HOORAY!

[JimR]

the incessant yammering is over. go vote, folks.

[BudGirl]

If only I could.

[JimR]

If only I could.

why not?

[BudGirl]

cause I already did.  i believe it would be illegal for me to vote twice. 

I have some friends that want to have a decision party, I'm not sure if I'm up for that.  I thought about going to bed early and waking up to find out who our new president will be.

[JimR]

cause I already did.  i believe it would be illegal for me to vote twice. 

I have some friends that want to have a decision party, I'm not sure if I'm up for that.  I thought about going to bed early and waking up to find out who our new president will be.

funny girl

i'm SO glad it is over, and whoever wins is my President. that is true for every election i have participated in all the way back to Lincoln's second term.

[BudGirl]

funny girl

i'm SO glad it is over, and whoever wins is my President. that is true for every election i have participated in all the way back to Lincoln's second term.

Lincoln?????  Be honest.

I agree about it being over though.  I've had people tell me I'm going to hell for voting the way I did.  At least I'll have a lot of company there.

[Noe]

cause I already did.  i believe it would be illegal for me to vote twice. 

I have some friends that want to have a decision party, I'm not sure if I'm up for that.  I thought about going to bed early and waking up to find out who our new president will be.

"What's wrong with voting twice, even three... hundred times?" - Lyndon Baines Johnson

[Noe]

funny girl

i'm SO glad it is over, and whoever wins is my President. that is true for every election i have participated in all the way back to Lincoln's second term.

Nice one Coach... you spoke in "fourscore" lingo at one time! 

[Limey]

funny girl

i'm SO glad it is over, and whoever wins is my President. that is true for every election i have participated in all the way back to Lincoln's second term.

"I didn't vote for him but he's my president, and I hope he does a good job."
 -- Marion Robert Morrison

[MusicMan]

funny girl

i'm SO glad it is over, and whoever wins is my President. that is true for every election i have participated in all the way back to Lincoln's second term.

Did you vote for Jefferson Davis, or are you secretly a carpetbagger?

[HudsonHawk]

I thought about going to bed early and waking up to find out who our new president will be.

I tried that once...in 2000.  Little good it did me. 

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Lincoln??  Be honest.

I agree about it being over though.  I've had people tell me I'm going to hell for voting the way I did.  At least I'll have a lot of company there.

I must have missed the news coverage when God announced who he was endorsing.   I'm not terribly surprised though, I was travelling on business last week.  But if I could ask, who'd he endorse?

[S.P. Rodriguez]

"What's wrong with voting twice, even three... hundred times?" - Lyndon Baines Johnson

Vote early, vote OFTEN!!!  That's what I say!

[JimR]

I must have missed the news coverage when God announced who he was endorsing.   I'm not terribly surprised though, I was travelling on business last week.  But if I could ask, who'd he endorse?

Rev. Wright will make no public statements until tomorrow. then you will know who God supported.

[Ty in Tampa]

But if I could ask, who'd he endorse?

God is a white woman from Alaska. DUH!

[drew corleone]

I hate the lead-up, but I love Election Day.

Maybe not as much this year as in years past, but still...

[BudGirl]

I must have missed the news coverage when God announced who he was endorsing.   I'm not terribly surprised though, I was travelling on business last week.  But if I could ask, who'd he endorse?

Who are you?  Some kind of pollster?  Who I voted for is my personal business.  Not yours!!!  Already people are trying to take away my rights.  What's next my right to vote?

[HudsonHawk]

Who are you?  Some kind of pollster?  Who I voted for is my personal business.  Not yours!!!  Already people are trying to take away my rights.  What's next my right to vote?

Asking you who you voted for is not taking away your rights.  It's called an exit poll.  It's how they call the election that night instead of waiting weeks to count all the votes.

[BudGirl]

Asking you who you voted for is not taking away your rights.  It's called an exit poll.  It's how they call the election that night instead of waiting weeks to count all the votes.

