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Entry bubble The Day After...

By: Colleen | November 05, 2008 | Category: General

white houseSo yesterday you voted. Three cheers for democracy in action!

Regardless of who you were supporting, I think we can all agree that it's a relief for the election to be over. Living in Virginia, we've been bombarded with political commercials and radio ads. My mailbox has been stuffed to the brim with flyers and brochures trying to sway my vote. The election has crept into my daily life in ways that I never would have noticed before.

For example, right now I am working from home because I have a hot date with the plumber. His name is Joe. So yes, I am literally waiting for "Joe the Plumber" as I write this. 2 months ago? Not one bit funny. Now? Not gonna lie, I'm having a chuckle.

I'm curious to hear how everyone's voting experience went. Predictions were that this election would see a record turnout of people at the polls. Did you wait in long lines, like my sister, who ultimately made three trips to our township building to eventually cast her vote? Were there any problems with your registration? On the other hand, did things go well and efficiently for you? What changes to the voting system would you like to see?

As for me, I voted a few weeks ago via absentee ballot. No lines for this girl!

| View Comments [10] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: absentee_ballot   ballot   colleen   election   political_ads   polls   vote  

Comments (10):

blue comment bubble Posted by Fred on November 05, 2008 at 09:39 AM EST

Voting was uneventful. Last week, I voted absentee. I avoided the possible problem of electronic machine chicanery.

Mailbox flooding was not a problem, since I tear up the propaganda and discard.

However, the phone calls are really annoying. I keep a paper tally of these calls, and the one who calls least, until the time I vote, gets my vote. This is most effective when I wait till election day and go to the polls rather than voting absentee.

Also, I hang up as soon as I hear - "Hello, this is...".

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blue comment bubble Posted by Peppermint on November 05, 2008 at 10:20 AM EST

I waited in line for about an hour but I didn't mind because the candidate pushers weren't too pushy and this was an important election. I was also glad to see that people who had some type of handicap or limitation were taken right up to the front to vote - I thought that was nice (specially since my mom was one of those that needed a little help). The only hiccup in voting is that my mom and I have the same name and address so it's always fun to see how confused it makes the people there. Luckily, we've dealt with it enough to know exactly how to explain it to them. So, voting wasn't bad. I'm happy with the outcome and even if he ends up being as bad as some other presidents, it's only for four years. I'm keeping my hopes cautiously up.

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blue comment bubble Posted by LUCKYLADY46158 on November 05, 2008 at 11:33 AM EST

IT DOES MY HEART GOOD TO GO VOTE. THAT WAY IF I HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS THEN I CAN SAY, "WELL YOU VOTED FOR HIM". IF YOU DON'T VOTE, THEN YOU HAVE NO SAY IN COMPLAINTS. I AM DISABLED, BUT THEY GOT ME IN RIGHT AWAY, THERE WERE NO LINES, I THINK MOST PEOPLE VOTED EARLY. THE UNITED STATES MADE HISTORY YESTERDAY. I BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS IN THIS ELECTION. I"M PROUD TO SAY I VOTED FOR OBAMA!

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blue comment bubble Posted by stylin mom on November 05, 2008 at 11:50 AM EST

This election helped me believe in our election process and the power of American people. Our vote does count and we voted for change. This morning, my husband and I looked at our 2 year old son and said "Yesterday - we made history."

It is a time to celebrate, then get back to work as ONE country. Remember, future generations are going to ask us about this moment. And we can say we were there... and we made a difference.



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blue comment bubble Posted by sharon on November 05, 2008 at 03:33 PM EST

I don't know about anyone else but a man who does not wear the flag on his lapel does not deserve to be President--
"OBAMA, OBAMA, where are you?---you're supposed to stand for the RED WHITE AND BLUE?11/05/08

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blue comment bubble Posted by Mary@SimplyForties on November 05, 2008 at 09:36 PM EST

I voted last week and still had to stand in a short line. It was a great day yesterday and I am hopeful about the future.

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blue comment bubble Posted by saman.shahin@gmail.com on November 07, 2008 at 10:37 AM EST

because increasing rate of participating and changing their ..., I believe the real winner in this vote is american citizens.

I congratulate everybody!

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blue comment bubble Posted by takeonthefuture on November 07, 2008 at 01:41 PM EST

There were no lines for me. My Dad and I walked right in and because we were already registered we signed in and got our ballots. We were out of there in 10 minutes.

My only complaint is that they NEVER provide felt-tipped pens for paper ballots! It takes FOREVER to fill in a bubble with a ballpoint pen! Other than that, I really like the paper, bubble-sheet ballots that we have here in Minnesota.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Cheryl on November 08, 2008 at 01:03 PM EST

No problems with voting, as I voted absentee. I would have preferred to receive the absentee ballot a little sooner (it arrived 2-3 weeks after the voter handbook).

I have voice mail, so like Fred, as soon as I hear one of those perky voices saying, "Hello, this is..." I delete the message. On the rare occassions when I am home to answer my phone and get a call from one of them, I just say, "Sorry." and hang up. Likewise, mail box flooding is not a problem. The mailing pieces go straight to the recycling box. Since I rarely watch TV, and listen only to public radio stations, I've heard few political commercials. And the ones I did hear usually distorted the facts.

When I was growing up, my whole family walked to our polling place together, rain or shine. I was included before I was eligible to vote. Perhaps that is why I consider voting both and privelege and a duty for citizens. In some countries, people literally risk their lives to vote, but in America, some find it "inconvenient" and don't want to be bothered. I just don't understand that attitude.

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blue comment bubble Posted by bobcro957 on November 10, 2008 at 08:31 AM EST

No lines in our small town, not many turned out to vote. I did not vote for Obama, basically because he was continually promising things he could not deliver. He won because the middle class or lower voters truly believed the stories that he could give away the store without a cost. Someone has to pay for that. Why did they believe in his health plan, Bush couldn't do it and the Clinton's went out of their way to do it. Didn't happen. The biggest loss was the Republican party because their national chairman did not exist in this election. They not only lost the Oval Office, they lost control of Congress. And what is it going to cost us to pay back all the monies donated to the campaigns. Those hundreds of millions that were spent. Favors will have to be paid back.

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