Election Day…

I did it! I voted today! I didn’t make it in line at 6:30am, but I was in line by 6:45am. I cast my ballet at 8am. Not too bad a wait, although I thought it might run a bit quicker. I was not complaining. I planned ahead. I wore trainers and planned for the long haul—if only I had taken a coffee with me.

I learned a few things while waiting in line.

1. Some individuals do not know how to stand in a line. The lady behind me was a “too close” stander. I could understand if there was limited space in which to cue, cue such a funny word, didn’t know it was to stand in line when I was in Europe, I was very confused the first time I learned of it while waiting on a bus. A lady said their cueing and off she went, what-what—what does this mean, then I learned. Anyway—give a little space, good grief we were outside there was no need to keep hitting me while I was patiently waiting to cast my vote.

2. Some will go to all lengths to take advantage of a situation. My polling place was inside a Catholic School. I didn’t really care, some had to go to Kroger to vote. However, then the school set up a bake sale right outside the polling room, I got a bit annoyed. One they were blocking the bottom of a stairway with a large table—fire hazard! Two, really you think this is the time for a bake sale? Honestly they likely will make money after individuals stand in line for an hour or more, but the ethics of it, just bothers me. Now if the bake sale were at the other end of building with a sign, then great, but don’t put it right in my face.

3. I’m just a bitch. The policy states that campaign signs have to be at least 100 yards from a polling center. Well, I found it odd a car with campaign signs in the back window was allowed to park directly outside the polling entrance. I questioned it when I signed in. The lady said she would take care of it. I started to feel bad, thinking a teacher would have to leave class to move the car. I then didn’t feel a bit bad, when another poll worker was asked to go move the car. WHAT! You are a poll worker, you should know the policy -- to have your signs the last items an individual sees before voting is just wrong.

4. There are no longer curtains to stand behind when voting. It’s out in the open, you have a bit of privacy, but Lou decided at the last moment to go with me to see the process. I planned to take his photo and all with the ballet, but that was not an option, no curtain to hide behind.

5. Starbucks knows how to do some serious marketing--yeah for free coffee.

Do you have any fun voting stories?