I voted yesterday. I was a panic attack waiting to happen on the way there, what with the Twitter tales of three-hour-long waits and broken pencils and other horrors. I will say that I drove around 4th St NW looking for parking for at least 25 minutes, around and around and then around once again, and at one point actually contemplated driving closer to home and taking Metro in. Just as they do in winning arguments with your mother, patience and irritation apparently pay off, because after stalking several slow old people who I just knew couldn’t be parked far from the building, I got a spot right out front. It’s the psychology degree; I can read people like they’re written in Helvetica.
Given that this city isn’t known for getting from A to B without going through Z, I really didn’t have high hopes for the voting experience. My impressions did not improve when a teenager, a boy no more than 14, opened the door for me with a shirt on that said VOLUNTEER. Because nothing says efficiency like kids texting and OMFGing over High School Musical 3 and the Jonas Brothers. They also had us writing on clipboards with pens attached to them by string, something that doesn’t scream exercising a right in your nation’s capital but instead SIGN UP HERE FOR THE ST. OLAF BAKE SALE.
I was wrong and I’ll be the first to say it. The whole process was ridiculously easy and I was in and out in 30 minutes max. There was a moment of confusion when I had trouble following the three-foot wide arrows plastered on the walls that pointed to the voting booths, but this was clearly due to my preoccupation with having left my Blackberry on the front seat of the car in my neurotic frenzy to park and get in the building and get out my ID that they didn’t even ask for. As if I had anything more important to do that day.
I was so excited to cast my ballot that I reviewed it five times before electronically approving it. I contemplated taking my camera out of my purse and snapping a shot of the screen, but I figured I was already treading on thin ice with fellow voters by not just going to an open booth as someone left it, because HELLO, the trained voting services volunteer did not tell me to do so, and for all I know your vote will not count should you make such an assumption, or worse, they may punish you by giving your vote to the other team and canceling your DVR. I lived in Florida for the 2000 election. I don’t mess around with voting.
So it’s done. My part, at least. I contemplated wearing my Obama paraphernalia on my trip to Texas tomorrow, but I’m not sure it will make the slightest bit of difference in those parts. I also have yet to figure out how to affix a shot glass to my lapel.
22 Comments
I hope it’s this easy for me on Tuesday. B/c I have to take Michael to vote with me and 3 year olds and 3 hour lines do not mix well.
What jodifur said. Wondering whether to do it mid-morning or bring PunditGirl with me after school.
I think you’re both in Virginia - I have to say that I didn’t see this efficiency when I lived in VA; *however*, prior elections haven’t demanded this level of efficiency. I’ll be interested to hear about your experiences. Good luck! :)
Good for you! I’m ridiculously excited to vote for Obama on Teusday. Alas, we don’t have advanced voting here in KY. I’m hoping it won’t be mobbed.
I live in such a tiny little town that voting is held in an itty bitty elementary school, and they’ll probably hand me a cupcake on the way out. Glad your viting experience went smoothly!
VOTING experience…I need to learn to double check my work.
What is this “electronically approving it” of which you speak. Up here in Canada, they had you a paper ballot with names written on it, you stand behind a piece of cardboard that sort of looks like those backboards you use to present your science fair project in elementary school and you take a pencil and mark an “X” beside the name of the person you want to vote for. No cupcakes tho.
I am so glad that your experience was nothing like my two hour ordeal in the exact same place last week. The waiting, the obnoxious perfume of the 20 something woman in front of me, the too warm hallway, and a bit overwhelmed poll workers, all of it was worth it. The tingle in my spine when I cast my ballot was worth every minute.
Where in Texas are you going? And yeah, I don’t have any Obama shit. I don’t want to get accosted about socialism from strangers.
Am I stupid? I thought people in DC still couldn’t vote…???
I really hope I don’t have to wait 3 hours. But it will be worth it.
Wear this pin! I’m in Houston and my innerloop neighborhood is crazy with Obama posters!
I couldn’t stop laughing out loud. Alone. Sober. Excellent reminder of why I live on an island with about 7000 other people. Cities scare me!
Also, brilliant line, “I can read people like they’re written in Helvetica.” I am jealous that you thought of it first. You rock!
I’ll wait until Tuesday to vote in an 1890’s school, the line shouldn’t be longer than a 10 minute wait.
On Saturday I was at a public event in Austin and as anyone who has been to Austin could guess, a lot of people were wearing Obama paraphenalia.
I hope you are not traveling back to Dallas where the Starburst will taunt you.
Now I need to go Google “Helvectica”…
*crosses fingers for obama*
Oh, those sweet, sweet Penny Loaves from St. Olaf…
You know the ones…
The ones that cost $5 each?
Mmm….
I voted absentee. There were no cupcakes there either.
Nothing rocks like a St. Olaf bake sale.
Now go pick up some more Cream of Chicken soup and a can of onion rings. I’ve got a casserole to make.
In St. Olaf they put deep fried smelt in their cupcakes.
I’m hoping for the same tomorrow.
You’ve convinced me–I’m totally wearing my (free, tiny) Obama pin tomorrow. Because nothing spells courage like saying you’re voting for him when you live in Illinois.
wait…there is early voting in DC? SRSLY? Do I live under a rock?