It was also sarcasm.

[MusicMan]

Asking you who you voted for is not taking away your rights.  It's called an exit poll.  It's how they call the election that night instead of waiting weeks to count all the votes.

Sorry, HH, but very few of the calls tonight will be based on exit polls.  That was pretty much scrapped after 2000.

[otterjb]

Vegas has it at about 20-1 Obama right now. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ has the odds of an Obama win at 98.1%.

It'll be a relief for a lot of people once it's finally over.

[drew corleone]

Intrade was about the same.

I don't think anyone is scrapping exit polling this go-around, MM, but they all seem a little more leery of it.

[kevwun]

No more stupid political commercials!!!  I'm especially looking at you John Cornyn.  Of course he can't read this because he apparently spends all his time in the desert or in a field in the middle of no where.

[pravata]

Sorry, HH, but very few of the calls tonight will be based on exit polls.  That was pretty much scrapped after 2000.

They're estimating that in Harris County 50% or more have already voted. It's like that all over.  Exit polls today will not be a good survey of the total vote. 

[JimR]

They're estimating that in Harris County 50% or more have already voted. It's like that all over.  Exit polls today will not be a good survey of the total vote. 

just under 50% in Travis County voted earely

[HudsonHawk]

It was also sarcasm.

It's sometimes hard to tell with you.

[Limey]

Asking you who you voted for is not taking away your rights.  It's called an exit poll.  It's how they call the election that night instead of waiting weeks to count all the votes.

I think the follow up to "Who's Nailin' Palin" should be an all-anal feature called "Exit Pole".

[Limey]

Sorry, HH, but very few of the calls tonight will be based on exit polls.  That was pretty much scrapped after 2000.

Actually, what they do is start off using exit polls (which have historically been very reliable), and then they adjust their figures to match the actual tallies as the real numbers come in.

[Limey]

Vegas has it at about 20-1 Obama right now. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ has the odds of an Obama win at 98.1%.

Nate Silver looks like a young Mr Burns.

[JaneDoe]

No more stupid political commercials!!! 

Enough to put a smile on this face.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

the incessant yammering is over. go vote, folks.

And then let the incessant yammering begin again, but about baseball, beer, rock-n-roll, cool shit, crazy gear, hot chicks and stuff like that...

[JimR]

I think the follow up to "Who's Nailin' Palin" should be an all-anal feature called "Exit Pole".

i guess there are folks out there who think you and this are funny, but i am not among them.

[Noe]

They're estimating that in Harris County 50% or more have already voted. It's like that all over.  Exit polls today will not be a good survey of the total vote. 

My wife begged me to vote early to avoid the mad rush to the polls today.  I never got a chance to vote early (as she did, and waited in line for 45 minutes to do so).  I walked my youngest son to school this morning (wanting to avoid the parking lot nightmare I was expecting).  

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

So I walk towards the voting area and can't figure out for the life of me why I'm not stuck in some mad rush or huge line.  I walk in and there are three people... count them 1 - 2 - 3 people ahead of me in line, one of which is holding all of us up because she is asking all sorts of asinine questions.  Ten minutes later, I'm submitting my ballot to what looks to be a very lonely and somewhat melancholy voting judge.

She is so lonely, she decides to strike up a small conversation with me.  So I ask her "Where are all the voters?".  She smiles, looks away for a second and says "Early voting... pretty much the whole precinct has voted already".

I can't wait to tell my wife how she stood in line with the mad rush and me, Mr. Lollygagger, Mr. Procrastinator, Mr. Manana... voted in ten minutes!

[Limey]

i guess there are folks out there who think you and this are funny, but i am not among them.

Just trying to bring teh funny.  If that was a swing-and-a-miss, I'll try harder next time.

[drew corleone]

Yeah, I walked right in at 10:15 and voted in about two minutes in North Austin.

[JaneDoe]

Took me almost an hour in my town at 7:00 a.m. this morning.  There are only about 2800 people who live there.  The people running the polling place are just darn slow.

