Anne and I just got back from voting.
Our polling place was well-staffed by very friendly and helpful people, and there was absolutely no line at all. We were in and out in about ten minutes. The Los Angeles Times was conducting an exit poll at our location, but I didn’t get asked to participate. Darnit.
I was a little unsure about how I’d use our new optical scan ballots, but they are actually identical to the punch-card ballots I’ve used since I was eighteen, with the only difference being we stamp the card rather than punch it.
So as of about 8:15 this morning, John Kerry has two more votes from California. 🙂
My friend Kathleen is a poll worker in Los Angeles, and she wanted me to share the following blogging.la post with Los Angeles voters:
I know, I know. You’ve been told to vote by everyone and their uncle already. However, as your friendly neighborhood election official, I feel an obligation to ask you to vote. If you don’t know where your polling place is, you can go to LA Vote, My Polling Place, or My Polling Site to find out. If you haven’t received confirmation of your registration, just locate your polling place and bring a photo ID. If we can’t find you on the rolls, we can issue you a provisional ballot. If you’ve recently moved, or you have any other reason to think your registration hasn’t been processed, you can at the very least go to your local polling place and find out. It’ll be busy there, but we’ll make sure your vote is counted.
I hear that people in Florida and Ohio are waiting for several hours to vote, and I hear that there are already massive instances of voter intimidation in Ohio and attempts in South Dakota, so I consider myself very fortunate that I cast my ballot so easily.
Today is our day, America. Get out there and make your voice heard, and be sure to thank the people who have volunteered to work the polls. They’re probably going to have a long and difficult day.
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Goddyss,
I won’t cover all your points, I don’t disagree with them all, anyways. But…
Gas prices aren’t any one President’s fault. We’re all aware of the changing state of supply… Venezuela, then pipeline attacks [blame that one on W. if you like], the strike in Nigeria, the looming strike in Nigeria, etc. Those world market issues and…
What rarely seems to be addressed is the fact that no new refineries have been brought online and even if per capita consumption is steady [not likely with all the SUVs and big V8 sedans & trucks], the non-stop growing population puts more vehicles on the road every day/week/month/year. Which means more demand using the same maxed out supply = higher prices. [p.s. our gas is still fantastically cheap compared to Europe.]
1,000,000 lost jobs since when??? The day Bush was sworn in? How did he manage to put his mark on the economy from day 1??? Every president has always “inherited” the economy that is so huge, like an oil tanker [nice one, Ed, lol] that is slow to change course, let alone turn around, or sink. Dubya’s mark on employment wasn’t felt for months at the very soonest.
And Sept. 11th. Yes, it happened while he was President. But how long had he been in office [7.5 months] vs. how long had that been planned by the terrorists??? [3 years http://www.usatoday.com/news/sept11/2002/06/19/intelligence-usat.htm%5D
You make it sound like Bin Laden & al Queida just popped up during George W’s term. Was 9/11 their first attack in this world? They’ve been killing for longer than that.
Just my two cents, again. But I’ve gotta speak up when accusations are cast that aren’t exactly accurate. This has nothing to do with whether or not Bush or anyone is ultimately to blame as a significant cause of some very bad things. [He’s guilty of plenty, just like most Presidents.]
I just can’t stand how the written word is both so capable and incapable of communicating. [perfect for us humans, I guess]
Two more Kerry votes here, Wil!!! I got my husband to FINALLY vote, he’s 32 and this is his first election where he voted……he is incredibly mild-mannered and takes the opinion of “whatever happens, happens”, but the royal f***up of Dubya has sent him into a tizzy….I know he’s not alone, so watch out George!! Voted in the state of North Dakota, which is the only state that does not require voter registration, in fact the big hoopla this year was that you actually need picture ID, before you just went up and gave your name and address and they hand you a ballot….so NO excuse for anyone from ND to not vote,our polling place was kind of busy for 11AM, but that’s a great sign……I will be waiting eagerly as well tonight for the results, and hopefully, change will prevail!
