Voting in Ohio

  At 9:15 am, the voting line at the Euclid Heights Episcopal Church was non existent. The young, raven-haired, skinny-hipped law student who represented the station's sole voter protection "squad" seemed incredibly bored. The student perked up briefly whenever someonee left the center, asking hopefully whether there were any problems with voting. She looked absolutely crushed when there wasn't.

My precinct had 750 registered voters. By mid-morning, 81 people had voted. Registrars said that 1/3 of our constituents had voted early. People had no problem with the actual ballot casting-- it was just the strange blue masking tape stuck to the floor that caused people stress. No one really noticed the blue strips -- until they got yelled at for stepping on them or not waiting behind them or ignoring them. Ast the end of voting, what I really wanted to do was rip the blue masking tape off the floor and stick it over the grumpy registrar's mouth. I thought it would be a very patriotic move --but I doubted that the police officer -- stationed a block from the voting location -- would feel the same way.

All in all, I found that the biggest problems were not at the voting booth -- but rather at Starbucks afterwards. If I had to wait a whole, like, ten minutes to get my free cup of coffee. Now that's a system that really needs reforming.

Comments

[Lisa]

i also had a boring voting experience in yet another swing state http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2008/11/the_perils_of_easy_voting_in_a.php
and apparently, the starbucks line is an issue in lots of places. ask Elisa!

[Ryan]

I think this is the best take on voting I've seen so far today. But what we really want to know is, did Sarah Palin earn your vote? Clearly Starbucks did, and I never thought that would ever happen.

[Rachel]

Here's my voting story at the Alcazar, a home for seniors:

An senior citizen turned in her ballot. The poll workers told her, "we can't scan this ballot because you checked in the spaces. You have to bubble."

They let her try it on her own...wrong idea. Somehow she ended up under-bubbling, then over-bubbling, until finally one poll worker asked her if she would rather have her bubble for her. The old woman, reluctantly turned down the offer. She kept saying, "is that right?" After much direction, the poll workers pointed to who she had "bubbled" in (or hence lack thereof) for president, and asked her if that was for sure her choice for president. She eagerly said, "yes!" When she left, the poll workers weren't sure if they should scan her ballot, or wait to ask their "boss" because it was so messy.

oye vey! When did voting get this difficult? As a special ed teacher, I vote that people with disabilities and older Americans are given computers where they click on the person, rather than dealing with a pen (which you can't erase) and bubbles.

As for Starbucks, I unfortunately didn't make it thanks the to the one around he corner being closed for remodeling. : (

[S. Carmen]

Ah! There you are! I loved your writing from the "Scene" and glad to see your on-the-mark and funny observations continue in your blog! I had the free coffee at Starbucks, too. They whispered "free tall" when I asked about the voter giveaway, so no one else would hear! (I was there early). Keep writing - I'll keep reading! Thanks!