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Back to Family Memories Index I VotedLast Friday was a cool rainy day, but I went out anyway. I went to vote. From the looks of the parking lot at the County Services Building, I figured there would be a line in Voter Registration. Wow, was there ever. There wasn't just a line but a crowd. It was nice to see several friends volunteering behind the counter, treating the voters with courtesy and a smile. Every waiting room seat was taken and thirty or forty other folks were standing, milling around. Another would-be voter instructed me what to do - hand in your registration card at the window and they'll call you. So I handed in my card and found a handy spot along a wall to wait. I asked another woman how long she'd been there. Twenty minutes, she said, but they had told her to expect about half an hour's wait. I figured I could last that long. When another potential voter was told there would be a thirty minute wait, she said "Too long for me, I'll come back later." I had a sneaky suspicion that things wouldn't be better when - or if - she did come back. A couple I hadn't seen lately came in, handed in their cards and then stood along the wall with me. We caught up on a little news as more and more people shoved their way into the room. Closing ranks was tough - three doorways had to be kept clear. A good bit of shifting went on and some folks edged their way out into the hallway, staying within earshot to listen for their names. A lady came out from behind the counter with a handful of registration cards and started calling out names. Not to let people vote, just to return their cards. Their names had been entered into the computer and had been found worthy (eligible) to vote. Soon names would be called out again, this time to sign absentee application forms. After that they'd be escorted elsewhere, to the place the voting machines were kept secure under the eagle-eye of staff members. Thirty minutes after handing in my card, my name was called and I elbowed my way to the counter. A new clean and shiny card was handed to me! My old somewhat dilapidated one had gone through the washer and dryer several years ago. Thoroughly scotch-taped from stem to stern it had remained readable, but now I had a spick and span new edition. I gratefully accepted the card and tried to return to my spot to chat with my friends again. No such luck, that spot was gone and I wound up across the room, alone with my thoughts in the crowd. Forty-five minutes after my arrival my name was called again. I signed the absentee application form and three of us voters were ushered a few yards down the hall to the relative peace and quiet of the voting room. In less than five minutes I made my electronic marks, double-checked my choices, and that was it. I had voted. The last time it took me that long to vote was a Presidential election eight years ago, on the regular day and at my regular precinct. For the first time in some years I wasn't a precinct manager that day, just an ordinary voter. A somewhat noisy but friendly line zigged and zagged several times across the Delmae cafetorium and Tim and I kept seeing friends and neighbors as we inched our way forward, so the time didn't pass too slowly. It took about an hour and a half for us to vote that day despite the fact we'd purposely gone in the middle of the morning, usually the least busy hours. I hate to think what the lines and the waits will be like on November 4th, 2008. I'm glad I was eligible to vote absentee this election and made the effort to vote early, rain or no rain. |