Voted Bush, the soft billionare who wants to raise taxes on people is going to get us all killed.
i couldn’t wait to get off work and vote…i am optimistic that the young voters will turn the tide in this election in favor of JOHN KERRY…this election really is all about the future…i believe the future is going to be better with KERRY as president…he’ll bring accountability and fairness back to the white house…and he’ll a president who keeps the hearts, minds, and needs of all people in mind when making policy….prediction KERRY 52%…BUSH 47%…NADER 1%…and yes i predict KERRY will also win in electorol votes.
great post wil! i live here in hell… oops sorry i meant to say ohio! i showed up at the polls at 6:30am today and their was a line wrapped around the building! it was raining, and i am stupid so i didnt have an umbrella. here in ohio we (not me) chew tabaky (tobacco) and some @ss hole spit on my shoe. unfortunatly things didnt get better…
three people started saying that anyone that voted for kerry was “unpatriotic” (sp?) a few people spoke up but i just stood their in the rain wishing i could be anywhere else but there.
im in social work and live in cincinnati. today everyone in the world is in my face about “the big election.” and one client went as far as to offer me $20.00 if i voted for bush! the thing is, that he was there trying to get FOOD STAMPS AND CASH!!!!!!!! UUUUUGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAA!
sorry for the long post but today is not a good day.
Where I live, Texas (no one gies a shit, I know), the polls are fucking packed. Same in New Mexico. 46 percent of NM’s population voted early. That’s BEFORE regular polling figures come in. They’re predicting they won’t be able to count them all tonight. Burn Baby Burn. No more years.
Go Bush!!!!
D. Burr posted: “…he’ll bring accountability and fairness…”
Accountability and Fairness???!!! John Kerry is a career politician. 19 years in the Senate, alone.
Just because one candidate is bad doesn’t make the other a saint.
Now, if one says that ol’ saying: “I voted for the least worst candidate.” then I’d agree.
Got up early this morning and voted in Alaska. It was -6F out, so no one was standing outside in line. We use paper ballots and a ballpoint pen to color in the large circle beside the name of our choice. The polls on the East Coast will close and the winner announced (typically) before our polls close at 7:00 p.m. That’s 11:00 p.m. in New York. But, we vote anyway. It’s a good excuse to see our neighbors and take the dog sled out for a spin.
Go Kerry and Tony Knowles! Vote Anti-Republican! Remember: a vote against Bush is a vote against Cheney, Karl Rove, Rummy and all the other corporate thugs who have taken over the GOP.
Good post, wil. I think my experience was pretty similar to yours up here in good ol’ Fresno, although I may have spent about 20 mins inside, even without a line. That ballot was just huge (about 2 ft long, covered on both sides for the non-Californians).
As I said on my own blog, I’m real happy so many people are voting this year. If everyone voted, I wouldn’t complain about the outcome, because it would be clear to me that America got who it wanted. I just wish everyone would vote.
And, btw, I voted for David Cobb for pres and Jim Gray for senate. That’s right, I chose the Green party and the Libertarian party.
Where I live the polls are packed. Nobody wants that gasbag Kerry in office (well I guess the terriorists do). Anyway, regardless, we would be bored to death for the next 4 years with his blathering. 4 more years baby, 4 more years!
Just because I want to share (and because I think it’s pretty good) I want to show you folks what I posted on my blog earlier today.
THE MOMENT OF CHANGE
It’s not very often that the world changes in so notable a way that both the old and young can stop and see the change occur around them, like air molecules drenched in the golden sunlight of an autumn dusk. Yet these moments occur, perhaps as often as blue moons; perhaps as rarely as leap years.
I don’t need to tell you that we live in a world of change and chaos. We live in a time of innocence ending, and where we walk now will be remembered always. These are the days and actions that will be repeated in story again and again for the rest of our society’s future history, and the most amazing thing is that we now decide the course of that history. I know this: we will be heroes, but whether we will be defined by our flaws or by our virtues is still something we are deciding at this late hour.