[geezerdonk]

i guess there are folks out there who think you and this are funny, but i am not among them.

This phenomenon is Palin tourette's syndorme. Those in its clutch are powerless. They are robbed of all self control.

[Duke]

My wife begged me to vote early to avoid the mad rush to the polls today.  I never got a chance to vote early (as she did, and waited in line for 45 minutes to do so).  I walked my youngest son to school this morning (wanting to avoid the parking lot nightmare I was expecting).  

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

So I walk towards the voting area and can't figure out for the life of me why I'm not stuck in some mad rush or huge line.  I walk in and there are three people... count them 1 - 2 - 3 people ahead of me in line, one of which is holding all of us up because she is asking all sorts of asinine questions.  Ten minutes later, I'm submitting my ballot to what looks to be a very lonely and somewhat melancholy voting judge.

She is so lonely, she decides to strike up a small conversation with me.  So I ask her "Where are all the voters?".  She smiles, looks away for a second and says "Early voting... pretty much the whole precinct has voted already".

I can't wait to tell my wife how she stood in line with the mad rush and me, Mr. Lollygagger, Mr. Procrastinator, Mr. Manana... voted in ten minutes!

Same here.  2 people in line with 6 volunteers waiting to help.  It was quicker than voting in the primary.  Thanks to all the proactive souls.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Took me almost an hour in my town at 7:00 a.m. this morning.  There are only about 2800 people who live there.  The people running the polling place are just darn slow.

Ditto for me.  But at the very least we get to vote.  I consider any time spent in line time well spent.

[Waldo]

I can't wait to tell my wife how she stood in line with the mad rush and me, Mr. Lollygagger, Mr. Procrastinator, Mr. Manana... voted in ten minutes!

I voted at the "mega" site on Airport on the first day of early voting.  With 50 voting booths it wasn't busy, but it took me an hour because the state still can't figure out they typoed my street address in my voter registration info.  Never mind that my driver's license was correct.  After getting shuttled around to 3 or 4 different people, they finally told the people at the tables to "go ahead and let him vote".

Oh, and I filled out the same change of address form that I've already filled out for them the last five times I've voted.  "Don't worry, we'll fix it this time."  Can I vote for government without the bureaucratic overhead?

At least I voted early.  I can't imagine the headache it would've been trying to vote in my precinct.

[subnuclear]

Yeah, I walked right in at 10:15 and voted in about two minutes in North Austin.

Took me about 2.5 hours here in Early Voting-less Maryland.  

[otterjb]

I voted early about two weeks ago in Austin. About 40 people were ahead of me in line and it only took about 20, 25 minutes. Very efficient, no problems. The thing that stood out was that there was no kind of receipt at all given to prove my vote. CNN had a thing showing many South and Southeast states that have the same problem. If people can go to the moon, and millions of people get receipts from buying gum at a convenience store with their debit/credit cards, why the hell can't many states have voting systems that can track a person's vote after they've voted. I walked out of the voting booth and had no idea at all if my vote actually went through, or any way to keep a record of it. Have to take it on faith I guess, but after the last two elections and the news stories showing how easy it would be in theory to hack a polling spot, just seems like they would create a better way to be sure that every vote was counted correctly.

[Noe]

I voted early about two weeks ago in Austin. About 40 people were ahead of me in line and it only took about 20, 25 minutes. Very efficient, no problems. The thing that stood out was that there was no kind of receipt at all given to prove my vote. CNN had a thing showing many South and Southeast states that have the same problem. If people can go to the moon, and millions of people get receipts from buying gum at a convenience store with their debit/credit cards, why the hell can't many states have voting systems that can track a person's vote after they've voted. I walked out of the voting booth and had no idea at all if my vote actually went through, or any way to keep a record of it. Have to take it on faith I guess, but after the last two elections and the news stories showing how easy it would be in theory to hack a polling spot, just seems like they would create a better way to be sure that every vote was counted correctly.

