US Folks: Remember to Vote
Posted on November 4, 2014 Posted by John Scalzi 186 Comments
And yes, I did. As usual for me, I did not vote a straight ticket; I voted for Democrats for some positions, Republicans in others, and even for the Green party (albeit largely as a protest vote) for another. Party, platform and person all were duly considered prior to vote. As it should be.
Let me know in the comments when you have voted!
Just voted, wearing my sticker proudly. Yes I was definitely abreast of the issues and the candidates, in some cases voted for the only woman because I want to see more women represented in government.
Voted!
Voted the straight Democratic ticket here in Texas. Not that it will do any good. The Republicans will sweep all the state-level offices again as they have been doing since the early nineties. We might close the gap somewhat in their margins of victory, but that is about all for which we can hope. But, now I can legitimately complain about their misguided policies and governance for the next two years. Especially their multi-billion dollar cut backs to public education when we keep racking up tens of thousands of new students in the system every academic year.
Voted early this year and found that I like my reps to be Democrat and my judges Republican. I did vote for my first libertarian though. The league of women voters put out an excellent guide that lets the candidates speak for themselves but limits the BS.
Not voting straight party ticket? Why that’s unAmerican! 8-)
I live in a state where a straight party ticket vote can be equivalent to “throw the bums out” (assuming you vote for the “other” party). I would much prefer living in a state where both sides had a roughly equal chance of winning, as that would drive politicians towards the center. Instead, we get continual variations on the theme of “I’m more extreme than thou!” with the occasional “And my opponent works for the Devil!”
In my pipe dreams, that problem is fixed by requiring the minority party to draw the election district maps subject to the majority party’s approval. That would kill (or at least starve) the gerrymander and make “safe districts” a thing of the past – which is, of course, why it will never happen.
Voted in early voting with my wife. Did the same thing, choosing some green candidates as a protest.
Voted a few weeks ago by absentee.
As another Ohioan, I’d bet I could guess which race you voted Green in. I’m still torn, won’t get out to vote for a few more hours and still can’t decide.
I mailed in my ballot a couple of weeks ago so I can concentrate on one job today: automobiling voters to the polls. (I thought “driving” evoked the wrong image there.)
as there are only two polling places in Sidney, pop 20,000, I voted absentee last week.
Voted over a month ago by overseas absentee ballot. Since my ballot only had one line on it (Congressional district), any vote I took would be a party-line vote by by default.
I must say, though, that the antics of one of the major national parties over the past twenty years have reached a point where the only way they’d get me to vote for someone supporting their platform would be if they reanimated my corpse and sent it to the polls, and even then, it’d take several months of brain decomposition for the argument to stick.
And because I wouldn’t put it past that party to reanimate my months-decomposed corpse for the purpose of securing my vote, I’m leaving instructions that my body is to be cremated and interred in three separate locations on two different continents.
My ballot is filled out and sitting here next to my computer. When the polls open, I will drop it off.
I voted for one republican. He was running unopposed, but I probably would have voted for him even if he’d had opposition. He’s an incumbent prosecutor, and he’s doing a good job. I’m far less likely to vote Republican for legislative positions. I also voted for school funding and background checks for firearm purchases.
I’ve been voting by mail the past couple of elections. It allows me to research the candidates and their positions from the comfort of my home, and take my time to do it right.
Done. But I was a bad voter and voted straight-party ticket for the Dems. In a sense it was a protest vote as I’m extremely angry over the GOP’s actions here in NC.
Voted here in Missouri, but felt as always that I wasn’t exactly voting for a candidate so much as not voting for a worse candidate. My votes were split between Dem and Rep. Third party candidates were too unknown to vote for this time around. The only thing I felt good about was casting votes on the various state amendments and county charter issues. Those were much more clear cut for me this year.
Voted this morning before coming to work. I too lodged a protest vote via a third viable party.
Voted absentee last weekend. I am not counted unless it is a close race. But if it *is* a close race, that is the time I *definitely* want to be counted.
I live in Oregon, so my wife & I went completed voting last week & dropped off our ballots @ the Local Library (!!) on Wednesday.