My message to you is this: we no longer have to be afraid. We no longer must embrace fear as though it is an old lover or friend. Our best days are yet to come, and if we maintain the courage of our convictions those days will be sooner rather than later. I tell you this because today is the day we can vote for change. Today is the day we can vote to ease our conscience and strengthen our hope, and we can do it by simply voting for a man named John Kerry. The days of our shame as Americans can be over, the hours in which we hide behind our fear can be passed. Amazingly we are the deciders of our destiny, and I ask you how many societies are allowed that privilege? How many societies can change the very course of future history in the moment of greatest need?
I believe that a vote for Kerry is a vote for a stronger future – a future where we will no longer need to be afraid. Already, I am not afraid.
I hope you won’t be afraid either, and if you’re reading this and are American and registered to vote, I beg that you do. Even if it’s for George W. Bush. But a vote for Bush is a vote for fear, and I for one am tired of fearing anything.
I voted this morning in Atlanta. About a 45 minute wait…not bad!
I disagree with most of you and believe that John Kerry would make a horrible president. I voted for George W. Bush.
Two points:
1. Despite the prevailing wisdom that high voter turnout will benefit Kerry, it’s a great thing that so many are voting!
2. Regardless of the outcome and winner, let’s hope we can all come together as a nation to support our elected president. Given the Bush-bashing fervor that has become so popular, I’m not so sure…but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Off to the township building to vote now. One more for Kerry in PA, that I promise you…
I’m a fiercely proud Canadian and have been watching the race closely.
The vote is in America, being made by Americans, but its result will send shockwaves out to the rest of the world. In a way, this election is a global election because of the kind of power that the US President has in hand.
This will definately be an historic event, regardless of the outcome.
2 hour wait in NE Burbs of Atlanta for me. Glad to see that there is such a good turnout this year! The level of political apathy in this country was getting scarry.
I participated in the early voting last week. Voted for Kerry (I live in Georgia, so it probably won’t matter that much). I am also a volunteer for the local branch of the Dem party. Spent the morning giving rides to the polls for those who didn’t have one. Lines here seem to be around an hour and a half. I have helped around 30 or so people get to the polls so far. Hope it helps.
I’m glad that you’ve made voting such an integral part of your blog lately…
Like yourself, I have done my part, and hopefully it’s enough to make a difference in our current status. I was up at 6am, and saw the interview with the Bushes. They seem extremely confident that the results will all be in favor of them. I really hope it doesn’t turn out like they hope.
I’m currently a college student who like many others have felt the crunch of this administration- in terms of tuition hike and even loss of programs. I am keeping my fingers crossed!
I am tired of you ignorant Canadians and your uninformed, baseless opinions.
Wow! Drudge report lists this entry at the top of the page. Very cool.
I’m glad everyone is voting. Lives are at stake. Whether you’re a Republican (and worried about possible future terror attacks or 1.2 million abortions a year) or if you’re a Democrat (and you’re worried about thousands of victims of war and the impending health care implosion), either way please vote.
In my opinion, apathy is a much greater sign of a sick culture than disagreeing with me on my pet issues.
God bless the people of America!
career politician is a label that has been made to be evil by the endless barrage of attack advertising…but it’s not a label that should always be negative…catch phrases like “career politician” don’t carry too much weight with me these days…i’ll go with JOHN KERRY…who was a soldier before he was a politician…rather than a politician who needed to be a soldier after the fact.
Wil:
Once again, you bring not only the philosophy and lifestyle of the California – land into my mind, and heart, but you make me feel, for a second, like I am back in my beloved Anaheim.
I posted something on my website blog that I would hope you might check out. I’d be interested in your comment.
Yes, I voted here in Indiana. Already, from my precinct, there have been some court cases filed. I don’t know who, what, or why. All I know is that I am really feeling right now that my vote is at risk. I just don’t know what to say about what that is making me feel.
To hear that people’s votes have been “stolen” is one thing. To sit and watch the web, TV, radio, and carrier pigeons to make certain that my vote actually makes it to the certified count, is making me nuts.