I got a sticker.  Just saying.

[austro]

I voted early about two weeks ago in Austin. About 40 people were ahead of me in line and it only took about 20, 25 minutes. Very efficient, no problems. The thing that stood out was that there was no kind of receipt at all given to prove my vote. CNN had a thing showing many South and Southeast states that have the same problem. If people can go to the moon, and millions of people get receipts from buying gum at a convenience store with their debit/credit cards, why the hell can't many states have voting systems that can track a person's vote after they've voted. I walked out of the voting booth and had no idea at all if my vote actually went through, or any way to keep a record of it. Have to take it on faith I guess, but after the last two elections and the news stories showing how easy it would be in theory to hack a polling spot, just seems like they would create a better way to be sure that every vote was counted correctly.

This puzzles me, too. We have a nearly thoroughly electronic payment economy now, and nobody seems too worried about that. Why can't the same sorts of systems be brought to bear on voting? Either we've got the wrong guys working on the voting technology, or we ought to be a lot more worried about how safe our money really is.

[BudGirl]

This puzzles me, too. We have a nearly thoroughly electronic payment economy now, and nobody seems too worried about that. Why can't the same sorts of systems be brought to bear on voting? Either we've got the wrong guys working on the voting technology, or we ought to be a lot more worried about how safe our money really is.

or both

[JackAstro]

or both

DING DING DING

[Noe]

This puzzles me, too. We have a nearly thoroughly electronic payment economy now, and nobody seems too worried about that. Why can't the same sorts of systems be brought to bear on voting? Either we've got the wrong guys working on the voting technology, or we ought to be a lot more worried about how safe our money really is.

Hmmmm... the place I went to had the low-tech method of pen to paper by the voter but then they had a high-tech scanner that grabs the paper, sucks it in, scans the markings and records your vote real-time.  It took all of five seconds and the LCD display told me "thank you" and I was satisfied that my vote was recorded.

And I got a sticker.  Just saying.

[BudGirl]

Hmmmm... the place I went to had the low-tech method of pen to paper by the voter but then they had a high-tech scanner that grabs the paper, sucks it in, scans the markings and records your vote real-time.  It took all of five seconds and the LCD display told me "thank you" and I was satisfied that my vote was recorded.

And I got a sticker.  Just saying.

Mine was all electronic.  I figure they enter the name in something.  I just wish they checked my voter's card and ID.  I think that would be a great first step.

[subnuclear]

This puzzles me, too. We have a nearly thoroughly electronic payment economy now, and nobody seems too worried about that. Why can't the same sorts of systems be brought to bear on voting? Either we've got the wrong guys working on the voting technology, or we ought to be a lot more worried about how safe our money really is.

What are you going to do with your receipt?  Return your vote?  Also, wouldn't that be a good way for someone who wanted to pay (or intimidate) people to vote to make sure they voted the way they wanted?  

[Lurch]

What are you going to do with your receipt?  Return your vote?  Also, wouldn't that be a good way for someone who wanted to pay (or intimidate) people to vote to make sure they voted the way they wanted?  

I've always thought the receipt was a good idea.  I had not heard this argument before.  Very interesting

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Funny this should come up.  There was a woman outside the voting place taking signatures on a petition for an all paper ballotand logging any "voting difficulties" that people encountered.   I did not note the organization but she was wearing some pin or badge  that indicated she was "part of a group".  

When I was leaving, after I voted, she asked me to sign the petition for an all paper ballot.  I told her, "No thank you."  To which she replied "You must trust the government more than I do!"   All I could say in response was "I guess so..."  


And Noe, I got my sticker too!  I'm saving it for my oldest child.  He loves stickers. 

[austro]

What are you going to do with your receipt?  Return your vote?  Also, wouldn't that be a good way for someone who wanted to pay (or intimidate) people to vote to make sure they voted the way they wanted?  

No, I'd just like a system that allowed me to double-check later that my vote had been properly recorded.