Can’t wait to see how the results turn out here in our Blue state.
I voted early here in downstate Illinois. Getting out of teaching my courses at the college to stand in line to vote is definitely NOT on the Dean’s list of excuses for missing work (but my students would have been ecstatic anyway).
Did early voting. I went Democrat all down the line. It can be frustrating, but party is crucially important in effective politics. Of course, the Democrats are far from perfect, but from my perspective, valuing science, the environment, a strong social safety net, diversity, reproductive freedoms, etc, they are currently the best bet.
Mailed in my vote last week. Both the Republicans and the Democrats have disappointed me. I voted for the lesser of the two evils. I wish there was an option that said, “Fire all the jerks currently in office and elect only new people with a wit of intelligence and desire to govern rather than blindly follow some stupid, and failed, agenda.”
My mom always took me to vote with her. This year I did early voting (Maryland) and took my new daughter with me. Start kids young, and teach them not to take it for granted.
I also did some Green Party protest votes.
I was number 51 to vote in my precinct in Pennsylvania this morning. Yay, democracy!
Voted here in NH this morning. Turnout seemed a bit low when I was there (mornings are usually busy on voting days), but I think that’s par for the course for mid-terms. I’m glad to have done my civic duty, but I am *really* looking forward to the absence of political phone calls…
Voted!
Been there, done that.
I voted by mail for the first time, very convenient to sit by the computer and see all the judicial ratings. Here in Illinois it is a fraught election,but also fascinating because of the minimum wage, birth control coverage, the “millionaire tax”, funding for mental illness care. I’ll be watching the returns closely this year, hoping to see my local idiot thrown out.
Voted early in Louisiana. Too many silly constitutional amendmend proposals, too many elections with only one candidate, too many positions that in my opinion should not be up for a popular vote (judges, anyone?), and all in all a depressing exercise, but one that needed to be done.
I would love to vote (I have lived in Indiana for 2 1/2 years) but I am part of the ‘Taxation without Representation’ population, i.e. a permanent resident. I can’t apply for citizenship for 3-5 years after moving here from the UK which means I can’t vote either – doesn’t stop them taxing me at the full rate though! ;-) Catch 22.
Dragged myself out of a sickbed so my beloved could drive us both to the polls. No sane Republicans left in Wisconsin, sad to say; but did vote for an independent (running on the “Draft Bernie Sanders in 2016” label) against the rightwing nominal-Democrat Milwaukee County sheriff, who runs as a Democrat because he’s black and loves to annoy white Democratic liberals. Now at doctor’s office, where they’ve just diagnosed me with bronchitis.
I voted last Monday. We no longer have the option of a single-check for a party ticket, so I got to fill in my bubbles with a loving hand. Like Beej, above, my voting was in protest to the General Assembly’s hash of things. I wish I could have voted Green.
Incidentally, I don’t think voting a straight ticket is lazy IF one has researched the candidates and actually believes the candidates from one party are uniformly better, for example. Pulling the level for one party without doing that is problematic, I think.
“Party, platform and person all were duly considered prior to vote. As it should be.”
Boy that’s pushy. There is nothing wrong with ignoring one, two or three of those criteria.
JS, in what way “problematic”? As in, likely to produce problem results?
Voted early.
Voted. #89 at my polling place at 8:15 am, no line. Wisconsin has a couple of interesting referendums, like “should we expand our Medicaid program” and “should we raise the minimum wage”… but most interestingly, “should we build a wall around our transportation fund money so we can’t use it for anything else?” Kind of bonkers.
Just voted up here in Grand Rapids, MI. All Democrats and Greens for elected positions. I voted “no” on creating a “wolf season”, and “no” to allowing the NRC to make decisions without legislative involvement. Voted “yes” on term limits for mayor and city commissioners, and “yes” on a dedicated millage for services for veterans. That was the longest ballot I have seen in quite some time.
Voted on my way into work this morning. Wearing my I voted sticker, mostly as self defense. My workplace also happens to be another districts polling place, and when I go out for lunch later I will be able to dodge through the electioneers much more easily with it on.