I will let you know how it turns out. Man, what a crock!
Good post, by the way. I liked your answer to the question posed to you.
Live Yer Bliss!
Budroe
Regarding the Photo ID, if you have moved to a new district, at least in California, you can be required to show ID. The line where I signed had printed in grey “Photo ID Required” as I’ve recently moved up to San Jose.
There was a pretty good turnout at 7:30 this morning at my polling place. There were 5 machines plus one booth for provisional voters, and approximately 30 people in line ahead of us. It took 50 minutes between when we walked in and when we got our “I Voted Touchscreen” stickers.
Wil:
Once again, you bring not only the philosophy and lifestyle of the California – land into my mind, and heart, but you make me feel, for a second, like I am back in my beloved Anaheim.
I posted something on my website blog that I would hope you might check out. I’d be interested in your comment.
Yes, I voted here in Indiana. Already, from my precinct, there have been some court cases filed. I don’t know who, what, or why. All I know is that I am really feeling right now that my vote is at risk. I just don’t know what to say about what that is making me feel.
To hear that people’s votes have been “stolen” is one thing. To sit and watch the web, TV, radio, and carrier pigeons to make certain that my vote actually makes it to the certified count, is making me nuts.
I will let you know how it turns out. Man, what a crock!
Good post, by the way. I liked your answer to the question posed to you.
Live Yer Bliss!
Budroe
Wil:
Once again, you bring not only the philosophy and lifestyle of the California – land into my mind, and heart, but you make me feel, for a second, like I am back in my beloved Anaheim.
I posted something on my website blog that I would hope you might check out. I’d be interested in your comment.
Yes, I voted here in Indiana. Already, from my precinct, there have been some court cases filed. I don’t know who, what, or why. All I know is that I am really feeling right now that my vote is at risk. I just don’t know what to say about what that is making me feel.
To hear that people’s votes have been “stolen” is one thing. To sit and watch the web, TV, radio, and carrier pigeons to make certain that my vote actually makes it to the certified count, is making me nuts.
I will let you know how it turns out. Man, what a crock!
Good post, by the way. I liked your answer to the question posed to you.
Live Yer Bliss!
Budroe
Wil,
Congratulations on the successful vote. I am from Maine, which is also considered a swing-state by some. However, I’ve come to realize that Bush will NEVER win in this state. (YAY!) It’s not possible.
I turn seventeen at the end of the month, which means that I will obviously not be counted in my voting. Thank you for all those who ARE voting and moving America into another era. Many thanks from The Maine School of Science and Mathematics! Many of my friends spent the day going door to door telling people to vote, so for those who already did, GREAT JOB!
Nicholas
Three more Bush Votes here from San Diego, CA. today!
Although, I feel that it was an exercise in futility, considering, Electorally, California is a dyed-in-the-wool propellant for scary-Kerry, I still feel Great, having loaded up several of my neighbors to go down to the polls, all of us hoping and praying for 4 MORE Chivalrous YEARS of the Bush Presidency!
I VOTED FOR KERRY TODAY….. BUT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN WIL WHEATON FOR PRESIDENT…
Another Kerry vote from Florida here – it took me about five minutes to vote…NO line at ALL, and at noon (lunch hour) no less. Am I the only one?
Oregon is awesome because we have mail-in voting (you can also vote in person mailing is not your thing). So my vote was cast two weeks ago. I think all states should have that option.
Go Kerry!
Average Joe:
I’m assuming that you are making reference to my comment above.
What makes you think that I am uninformed?
What makes you believe that my opinions are baseless?
What makes you think that I am ignorant?
I’m truly curious.
Just think, if you threw a party and only invited the 400 richest couples in America to attend, John Kerry and Theresa Heinz would be there. Sounds like someone who is really going to be in touch with the little guy.
I thought democrats didn’t like old white rich guys??
Go Bush!!