For example, imagine a variation on a public key/private key system. My public key is recorded on the voting rolls, and my private key is recorded on my voter registration card. When I go to vote, they program the machine with my public key (we use electronic machines where I vote now, and those already have to have an access code entered to enable them), and when I submit my ballot a copy of that ballot is encrypted with my public key and then put in some global database. Later on I can use my voter id to check whether my vote has been recorded (and polling places can use the same check to ensure that I don't vote more than once), and if I'm really paranoid I can use my private key to decrypt the recorded ballot to make sure that what's recorded is what I originally submitted.

I'm sure there are plenty of problems with this approach. System availability is an issue, and I suppose that any system that allows one to double-check the vote is potentially subject to the intimidation point that you raise. But it would make it a heck of a lot harder for hackers to screw with the votes.

[Noe]

Funny this should come up.  There was a woman outside the voting place taking signatures on a petition for an all paper ballotand logging any "voting difficulties" that people encountered.   I did not note the organization but she was wearing some pin or badge  that indicated she was "part of a group".  

When I was leaving, after I voted, she asked me to sign the petition for an all paper ballot.  I told her, "No thank you."  To which she replied "You must trust the government more than I do!"   All I could say in response was "I guess so..."  


And Noe, I got my sticker too!  I'm saving it for my oldest child.  He loves stickers. 

The land would be a better place if we all just accepted stickers as the sign of goodwill towards all men and women in this great country of ours.  We're all affected adversely by cynical news reporting and reality television.  Sort of like the report that came out today that a study has discovered a correlation between teenage pregnancy and trashy television.

[MusicMan]

And I got a sticker.  Just saying.

My 3-year old got the sticker.  This may not be the best verification system that we can come up with.  Either that, or I should have named her Acorn.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

It may not be the best system, but I've heard that indelible ink is MESSSSSSSSY!

[drew corleone]

Oh, and I filled out the same change of address form that I've already filled out for them the last five times I've voted.  "Don't worry, we'll fix it this time."  Can I vote for government without the bureaucratic overhead?

At least I voted early.  I can't imagine the headache it would've been trying to vote in my precinct.

I forgot to change my address, and just like the last two presidential elections I voted at my old precinct. Of course my driver's license shows an address from four years ago so the guy this morning cautioned me that I could get a ticket for that. But I didn't have any kind of delay.

[JackAstro]

What are you going to do with your receipt?  Return your vote?  Also, wouldn't that be a good way for someone who wanted to pay (or intimidate) people to vote to make sure they voted the way they wanted?  

The system of paper receipts for electronic voting serves two purposes - for the voter to verify their selections were recorded properly, and as a fallback for auditing and manually counting in the event that the voting machine malfunctions or is compromised. These things do screw up, so it doesn't seem too crazy to want to have your voted counted if the voting machine you used goes tits up before the end of the day. You don't take the receipt with you... you review it, then put it into a ballot box in case it's needed later.

Like all things, exact application varies across the country, and there are potential problems. Still, I'd rather have the backup than not.

[Billy Zabka]

Took me about 2.5 hours here in Early Voting-less Maryland.  

Long lines around the Potomac - 1:40 for me in Virginia.

[subnuclear]

The system of paper receipts for electronic voting serves two purposes - for the voter to verify their selections were recorded properly, and as a fallback for auditing and manually counting in the event that the voting machine malfunctions or is compromised. These things do screw up, so it doesn't seem too crazy to want to have your voted counted if the voting machine you used goes tits up before the end of the day. You don't take the receipt with you... you review it, then put it into a ballot box in case it's needed later.

Like all things, exact application varies across the country, and there are potential problems. Still, I'd rather have the backup than not.

My questions referred to take-home receipts which I think otterjb mentioned.   Internal paper back-ups like you describe make sense and obviously don't pose the problems I brought up.   