I voted. Mostly a straight ticket with a few curveballs due to perceived (or real) incompetence or a stance that I disagree with. I have found that researching my local candidates is almost impossible, as they don’t seem to have caught on to how to utilize the Internet to get their message out.
Voted two weeks ago. I live in Oregon, so vote-by-mail, and if you vote shortly after you get a ballot, then less campaign material comes to your house. Plus October Surprises have to become September Surprises to work. Straight Dem ticket, mainly because there’s not a lot of competition in my county, and on the contested races, the Republicans are awful enough that even in easily won-races it’s not worth a protest vote.
Voted early on Friday. It’s DC (Motto: “Taxation Without Representation”), so there’s nothing but local significance on the ballot, but an important habit to maintain. I vote in primaries, too, because in DC, the Democratic primary is effectively the general election, except in extreme cases.
This year could conceivably be one of those, at least in the mayoral race, where we have a black female Democrat, a gay white male ex-Republican Independent, and a straight white Jewish female ex-Republican Independent as the leading candidates. (There isn’t an actual Republican candidate.)
Although the Democrat is favored by registration and history, things just aren’t that simple, and all three carry a fair amount of baggage, though all are respectable. Going into the voting booth, I still hadn’t made up my mind, and leaving it I wasn’t sure I had made the right choice.
But I did choose.
Voted – rather unenthusiastically, but voted.
Voted absentee last week. Years ago I became so frustrated with the “caliber” of volunteers at the polls that I have voted absentee every year since. It’s nice, I have quiet and a snack…I do miss getting my sticker, though.
Was third in line when my polling place opened!
The best part of this day is the end of the political ads. Oy!
I mostly voted Democratic with the exception of the Governor’s Council, which appoints judges. I voted Republican on this one because a: He’s the only guy from Western Massachusetts on the ballot and sometimes they forget about us in Boston b: I think a dissenting voice is always a Good Thing c: he’s a nice guy, smart and funny and not a whacked out right wing nut job.
I voted shortly after the polls opened. I think I was #11 at my polling place. Not a big turnout, at least so far.
Last Thursday. Had to wait in line to do it, as well.
Voted shortly after the polls opened (because I’m working at the polls). Pretty decent turnout in my precinct, which generally has very low turnout. It’s kind of odd because there aren’t many races on the ballot in Indiana that attract attention this year: neither Senate seat is up for grabs, and the governor’s race isn’t this year either.
I voted Saturday before last, mostly Democratic. First time I had to present photo ID to vote, and I really felt so much more secure that they know who I was. Yeah, right.
Since liberals are as rare as hen’s teeth in this part of SE Texas, my ballot is probably nursing a drink in electronic purgatory.
I voted last Wednesday – for partisan offices I only voted for Democrats, because however nice a Republican candidate might be, I know that they’re going to act like Ted Cruz if they take office, because that’s what modern Republican office-holders do (at least if they have any ambition to be renominated).
I voted. Though, as usual, I chose not to vote for races that had a candidate running unopposed. If there is no choice, there is no reason to vote, as Illinois does not have a none of the above selection (it should, because I think some of these people would get knocked out of office if the option was available).
I voted last Tuesday.
I’m in the taxation without representation bucket for another two weeks…not that I’m bitter about paying over $750k in taxes since I moved to California and not being able to vote. Much.
Though the House vote here is between an odious hugely hypocritical and obnoxious Republican carpet/tea bagger who is going to be Bob Filner 2.0 (if he makes it, he’s another serial sexual predator but at least the story is breaking pre-election) and an almost infinitesimally less odious Dem who is spending his wifes’ money to get elected.
Stay classy, San Diego.
Every one else, vote early, vote often. Or probably not the last bit.
I voted three weeks ago by mail; I haven’t missed an election in well over three decades, and I’m not going to start now… especially since I knew I’d be travelling on Election Day.
No straight-party ticket for me (that way lies Chicago; I did the “vote early” part, but not “vote often”). California recently transitioned to a “top-two” ballot, creating a usually false dichotomy between candidates, who are not-infrequently from the same party… so I had a LOT of write-ins, several of which boiled down to “Comptroller is a licensed professional and neither candidate is qualified” and similar comments. As an 80s-era political cartoon that I’ve still got hanging around in a scrapbook somewhere noted:
“Well, at least the election results were inside the margin of error.”
