Election Day


I got up early this morning and headed to the polls. This is the first time I've really voted in a real, live election. I did vote by absentee ballot in the last election while I was living in France. However, I'm not sure if my ballot was counted because I didn't put any postage on the envelope. The envelope said "no postage necessary" and it did not specifically state that the free postage was within the US only, but I still wonder.

There were around 200 people queuing up when I got to my polling station at 6.55am. Once they opened the doors, things went pretty smoothly and I was on the road to work at 7.30. We had touch screen voting booths that print your vote out on a strip of cash-register tape. Being in the room sort of reminded me of a casino with all the whirring and clicking. I would not have been surprised to hear a bell and the clinging of coins.


I finished up my vote, got my sticker and snapped this final shot of the polling station. Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures inside. My civic duty is now complete for the next four years. Don't forget to get out and vote today!!!

11 comments:

Olivier said...

un écran tactile pour voter, c'est bizarre de voir que l'on vote de manière différente dans chaque état. En France le système est le même partout, je trouve cela plus simple (même si il y a des fois des problèmes, mais rarement)
a touch screen to vote, it is strange to see that we vote differently in each state. In France the system is the same everywhere, I find it easier (even if there are both problems, but rarely)

Chris said...

Congrats! There were about 150 people in line when I went to take the photo this morning.

Tanya Breese said...

Ours went really quick, in and out. We were electronic too :)

Halcyon said...

I am sort of surprised that Mississippi is so tech-savvy. But maybe it's just my county, we're one of the more "well-to-do" ones.

ben wideman said...

great photos. your civic duty is never complete! even if your party does win, you can continue to write letters to your members of congress and speak up. Don't forget elections take place almost every year in most areas!

Virginia said...

Well I voted on your basic paper ballot with a Bic pen! We don't need that high tech stuff in Alabama . Heck fire!

China????? How amazing. Business or pleasure??
V

Halcyon said...

I think the basic paper and bic method is probably more reliable. :) Although the screen system was pretty good. You could look at your "receipt" and make sure it was right before it got wound into the main tape.

China is pleasure for me and business for my husband. It's like getting a trip for 1/2 price since we only have to pay for one ticket! :)

crittoria said...

Your town is so high tech compared to ours - paper & pencil for us. And the ballots are hand counted.

Janet said...

Our polling place wasn't too bad, but I saw lines out to the streets at others today.

Jilly said...

It's really nice to read an up close and personal account of the voting process. And a great result! Change is here and I know it will be GOOD.

brian stout said...

Nice post =) but there are midterms in 2010 to look forward to in 2 years!! ;-) i'm looking forward to a break from politics for a while... i've gone through a burnout, but i'll be ready for 2010!