The election entry
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oyceterI voted for the first time in my life today. Considering the fact that I am 23, I am rather embarrassed about this. Oh well. Better late than never!
I ended up going after work because I had to be at work at 8, and given my commute and polls opening at 7, I wasn't sure how much of a line there would be. Also, I wanted to sleep in that extra fifteen minutes or so. Work was actually this training session in which I sat and listened to many presentations on programmable chips and such, which was incredibly boring. I kept surreptitiously checking CNN every ten seconds, even though no results had come in yet.
Then I waded through the traffic, got home, and went to vote. Showed up at City Hall with a rather nervous grin on my face and probably startled one of the volunteers by asking, "Hi-they-spelled-my-name-wrong-could-I-please-still-vote?" After deciphering what I had blurted, she said yes. Whew. And told me I could do a name change there if I wanted to. Then I picked a paper ballot because of paranoia.
After that, I stood around the table for a few seconds and realized there was no handy place marked "GET YOUR BALLOT HERE." So I wandered back to the table, probably looked exceedingly puzzled, and asked, "Er. Is this where I get my ballot?" Got my ballot, but it turns out there were only two places set up for paper ballots, so I had to wait a few minutes for a spot. Other than that, there were really very few people there. I thought there would be a lot given that I showed up during after-work hours, but maybe everyone else was still stuck in traffic. Got very confused again re: paper ballots and the organization thereof, and hunkered down to try to read all the issues.
Voted for president, voted for senator, voted for representative, and then realized I didn't actually know what district I was in. That's when I realized I really need to be an anime character so I can turn chibi and do giant sweatdrops to adequately express how I feel. Tried to vote on issues but left quite a few spots blank for things I couldn't make my mind up about. I felt rather small there in my cardboard booth and resolved to be better informed next time. It's my own fault, really, and I am probably an embarrassment to voters everywhere. But at least my mind was quite solidly made up about the presidential election!
Stressed again about not knowing where to put my ballot, but ended up finding where (the big box with the slit on top, what a surprise). Handed over my ballot. The lady gave me an "I Voted" sticker, which made me absurdly happy.
Wow. So. I'm a voter! Cool.
And now, I sit at home, and wait, and press the refresh button obsessively.
I ended up going after work because I had to be at work at 8, and given my commute and polls opening at 7, I wasn't sure how much of a line there would be. Also, I wanted to sleep in that extra fifteen minutes or so. Work was actually this training session in which I sat and listened to many presentations on programmable chips and such, which was incredibly boring. I kept surreptitiously checking CNN every ten seconds, even though no results had come in yet.
Then I waded through the traffic, got home, and went to vote. Showed up at City Hall with a rather nervous grin on my face and probably startled one of the volunteers by asking, "Hi-they-spelled-my-name-wrong-could-I-please-still-vote?" After deciphering what I had blurted, she said yes. Whew. And told me I could do a name change there if I wanted to. Then I picked a paper ballot because of paranoia.
After that, I stood around the table for a few seconds and realized there was no handy place marked "GET YOUR BALLOT HERE." So I wandered back to the table, probably looked exceedingly puzzled, and asked, "Er. Is this where I get my ballot?" Got my ballot, but it turns out there were only two places set up for paper ballots, so I had to wait a few minutes for a spot. Other than that, there were really very few people there. I thought there would be a lot given that I showed up during after-work hours, but maybe everyone else was still stuck in traffic. Got very confused again re: paper ballots and the organization thereof, and hunkered down to try to read all the issues.
Voted for president, voted for senator, voted for representative, and then realized I didn't actually know what district I was in. That's when I realized I really need to be an anime character so I can turn chibi and do giant sweatdrops to adequately express how I feel. Tried to vote on issues but left quite a few spots blank for things I couldn't make my mind up about. I felt rather small there in my cardboard booth and resolved to be better informed next time. It's my own fault, really, and I am probably an embarrassment to voters everywhere. But at least my mind was quite solidly made up about the presidential election!
Stressed again about not knowing where to put my ballot, but ended up finding where (the big box with the slit on top, what a surprise). Handed over my ballot. The lady gave me an "I Voted" sticker, which made me absurdly happy.
Wow. So. I'm a voter! Cool.
And now, I sit at home, and wait, and press the refresh button obsessively.
Tags:
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:25 pm (UTC)Noooot looking at Bush's 193 electoral votes, totally ignoring that, lalalala.
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:19 pm (UTC)I opted for the electronic machines. I am boldly embracing the future of voting technology!
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:27 pm (UTC)I was being totally paranoid despite the very small probability of California needing a recount and thought: "Paper trail!"
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:38 pm (UTC)I did think briefly about that, but then I decided that at that point things would be so messed up that it really wouldn't matter. Perhaps I was just rationalizing because I wanted to try out the new machines. I've never voted in person before (always absentee), so it felt like I should do something other than paper.
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:58 pm (UTC)And the Daily Show is on.
I've never been even remotely interested in politics before, so this is very strange.
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:52 pm (UTC)My state (with its paltry yet "battleground" 4 electoral votes) is too close to call, with 50% reporting. The current difference in votes between Bush and Kerry, is a number smaller than the number of votes cast for Nader. GRRR.
(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 2nd, 2004 07:56 pm (UTC)Results aren't in for my state yet, but I'm going to make a wild guess and say that California swings Democrat ;). I love my state.
(no subject)
Wed, Nov. 3rd, 2004 05:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Wed, Nov. 3rd, 2004 01:01 pm (UTC)elections
Wed, Nov. 3rd, 2004 07:04 am (UTC)(anlee)
Re: elections
Wed, Nov. 3rd, 2004 01:02 pm (UTC)Then I checked the papers this morning. *sigh*