“What, statistically?”
“No, who the parties nominated.”
And since when did felines get the vote? I thought they ran everything anyway….
6:00 this morning — first in my polling place.
Voted at 6 am this morning and am proudly wearing my “I Voted” sticker.
Voted!!! There are important constitutional initiatives on the Illinois ballot today. And a state Senator, and Governorship on the line. Proudly sporting my I voted sticker.
I hope your cat voted legally.
(I shouldn’t talk, they gave my 5yo a sticker because, well, 5yo and stickers.)
We have vote by mail here so I voted over the weekend. Dropped my ballot off and sat back to ignore the ads and phone calls that no longer apply to me. Not that I paid any attention to them before…
Voted. Unfortunately, my county tends to run straight Republican with no other choices. Couldn’t stand to vote for either of the two governor choices, so I cast the “against” vote.
I voted by early ballot last week. I also voted all across party lines, basing my choices on who seemed to have views closest to my own.
Voted early, a couple of days after early voting commenced. I voted more for Republicans than Democrats, but did not vote a straight ticket. I also had the pleasure of voting for myself, since I’m running for judge :-). (I probably won’t win, but it’s been a terrific educational and growth experience.)
Early voted last week.
Voted. I live in a traditionally conservative enclave here in the Pacific Northwest. Currently there is much gnashing of teeth and rending of clothes over the growing liberal incursion from across the river. I find comfort in that.
Voted bright and early this morning, and made sure to research the issues and candidates ahead of time. I was illegally barred from voting by shady politics near my college from 18-21, so I’ve made a point of voting in every election since!
I voted early this morning in Alexandria, VA. The protocol is: present ID, receive ballot in manila “privacy folder”, mark ballot, run ballot through scantron device. Folder has instruction printed on it: “Remove ballot from folder before inserting in Scantron machine.”
Hmm, ya think?
Voted, then did some stuff related to my (appointed, unpaid) position in local government.
People, if you have the time, energy, and opportunity, I strongly encourage you to get involved in local governance. I hesitantly did so a few years ago and it’s turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Voted on the west coast. Actually registered to get all ballots by mail, but didn’t get mine filled out in time to mail it in. Dropped it off at a local polling station. I like this blend because it was no muss, no fuss. Filled it out in the comfort of my own home with my voter guide for reference but also got my “I voted” sticker.
Despite being one of those Evil Republicans(tm), for the first time in my life, I have actually submitted a ballot where I have voted for zero Republicans. Although, in fairness, only the PA governor race actually had a Republican available to vote for (and I’m not a fan of the current incumbent). The other 3 races were unopposed Democrats, one of whom I like and voted for, the other two I did a ‘None Of The Above’ write-in. You guys can laugh, but for some reason, I’m actually bothered by this.
I voted, guided by prejudice.
For example, I disqualify former prosecutors and frown on incumbents and those who have only had government jobs.
Other than that, it’s read the voter guide and look for compatible souls.
Voted for one incumbent Republican, one challenger Democrat, one “no option because both candidates are clowns” write in, for gun background checks and against five billion dollars in new school administrators. I did not cast a vote for any race where someone was running unopposed.
I voted by absentee ballot last week!
Voted, lessee…11 days ago, by mail.
As usual, I took advantage of having the ballot here while sitting in front of my computer to research the candidates and their positions. Didn’t vote for any Republicans, in part as a message, in part because the last time a Republican looked reasonable and professional, he won the race I voted for him and used it as a stepping-stone to try to be a major statewide asshole, and in part because researching the individual candidates didn’t turn up any Republicans I liked anyway.
Also as usual, I didn’t vote in any races where someone was running unopposed. Why waste the ink and the time it takes filling in the box.
And there was one race where the candidates were a Republican nutjob and an “independent” who was another Republican who filed as an independent apparently in hopes of reaching beyond his base, except he was even more of a nutjob than the first guy, and I honestly couldn’t figure out from newspaper coverage which one had the better qualifications to do what is in the end a fairly non-partisan job, so I didn’t vote for either of them.