[OregonStrosFan]

Oregon is 100% vote by mail.  I hate it.  I consider it an privilege to vote, and always enjoyed driving to the precinct and casting my ballot.  That opportunity no longer exists, and walking to a 'drop box' on election day just doesn't cut it for me.

[JackAstro]

My questions referred to take-home receipts which I think otterjb mentioned.   Internal paper back-ups like you describe make sense and obviously don't pose the problems I brought up.  

Sorry, I got lost in that trail somewhere. I thought you were just asking about receipts in general.

[otterjb]

My questions referred to take-home receipts which I think otterjb mentioned.   Internal paper back-ups like you describe make sense and obviously don't pose the problems I brought up.   

Ehh, I'm not sure about the specifics of receipt, per se, it's just that a better method of voting security could be implemented and it hasn't been, at least in Texas and several other states. It really isn't a big concern to me, but if it could be a better system, why not do it?

[Duke]

Hmmmm... the place I went to had the low-tech method of pen to paper by the voter but then they had a high-tech scanner that grabs the paper, sucks it in, scans the markings and records your vote real-time.  It took all of five seconds and the LCD display told me "thank you" and I was satisfied that my vote was recorded.

And I got a sticker.  Just saying.

I had the same deal.  That scanner looked a little like a shredder though.

[tophfar]

Mine was all electronic.  I figure they enter the name in something.  I just wish they checked my voter's card and ID.  I think that would be a great first step.

Hell I had to go out and get a second form of ID that had my address on it, since for some reason my Drivers License was not enough.

[chuck]

Why the hell does anyone have to show ID to vote? Aren't they supposed to have a log of registered voters and you just sign your name? I've never had to show my ID to vote as far as I can remember.

[juliogotay]

Why the hell does anyone have to show ID to vote? Aren't they supposed to have a log of registered voters and you just sign your name? I've never had to show my ID to vote as far as I can remember.

That's the way it worked for me in north Texas. I still would have felt better if someone had checked my ID though.

[JaneDoe]

Why the hell does anyone have to show ID to vote? Aren't they supposed to have a log of registered voters and you just sign your name? I've never had to show my ID to vote as far as I can remember.

I never have either, but today when I handed the guy behind the computer my voter's registration card, he asked for my DL also. 

[BudGirl]

I'm glad to see that everyone seems to have voted.  Go America!!!

[tophfar]

Why the hell does anyone have to show ID to vote? Aren't they supposed to have a log of registered voters and you just sign your name? I've never had to show my ID to vote as far as I can remember.

I dunno, voter fraud comes to mind?  Is that really that unfathomable?

[strosrays]

I'm glad to see that everyone seems to have voted.  Go America!!!

I'm waiting until about 6:15 p.m.  The line can be long, but most of the poll workers have split by then, the only ones left hanging around are the hard-core politics junkies, my kind of people.  After I vote, about five minutes later the precinct convention starts.  My favorite thing about election day.  All the dealing and arm-twisting, trying to pick delgates - it is fun as hell, almost better than sex.

[chuck]

I never have either, but today when I handed the guy behind the computer my voter's registration card, he asked for my DL also. 

I may be out of my mind, but I do not believe it is legal to require a voter to present identification at the poll.

I left the country the morning early voting began in Texas. Poor planning. But I went down to the Harris County election board or whatever it is and had them mail a ballot to my Houston address with the assurance that the ballot would be forwarded rather than have them mail it to an address outside the county which is all the board's website says they are able to do. I was amazed at how painless it was, and appreciative.

So when the election in Texas comes down to the wire and they have to count the absentee ballots one by one I'll know my vote is poised to really make a difference!

[JackAstro]

I dunno, voter fraud comes to mind?  Is that really that unfathomable?

Voter fraud is certainly fathomable, but the law absolutely does not require you to show your license in Texas.

[JimR]

Voter fraud is certainly fathomable, but the law absolutely does not require you to show your license in Texas.

you do if you do not have your voter registration card.

[JackAstro]

you do if you do not have your voter registration card.

