Voted!

[magid]

I got to my polling place a bit after 8 this morning, and there was a line. Not just a couple of people, but a line. Across the lobby, through the doors, down the corridor. I walked to the end, seeing parts of the hospitall I'd never seen before, marveling. Eventually a poll worker sorted us by address, and I was moved to a much shorter line, quickly checking in and getting a ballot. I voted, put the ballot in a cardboard privacy sleeve, checked out, then put the ballot in the box*. At 8:20, I was number 286, which is totally amazing. I've not seen this kind of turnout ever. Other than the presidential race, there was only one contested race and two non-binding referendums (referenda?). And really, MA is not in contention. And yet, hundreds have bothered to show up, and show up early. Wow.

Someone chalked Vote! in multi-colored chalk on a sidewalk in the Yard. And the musician in the T was playing "America the Beautiful."
It's going to be an interesting day.


* It's one that sucks the ballot in electronically, displaying the number on a screen. I'm still nostalgic for the ballot box I first voted with, out in Paxton, where I got to turn a hand crank and see the numbers change on a dial. I wonder if they still use that...

Comments

[jaq.livejournal.com]

Sounds busy, I've never had to queue to vote.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I've never seen this before, either. And it seems that mine is not an isolated incident, either. I hope it means the election will go as it should (in my completely unbiased view, of course).