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Democracy in action
Nov. 2nd, 2004 06:18 pmIt's 6:00. We got to the polling place at 1:30, and just got back. Let's hear it for swing state voting with punch cards and chads and a butterfly ballot in a politically-active college town.
*whew*
It was exhilharating, albeit wet. We were out in the rain for 90 minutes, then inside the library in a long wending line for the next 150. The library was packed with college kids; K. and I waited next to a very sweet (and, yes, cute) sophomore named Hannah, with whom we had pleasant conversations. I read all of an Astro City graphic novel (turns out the library has a nice collection of comics); volunteers handed out pretzels and cupcakes and, eventually, pizzas. Community spirit ran high. There were no challengers, as far as I could tell, although the guy who checked my address tried to trick me. ("Apartment B?" "No, apartment A. Ha-ha!")
And I got to meet Chad, whom I did not leave hanging. It amazes me that we are still using this archaic method of voting, especially after 2000, but I have to admit it was satisfying to feel the little stylus chunk down through the oaktag. My vote still only counts once, but after the four-hour wait it felt especially significant.
C'mon, John.
[Edits: it just occurred to me that we had zero third-party candidates in any race (other than Presidential). None at all. Normally I vote for a local Green here or there, but everybody was a donkey or an elephant.]
[I liked the county coroner, who says the coroner's duty is to "speak for the dead." Creepy guys get my vote!]
[There was a conspicuous CANDIDATE REMOVED slot below Kerry and Bush. No luck in Ohio, Ralph.]
*whew*
It was exhilharating, albeit wet. We were out in the rain for 90 minutes, then inside the library in a long wending line for the next 150. The library was packed with college kids; K. and I waited next to a very sweet (and, yes, cute) sophomore named Hannah, with whom we had pleasant conversations. I read all of an Astro City graphic novel (turns out the library has a nice collection of comics); volunteers handed out pretzels and cupcakes and, eventually, pizzas. Community spirit ran high. There were no challengers, as far as I could tell, although the guy who checked my address tried to trick me. ("Apartment B?" "No, apartment A. Ha-ha!")
And I got to meet Chad, whom I did not leave hanging. It amazes me that we are still using this archaic method of voting, especially after 2000, but I have to admit it was satisfying to feel the little stylus chunk down through the oaktag. My vote still only counts once, but after the four-hour wait it felt especially significant.
C'mon, John.
[Edits: it just occurred to me that we had zero third-party candidates in any race (other than Presidential). None at all. Normally I vote for a local Green here or there, but everybody was a donkey or an elephant.]
[I liked the county coroner, who says the coroner's duty is to "speak for the dead." Creepy guys get my vote!]
[There was a conspicuous CANDIDATE REMOVED slot below Kerry and Bush. No luck in Ohio, Ralph.]