You can show a bunch of other things, instead, though. No photo required in Texas. And of course, you can always cast a provisional ballot. (pause for laughter)

[JimR]

You can show a bunch of other things, instead, though. No photo required in Texas. And of course, you can always cast a provisional ballot. (pause for laughter)

right. just meant you need id if the registration card is at home.

[BudGirl]

I was just thinking that I could have had anyone vote for me.  They wouldn't have known if it was really me or not.

This is going to sound bad, but I can see how dead people can vote.  I could easliy have cast a vote for my aunt. 

[JackAstro]

right. just meant you need id if the registration card is at home.

Yup. High five. Agreeing feels awesome.

I was just thinking that I could have had anyone vote for me.  They wouldn't have known if it was really me or not.

This is going to sound bad, but I can see how dead people can vote.  I could easliy have cast a vote for my aunt. 

It's pretty damn close to the honor system.

[chuck]

I was just thinking that I could have had anyone vote for me.  They wouldn't have known if it was really me or not.

This is going to sound bad, but I can see how dead people can vote.  I could easliy have cast a vote for my aunt. 

Get your ass back out there. You're already going to hell.

[pravata]

right. just meant you need id if the registration card is at home.

Also, if you don't have a drivers license or another form of government id, you can bring a bank statement or utility bill to verify address.

[strosrays]

Also, if you don't have a drivers license or another form of government id, you can bring a bank statement or utility bill to verify address.

Wow.  That is basically the same requirement as the city dump.

[chuck]

Wow.  That is basically the same requirement as the city dump.

Well, you know, every citizen has the right to vote, at least those without a felony conviction. (Those with felony convictions just get to run for office...) Citizenship does not require one to carry a state-issued ID card.

[tophfar]

Also, if you don't have a drivers license or another form of government id, you can bring a bank statement or utility bill to verify address.

I used my insurance card from my car. 

[JackAstro]

I used my insurance card from my car. 

I thought it was fantastic that they wouldn't accept my voter registration card that apparently expired this summer, but they would happily take a 2-year-old electric bill if I had one.

[Noe]

I had the same deal.  That scanner looked a little like a shredder though.

HA! First words outta my mouth "Insert it into this shredder, Ma'am?"  She didn't smile.

[Bench]

Oregon is 100% vote by mail.  I hate it.  I consider it an privilege to vote, and always enjoyed driving to the precinct and casting my ballot.  That opportunity no longer exists, and walking to a 'drop box' on election day just doesn't cut it for me.

This was my first time to vote in person.  I've always voted absentee in Gillespie County, but transferred it to Harris County so I can have the satisfaction of voting in the judicial races.  Being in a crowd of other voters and hearing the machine go "click" when I punch my candidate's ticket was a lot more satisfying than filling out a scantron and dropping it in the mail.

[Billy Zabka]

Well, you know, every citizen has the right to vote, at least those without a felony conviction. (Those with felony convictions just get to run for office...) Citizenship does not require one to carry a state-issued ID card.

I don't have a Virginia driver's license (I take the Metro everywhere), I was actually kind of disappointed they just accepted my voter registration card (I had utility bill confirming address and picture work ID - I work for the fed govt).

But, no.  Handed them the folded up piece of paper and was on my way.

[Taras Bulba]

Well, you know, every citizen has the right to vote, at least those without a felony conviction. (Those with felony convictions just get to run for office...) Citizenship does not require one to carry a state-issued ID card.

About 12 states allow felons to vote.

[juliogotay]

Well, you know, every citizen has the right to vote, at least those without a felony conviction. (Those with felony convictions just get to run for office...) Citizenship does not require one to carry a state-issued ID card.

We're all for the right to vote. What concerns me is someone voting in someone else's name.

[chuck]

We're all for the right to vote. What concerns me is someone voting in someone else's name.

What gives you reason to believe that this is a problem?

I think felons should be able to vote, by the way. If you've served your sentence I can see no reason why you shouldn't be able to participate in the democracy.

