Your Voting Experience -- Non-Political, Please!

Smooth and non-eventful, just the way I like it.

There were few campaign volunteers outside my polling place when I went, which made it more pleasant too.

No issues, no waiting, but certainly felt like more folks voting than usual.

We had something like 30% turnout at the polling location where I work.

A few voters made things interesting, particularly the ones who have moved, "but came back just to vote." Isn't it common knowledge that you have to vote where you live?

Went about 3:30, no waiting in and out in 5 minutes.

No issues when I went in to vote. My voting location moved this year to the American Legion hall. There seemed to be a decent crowd there, but I didn't have to wait.

(I live in Sylvania Twp.)

I had no issues at my polling place, which happens to be a UAW hall. I did get a kick out of the fact that they had covered up the 'no foreign cars' signs in their parking lot.

In and out in 5 minutes.

No issues in Maumee. The only people outside asking for your vote was Anita Lopez supporters and they were very polite. The one thing I will mention is there seemed to be a lot of elderly voters when I was there - but that might have been a coincidence.

My voting location changed this year as well. No more baked goodies being offered by the seniors at the Senior Center :( All went pretty smooth except for a few teen age youth standing outside screaming "I AM A YOUNG DEMOCRAT! ALL REPLUCANS SUCK!" and a few campaign workers handing out literature and sample ballots inside the prohibitive zone. But the voting machines worked well. I just wish they were more private like the old lever machines were you pulled curtain to keep wandering eyes in check.

No problems at my location. Even though I had to fill out a form which the gentleman helped me with, did a provisional ballot and sealed it. Took longer than normal due to me moving but considering everyone was very nice and helpful.

Did seem kinda slow. Think I saw 1 other voter in the 15-20minutes I was there (left as I was going in).

In and out no problems. Did find it useless that one person looked at my I.D. then looked me up in a book, then told the person next to them my name (which, since they weren't listening had to ask me) the first person gives me a yellow slip), the second person looks up my name in a second book and has me sign, why two people and two books are needed when one seemed sufficient) then I give my slip to a third person who gives me the card for the e-ballet station. Maybe the number of people that ere there are needed when it is crowded but voters were outnumbered I think 3 to 1 when I was there. But even with the redundancy of looking me up in two different books the process was fast, and easy.

All went pretty smooth except for a few teen age youth standing outside screaming "I AM A YOUNG DEMOCRAT! ALL REPLUCANS SUCK!"

I'm sure these were well thought out, informed opinions, by students who could give you ample reasons why "Replucans" suck.

I know when I was a teenager, I knew everything...

No problems, great people, fast and painless. Always wondering how accurate it is as all those little receipt tapes transfers info to the "big computer".

Anyway, I do have a question. Why under some categories when there is only one candidate, do we have to choose? I mean, if no one chooses the single candidate, do they still win? Why even have them on the ballot as a single?

easy peasy...not probs for me. I was in an out in less than 5 min.

I also had no real problems although this year I had to fill out a Provisional Ballot due to a name change. I am just glad that it's all over!

It went great: no drama, no problems, the staff were professional and friendly. I snagged some photos of outside my voting station to boot.

Oh--kudos to all folks running the polling places yesterday! Sounds like you did a great job servicing a LOT of people.

why two people and two books are needed when one seemed sufficient) then I give my slip to a third person who gives me the card for the e-ballet station.

The first book is the official registration list, where we are to look at your ID and confirm that you are who you say you are. I'm not sure, either, why you have to sign in, except that we do check signatures against the ones scanned into the book.

The third person is supposed to hand you the card, direct you to the machines, and then retrieve the card when you're finished. Sounds simple, but each of those cards is chipped and you wouldn't believe how many people start to walk off with them.

Anyway, I do have a question. Why under some categories when there is only one candidate, do we have to choose? I mean, if no one chooses the single candidate, do they still win? Why even have them on the ballot as a single?

Because they've garnered the signatures to be on the ballot, and they are running for an elective office. They cannot be given the office without the formality of the election, even if they are unopposed.

BTW, Coffee, your provisional vote will serve as your change of address for the next election. Of course, should you move before then, all you need to do is find that neighborhood's polling location, and once again, vote provisionally.

There were a good amount of people at our polling location. Ran into some neighbors. In and out quite quickly and without hassle.

Waited about 15 mins in line at 5:30 at the sr center on Willys/Hillcrest. There were quite a few people filling out provisionals. Poll workers trying to check voters in and answer questions tied things up a bit. All in all, though, it was rather smooth.

My newly turned 18 yr old son learned how to vote too :)

Vote early, and avoid the problems, specially in the general election.

As soon as I walked in the door at Waite High School, the fire alarm went off! I got there just after school let out so most kids had left. Some kids in the field house piled out of the building but poll workers stayed. I wasn't sure what to do. There were a few people voting no one seemed too concerned so I went ahead and voted, all the while the alarm was blaring.
I was driving back to work expecting to see the fire engins, but saw nothing. Must have been a false alarm.
What if it had been an actual fire? What do the poll workers do in case of fire? What would happen to our votes?

Thanks for the answers Annie. It had me puzzled but now I'm clear. Thanks.

De nada, hockey! :-)

Working at a polling place is hard, in that the hours are long and every now and then you get some irate person who can't understand why there are rules and why they have to follow them. The money isn't great, given the hours. There is a lot of training involved (and yes, you are paid for training), and there is a lot to remember. And sometimes you work with folks who are somewhat, er, "alphabetically challenged."

Having said all that, I LOVE IT. I feel so much a part of our democracy, and so happy to be involved in the process, even when I'm not crazy about the results. I love seeing the voters come in with their kids, or the young ones voting for the first time.

Over the past couple of years, we've had more students signing up to work, and I see this as a really good sign. I hope they are inspired to continue, and to vote "early and often."

I take a vacation day from work, so I get paid by my job for my day off. I also get paid by the Board -- and the check usually comes just as I'm getting ready for Christmas shopping.

If any of you TTers have the time and haven't done it before, I urge you to take at least one turn working at a polling place. The Board is always looking for folks who can serve.

Voted in the morning at Bowsher... as always, the workers were incredible... so friendly... they always welcome me as soon as I walk in... hats off to all of the people who work the polling places... I wish that I had the time to join them

"Over the past couple of years, we've had more students signing up to work, and I see this as a really good sign. I hope they are inspired to continue, and to vote "early and often."

I wish that was true. I read only 8% of the young voters came out to the polls yesterday, vs. something like double that in '08.

Non Presidential elections seem "not worthy" to alot of people. Thats too bad.

Voted early downtown. Had to show ID. Waited about 10 minutes. There were just four people including myself but the poll workers were slooooooooooooooow. I dont have any complaints though.