Ignatz
You have no idea who Kerry is, you are all very foolish people. My friends in DC have worked with him on the Hill and from their experiences with him they think he is lazy and full of it. Actually most of his fellow senators think he is a joke. Now a man, who has done nothing in his career in the senate, is on the ticket for the Dems. A man who went behind the back of our government and negotiated with the communists in Vietnam is your pick. A man who lead a group in the 60s that planned the assassination of the high ranking government officials. This is a man who cannot be trusted, and you’ve let him right in the door to the most powerful position in the world. This is a man who supports the mass killing of babies that are unwanted, up until 7-8 months in a woman’s term. That my friends is murder and it is disgusting, and immoral. The list goes on and on. This man will not do what is in our countries best interest.
Just think, if you threw a party and only invited the 400 richest couples in America to attend, John Kerry and Theresa Heinz would be there. Sounds like someone who is really going to be in touch with the little guy.
I thought democrats didn’t like old white rich guys??
Go Bush!!
Ignatz
I am glad you two got to vote I will be crossing my fingers as well.
Done and done. 5 minutes in and out, painless, and there’s NO QUESTION OF WHO I VOTED FOR. I even joked with the polling employees about how “This ain’t Florida.”
Woodward Township A, Clearfield County Pennsylvania, ballot #397, straight Democrat with a write-in for Donnie Iris for Congress. Eric James Jacobson. Check it out, there’s no error on THAT ballot.
So, don’t blame me, I voted for Kerry…
This was my first election in CA! I live in Vista (yes, Issa’s district. I’m sorry! I didn’t vote for him.) The only snag I experienced was that my registration information wasn’t available at my polling site even though I got the voting pamphlet with the polling place listed on it. The poll workers were cool about it though. They let me fill out a ballot anywayswhich got placed in an envelope that got placed in a separate box in order to processed later. I got a receipt for it too. For those who did have their registration information ready, they got to use an optical scanner on site. Pretty neat. Below is a link for SD County voting results:
http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/Eng/Epopup.html
“Denny Crane”
I voted in Fresno (yes, that’s a Republican part of California) this morning and it took about 30 minutes. The odd thing: I just can’t get used to voting in someone’s kitchen. I mean, I’m liberal and all, but it seems odd to invade someone’s home to vote.
But then I came out thinking “Wow. How great is it that this family is opening their home all day and I can just walk in. No gunfire. No hassles. Just me, some fellow citizens, and a 2-foot long ballot.”
And now I do the rest of my civic duty — work at the newspaper’s Web site all day and night to make sure people remain informed. Election days are the best. There is no better day in a newsroom.
Around 10:30am there were lines at the Burbank, CA courthouse… a half-dozen people waiting to check in and get our ballots, and then another line of a dozen or two waiting to use the Inkadot paper ballot booths.
My only feeling of dissatisfaction about casting my ballot is that no matter how much research I do each year online, I always remain comparatively uninformed about the judicial races, despite using http://www.calvoter.org/ and http://www.congress.org/congressorg/e4/ .
Since everyone’s posting election results websites, here’s the one for my little corner of the US, Clearfield County, PA:
http://www.election.clearfieldco.org/index.html
Go Bush?
Bush Go!
I’m a military brat… Dad was in the Air Force for 29 yrs. Elisted, then went to OTC and worked his way up to Colonel 3 or 4 years ahead of “schedule” without the benefit of being a pilot or being assigned to the Pentagon.
I respect and am damn proud of the men and women serving our nation.
Many are young. As in college aged-just outta high school-haven’t even lived life on their own yet-[for the most part] kind of young. Kerry was in the military. I respect that about him. He’s a father and a husband. Respect that, too.
But he’s a former soldier AND he was a leader in an organization called Vietnam Veterans Against the War. That rubs me the wrong way. That’s like joining the military, getting your education paid for, then refusing to do the sworn duty you WILLINGLY signed up for by being a concientious objector. Does the word Hypocrite come to mind??? Or pehaps Hanoi Jane if yoo’re old enough?
But as most of us grow older beyond our college aged years… we start to become who we are going to be. And Kerry became a politician.
