Posted by
Catmman on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 6:23:40 PM
Went to the polls with the wife today for early voting in Texas-23 (I live in San Antonio).
Got to the polls about 1:00pm. No line out the door, but it's almost the end of early voting so I didn't really expect to see one.
The polling place, a local library, had 14 electronic voting machines available. Traffic in and out of the polls was steady. Once we had checked in (we didn't have our voter registration cards, but we showed our state drivers license), it was only about a minute before we got up to a voting machine. I took me six seconds to show my ID. I don't see how having to show an ID to vote is such a big deal. Of course I know why it is, but that's subject matter for another post.
The poll worker was friendly and helpful as they invariably are in my neck of the woods here in Texas. The voting machine instructions were clear and concise. I had no problems understanding any of the instructions or reading the screen. Many older folks were voting today and none of them seemed to be having any problems, though I did hear a few requests for clarification on a few things from two older folks while I was in the polling place, nothing major from what I could hear.
I cast my votes with no problems. I double checked my 'work' as you have to before confirming your vote. If this is the way electronic voting machines are around the country, I don't understand the problems people have with them. I can see how some older folks could have some issues - not being familiar with the technology being the biggest issue - but everything really was pretty straight forward. And to be completely honest, these type of voting machines have been around for years now, at least here where I live, so there shouldn't be too much unfamiliarity with them anymore. Just making a statement, don't crucify me.
I wore a Ace of Spades HQ blog pin I have and was able to take in a Icee with me to vote (we don't have Slurpees around here Mr. President). No one at the poll place made an issue of it. My wife even took a few pics of me while I was voting - not my actual votes or anyone else, just of me standing there voting and one pic of me smaltzing holding up my Icee right after I voted. she forgot to save the pics though, so I can't share them with you. She got no grief from any poll worker for doing this, either.
All in all, took about ten minutes for both me and my wife to vote from entering the polling place to walking out.
Feels good.
If you haven't, get out and vote for early voting or get out on election day.
Do your part.