[das]

Took me about 2.5 hours here in Early Voting-less Maryland.  

Not fer long!  Voters strongly approved early voting for Maryland!

1.5 hours for me.  Not because of process but infrastructure.  22 polling stations in place and operational.  5 check-in terminals/workers.  At any given time, there were 12-14 unused polling stations.  Especially nice was all the voters standing outside in the rain looking in the windows at the unused polling stations as the line crept along.

If Maryland was a red state, we wouldn't have these sorts of inefficiencies...  //ducks, bobs, weaves, runs out of room//

[Limey]

(Those with felony convictions just get to run for office...)

Ted Stevens looks to have retained his free house Senate seat in Alaska.

[HudsonHawk]

Ted Stevens looks to have retained his free house Senate seat in Alaska.

I don't think it's decided yet.  In fact, there are several Senate seats still to be determined, including in Oregon, Georgia and Minnesota.

[Limey]

I don't think it's decided yet.  In fact, there are several Senate seats still to be determined, including in Oregon, Georgia and Minnesota.

Correct:  Stevens is a couple o' thousand votes up, with "99%" of precincts reporting.  Alaska's a pretty solid red state, so it would be a surprise, I think, if the lead got overturned at this late stage.

Also, according to CNN, the Presidential elections in Missouri, Indiana and N. Carolina haven't been called yet.  They show McCain ahead in Missouri, and Obama ahead in the other two.  In Minnesota, Al Franken is a couple of hundred votes (out of 2.5 mil) behind incumbent Norm Coleman.  I'm guessing they're all undergoing a recount.

[Noe]

Correct:  Stevens is a couple o' thousand votes up, with "99%" of precincts reporting.  Alaska's a pretty solid red state, so it would be a surprise, I think, if the lead got overturned at this late stage.

Also, according to CNN, the Presidential elections in Missouri, Indiana and N. Carolina haven't been called yet.  They show McCain ahead in Missouri, and Obama ahead in the other two.  In Minnesota, Al Franken is a couple of hundred votes (out of 2.5 mil) behind incumbent Norm Coleman.  I'm guessing they're all undergoing a recount.

Minnesota, home of Governor Jake The Snake (Ind) and Representative Fred "Gopher" Grandy (Rep).  Nice, now Al Franken (Freak).  I'm surprised Michael Moore (Self-promoter) wasn't a write-in candidate.

[BudGirl]

Minnesota, home of Governor Jake The Snake (Ind) and Representative Fred "Gopher" Grandy (Rep).  Nice, now Al Franken (Freak).  I'm surprised Michael Moore (Self-promoter) wasn't a write-in candidate.

Jake the Snake=Jesse Ventura?

[MusicMan]

Jake the Snake=Jesse Ventura?

Forget it, he's rolling.

[HudsonHawk]

Minnesota, home of Governor Jake The Snake (Ind) and Representative Fred "Gopher" Grandy (Rep).  Nice, now Al Franken (Freak).  I'm surprised Michael Moore (Self-promoter) wasn't a write-in candidate.

Gopher was from Iowa, I believe.  Not that there's much difference in Iowa and Minnesota.  They're both cold.

[HudsonHawk]

In Minnesota, Al Franken is a couple of hundred votes (out of 2.5 mil) behind incumbent Norm Coleman.  I'm guessing they're all undergoing a recount.

I think Minnesota law requires a recount at this point.  It's something like 0.02% separating the two. 

[Bench]

About 12 states allow felons to vote.

And I think Texas is one of them.

[BudGirl]

And I think Texas is one of them.

I would double check that one.

I did double check it.  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/faqs.shtml

[Bench]

I would double check that one.

I did double check it.  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/faqs.shtml

And here's the exact language from the link: "In Texas, a convicted felon regains the right to vote after completing his or her sentence. Therefore, once you have completed the punishment phase (including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by the court), you would be eligible to register and vote in the state of Texas."

Thanks BG.