Yes, “career policitian” is a media driven phrase… and a political game phrase [it was used heavily by everyone, not just the press when term limits came up, here in Calif.], but in general politicians are NOT a selfless, public serving, & altruistic bunch.
So, when I say Kerry, a 20+ year politician, is a “career politician” like he’s some kind of stereotypical “bad” politician… I mean exactly that. [Not to mention his Senate record the past couple years. Nothing to brag about there, lol!]
Check Kerry & Bush’s political experience. Not all that different, huh?
From http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=S0421103
Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 1984-present
Lieutenant Governor, Massachusetts, 1983-1985
Democratic Nominee, United States House of Representatives, 1972.
http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=CNIP9043
Political Experience:
President, United States of America, 2000-present
Governor of Texas, 1994-2000
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 1978.
So we may get rid of Bush’s rigidly, narrow focus and cowboy mentality… but we’ll get a typical politician that has delusions of grandeur, is self centered, ego maniacal… all the things that are common to leaders, in politics, especially. [Not saying Dubya isn’t like that, either!]
Thank you so much for your info on what it was like to vote in L.A. here in Chicago it was very easy in and out every one was supper friendly and I really enjoyed my self I know I chose the right man for the job, keep on doing the best you are truly a blessed man and have a wounderful family from what I’ve read.
Glad to hear your voting experience was good. I voted this morning and had no lines or problems as well here in PA. Bush has another middle class vote here in PA.
Early voting r0x0rz. I cast my ballot two weeks ago.
There’s things to dislike about both major candidates this year. But, like it or not, one of ’em is gonna win, and if you wait for “perfection” in a Presidential candidate, you’ll be waiting a mighty long time. I chose the candidate I trusted more–not completely, but more–to carry out the important work that needs doing in our country and the world. Your choice may be different, or it may be the same. Just get out there today and make the choice.
The line here in Anchorage was only about 20 minutes, but every minute well spent if the election goes like the Game on sunday — where the home team (incumbant) goes down in flames.
I just can’t vote for a man who won’t tell me anything – all he has is a ‘plan’. All I know is that he has married well (twice), will not release all of the records about a war that is his major campaign focus (and was over before a large percentage of his base was *alive*), and cannot point to a single accomplishment in two decades of professional life.
I don’t think he has the moral fibre or temper to do well in the job he covets so much.
Anyway, once I finish working, I’m off to stand in line.
Voter intimidation?!?
Are you guys for real? Voting is compulsory for me so everybody over 18 has to vote anyway, but intimidating voters? Is this a banana republic?
I’d like to see the first guy trying to stare me down or “challenge” [challenge, for crying out loud] my right to vote… It is absolutely impossible for that to happen here. That lasts 5 minutes and then it’s off to the courthouse. Voter intimidation… the mind boggles.
It’s very good for your democratic process that many people vote. If few people vote, the voice of the weaker people is not heard. That is not a good thing.
I have heard George Walker say that he is a better commander in chief than John Kerry would be. This raises eyebrows. He could have easily stepped in his daddy’s footsteps and become a war hero. He must have missed that connotation during the Viet Nam war.
Also: abusing the Executive Power to lead the country into war on false pretenses is kinda, sorta maybe a bit of an impeachable offense. Why does no one point that out in a court of law?
It has to be John Kerry. We can’t afford a friend of God four more years.
If you think I should shut up because I’m not an American: if you’re going to be a super power, the world will be watching you. I’m an afflicted party and I have no way to defend myself. Try to see it from my perspective.
Furthermore: I have always liked Wil Wheaton, even when he was still only a young ensign. He should not have done the Kolvoord Starburst maneuver, but you know how it goes: when you’re young and irresponsible, you’re young and irresponsible.
Peace to each and everyone of you.
I voted in Houston, Texas using an electronic tablet that left me with no verifiable audit trail. I assume that the machine recorded my vote, but who knows? If there is any problem, later, then the votes in that machine will be gone. No possible recount. I am not happy about that.
Bolie IV