Not all that exciting. Well, except that I'm easily distracted.
As you know, I live in Central Florida. I moved this summer and was a bit lax in getting my DMV info updated and registering to vote. I took care of that the week after Charely hit. However, I couldn't do it in Central Florida. I actually drove over 2 hours south/west to find a DMV office open and functioning after the hurricane.
So...wasn't all that comfortable that all was as it should be. I called and called and called to keep verifying that I really was registered and where I was to vote.
I checked on mapquest to make sure I knew how to get there. Easy - it's right off SR 27. Hey, I live right off SR 27. NOOOOOO PROBLEM.
Yeah, right.
I get all my stuff done in the morning and head out the door. First stop - Voting. As soon as I get a cell signal I'm on the phone to Mama Vi to make sure she didn't have any problems voting. I'm driving south on 27 and next thing I know I'm in Haines City. Oops. That's not right. Turn around. Driving driving driving. Home. No, still not right. This goes on for about 30 mins. Finally I swallow my pride and call the county folks to get better directions. They are trying to pinpoint my exactly location (lo-jack would have been helpful) and I just keep apologizing for being so dense. "I pride myself on being smarter than the average bear!" At least I got them to laugh - nice change from most of the calls from what I understand.
Finally - Tammi, are you N or S of I4 right now?
South.
You need to be N.
Oh. Is it S of (road name deleted)?
Yeah.
Oh far?
1/4 mile.
Well shit. After driving all over hades I find out my polling place is 1/4 of a mile from my house.
In a campground rec. center.
It took 5 mins. to vote.
While there I made it my mission to make as many people smile as I could. It worked out wonderfully.
I asked the lady checking my ID if anyone had pretended to be me yet. Her reply: I don't think anyone would have the nerve to do that to YOU!! ;-)
As I was leaving I told the guy that was passing out stickers and making sure we put the ballots in the machine that I wasn't comfortable with the look of that machine. It resembled a shredder. He told me if I voted wrong it would shred it so I better be careful. I told him I was gonna tell. He belly laughed. (that made my day). Everything was so quiet and serious - it was good to hear laughter. It was good to see I made someone smile.
So, I voted, made someone smile, ran stores and got my ass back home. It was a good day!!
Posted by Tammi at November 3, 2004 08:18 AMMy experience was very nice. The night before, I got on line and looked up my polling place and then went to mapquest and got directions. Same experience here. Voting place was 1/4 mile from my house. all of the people standing out front with signs were for local politicians. nobody for Bush or Kerry.
The night before, I also looked up all of the people running for local office and any local ballot issues. I made a list of who and what I would vote for. Took it with me to the polls so I could make sure I did it right.
When I walked up I said hello and joked with all of the sign holders about how chilly it was. everyone laughed and were very cordial. The poll staff was very helpful too. No one was intrusive. They asked me what precinct and pointed me to the right lines. The ballot was very simple and took me less than 5 mins to vote.
I don't understand what all the hoopla was about about voter disenfranchisement. No issues here at all. Very enjoyable experience. And I really felt like I was making a difference, making my vote count for the first time ever.
Love America
Posted by: kat-missouri at November 3, 2004 09:41 AMI'm glad you had such a wonderful experience. You see, the early bird always catches the worm!
Anyway, those were great annecdotes.
I am so glad that american citizens tought lawyers, judges, and all the other challenger nosey bodies a lesson: that they can handle voting and talleying if given good equipment and enough personnel. Instead of looking for problems, they need to make sure there's enough staff to make it easy for them to vote!!!!
Why is it that whenever I come to your site I get inspired for a post?
Anyway, glad to know you had a great day. Isn't freedom wonderful!
Posted by: michele at November 3, 2004 10:22 AMSee, now I really wish that I had posted this site on my blog. It's pretty handy. Of course, it's too late, also! But I used it to make sure that I was heading off to the right spot. A few years back, there was a polling place set up across, and I mean right across, the street. Not the right place! Now I check.
Anyway, glad everything worked good for you! Always makes a person feel good knowing that they were responsible for a few smiles! :)
Posted by: That 1 Guy at November 3, 2004 01:48 PM