs!
By the way, what does her hat say??? Pat McCarthy for County Executive???
MichelleFoster @ 15:51 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
As a new WA state resident, this was my fist election in this state and I have to say that voting by mail was a wonderful experience. And, a postage paid envelope was provided! You don't realize how good you have it. The option to free mail in, to drop off your ballot, or to vote in person is a complete luxury! Not all states have a choice. It’s great to hear that so many of you are voting, no matter how long the lines may be.
gigatt @ 15:56 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
The long lines are a result of so many people going mail-in. The auditor's office has consolidated polling places and moved them from here to there. The theory is they are bringing into balance the number of polling places/workers as it relates to the number of people who vote at the polls. They have combined more and more precincts into fewer and fewer polling places. In some instances the polling places got smaller rather than larger. The efficiency theory isn't bad, but theory doesn't always work in the real world.

Voting by mail makes a lot of sense when you can't get to the polls (out of town, work long hours, etc.). It makes a lot of sense for convenience and you would hope it might even lead to a more informed vote by allowing folks to surround themselves with the information Denny referenced. It also has a larger likelihood of fraudulent voting. I know of an elected official who has said they can get you a couple hundred votes if you want them. I don't know if they were blowing smoke or what, but I suspect it is a nursing home or a care facility where someone can 'help' with ballots. I know this happens with some groups that don't always understand the voting system or have a community leader that they look to for voting help as well...often these groups are new to American and some don't read English well if at all.

ProblemSolved's story is a little disheartening. No response to an offer to help with the election process? Never received the mailed in request to change over to mail voting? Those don't inspire a lot of confidence for me. And while this isn't all about McCarthy, it is her department that failed ProblemSolved. I hope that is truly 'no big deal' as you say and not indicative of a bigger systemic problem. I know the folks are working hard and doing their best with they hand they were dealt and that is to their credit. They can only follow where they are led, though.
dennyknowles @ 15:58 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Ladybugvote,

If you were making a real statement I would listen but your statement is political so listen up. If you were from PC, you would know she is the PIERCE COUNTY AUDITOR!!! Its her job to over see dozens of staffers and volunteers. Not an easy task as all around the country voting systerms are crushed with the voter turn out. And Mccarthy is out making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible and showing people a face they can complain to or make suggestions. If she was sitting in her office you Cavlinites and Bunneys would complain that she was not out helping. So stop making this political.

At least she is out doing her job unlike Goings who has been out for weeks waving his yard signs at street corners at 2 PM during the week.
gigatt @ 16:08 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
ladybugvote - McCarthy has a fine line to walk being a candidate on the ballot and the auditor. With a record turn out expected and problems of long lines and confusion at her polling places and a limited number of full-time, fully trained staff in the elections division, I can see where it may be necessary for her to be out there helping.

That being said, I would agree that she shouldn't be there today. She should have planned for the chance there would be problems and lined up someone to make sure she didn't need to go. She has time and time again shown poor judgment in this process. I hope she hasn't shown the ultimate bad judgment in handling any ballot other than her own personal ballot (and maybe that of Judge McCarthy if the vote by mail).

Even if her hat doesn't say anything, I suspect she is wearing a name tag - probably from her day job - that can supplant her bowing to the pressure of taking her name off those surveys.

Again, nothing illegal, nothing unusual, really. Just another in a long list of things that are permissible, but not really in keeping with the spirit of the rules. We should expect more from our elected officials, we should demand better.
snarl2 @ 16:11 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Unbelievable stuff. I was active duty military for over twenty "calendar" years to uphold and defend all American's rights to vote, including ten years spent being stationed overseas.

I have NEVER missed voting, EVER, because I am a firm believer in voting via the mail. Not too long ago, we Washingtonians were FORCED to vote at a polling site. I can remember those ugly days, more than 15 years ago now, I think.

The workers were always disorganized, they were NEVER up and running at 7:00 a.m. when they were supposed to be and were completely overwhelmed by the fact that I lived one street away from a differently numbered district.

EVERY TIME I had to go to vote, I had to wait for them to sort things out and attempt to set things up and then wait while they bungled their way through the two different district books because they were SURE that I should be in the other voting district based on my address DESPITE my having my voter registration card on me EVERY time.

So, when we were finally "allowed" to vote by mail again, I was probably one of the first people to sign up for it.

If you weren't keen enough to figure out that it takes a whole lot of time to fulfill your right as an American citizen to vote (due to the inexperienced poll workers and now the evident ploy by the government to eliminate a whole bunch of polling places in order to get their point across) and get on the mail in register bandwagon, you will need to pack your patience, snacks, a good book or a deck of cards for your vigil.

That's what I always did when I was in the military where it was always hurry up and wait. I also perfected the "thousand mile stare", which can also help you while away a whole lot of time while you wait.

Good luck, I'm glad that so many Americans care to do their part. Our freedom to do so does come at a price, a price paid by our military in the past, the present and the future.

God bless America and all that she stands for.

DavidS_ @ 16:15 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
Had a good experience voting today. Going through the voters pamphlet, making those hard decisions, and dropping off my ballot with the nice poll workers (it was still early). Of course I vote absentee, so I filled out my ballot at home called a couple people to see what they thought on some issues and then travelled to a local polling station to drop off my ballot and get my sticker. I still got to see some people from the neighborhood and tried to help ease the wait for those there. I really enjoy voting from home, but still want to hold onto the civic connections associated with visiting a polling place. With my absentee ballot, I can do both.
docjonez @ 16:19 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
i did not have to wait at all. i got my absentee ballot, walked my happy butt to the mail box and put up the flag. the postal worker picked up my ballot and it has more than likely already been counted. look at that no lost work, no time spent standing out in the cold. the only down side...No "I voted" sticker.

Doc
dennyknowles @ 16:22 - Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Email
snarl2,

Sounds like you would be a good volunteer for the Auditor's Office on election day to get these slacker polling staffers to get moving. God Bless you and your service to this Country!

Comments are not allowed from anonymous visitors. Please login or register to comment.