The various state initiatives and such were the bits that took the most research.
Voted already, and had fun with the rest of my town figuring where to go since they moved our polling place to a nearby school, and the entrance to vote wasn’t where you would think it be.
I voted mostly Democrat–with one Libertarian–because the Republicans around here are now mostly of the Tea Party variety and are preening because no one has yet blocked the “Don’t let brown/old people vote” law they passed last year.
Voted by mail last week. Mostly voted against incumbents and for women. There was a shocking shortage of non Dem/Repub candidates on the ballot. Did not like that.
Voted. Mostly Democratic , but in LA some offices don’t even a Democrat running so I virtuously tried to pick Republicans who were’t stark raving mad. Wasn’t easy.
I voted! In Fairfax County, VA, where the only questions were on the Congressional elections (straight-ticket D) and a couple of ballot initiatives. It was my first election here, and I didn’t realize they have a setup where you fill in SAT-like bubbles to mark your choices, but you can use a pen to do it.
I ended up voting straight party. I read the information about each candidate provided in my voter information guide and did the best I could, considering we are dealing with politicians.
There were some positions where political party was not provided. I couldn’t tell from their statements where they might stand on certain issues, and they all seemed to be making the same promises, so I voted for women when I could. Whether that was a mistake or not, remains to be seen.
The judicial yes/no votes were a bit more difficult. There was little information about them other than resume type info. The fact that our incumbent Governer nominated them, and I voted for our Governer again, led me to vote straight across with “yes” votes.
Voted! Took me forever because my last name was spelled Mrhuila on my registration (four correct letters, one in the wrong place, one letter dropped completely) but it got done. Don’t like either of our candidates for governor (IL) and was amused that a guy whose state senate campaign I worked for in college (ahh 2006, when I was much less disillusioned about politics) and still have a shirt from that campaign signed by then Senator Obama is running for treasurer. Still, mostly democratic ballot.
Alarm went off at 6:45, made it to my polling place by 7AM (it was just down the street). Voted straight democrat this year, which is unusual for me. Got to meet a couple of the people I voted for (and some I didn’t vote for) on the way in as well, which was nice. Very glad I went so early, as by the time I drove to work, there was a line out the door. Wonder if it has more to do with the race for Governor, or the vote to decriminalize weed.
Voted!
Given a choice, I think I’d choose the candidate with mental issues over the stealth-evil we’ve been saddled with.
Voted.
Voted a few hours ago, but did not report it here promptly. Wow and somehow I have misplaced my agonizer…have to get the batteries checked on that as well. Anyhoo, no harm, no agonizering–hopefully.
Voted.
WA mail-in/drop box voting started two weeks ago. Dropped in my wife and I’s ballots yesterday. Eastern WA basically = Idaho as far as local politics are concerned so I don’t really expect most of my selections to pull through. I do, however, have solid hopes for the gun registration/background check initiative to pass.
I voted to stop a political party from micro-managing my uterus. It’s getting ridiculous when times have changed so much that it’s now easier for me to gay than it is to be woman. Done and done.
I’d say that’s the 2nd best part. The best part is no more phone calls from pollsters and electioneers.
I voted about 7:45am. Almost all Democratic, though I believe, one Republican judicial candidate. I generally pass over unopposed candidates, unless I know and like that candidate personally. Ballot #47, polls had been open for a little over an hour.
Yup, I voted. Also, does anyone else think the sticker is odd? I know it should be “I love voting (in Ohio),” but I keep reading it as “I Ohio voting,” which isn’t very sensible.
When I was a teacher, I registered permanent-vote-by-mail because there was no way to squeeze poll time into my work day, but I couldn’t face my classes without voting. So I hoarded my husband’s “I Voted” stickers from the previous year just to make the point in class.
Now that I’m laid up with a cast on one foot, I’m really glad I could vote by mail!
As for party voting, most of the races on our ballot were local, and no party affiliation was listed. There are local “party” breakdowns, cliques that have a tug-of-war going over the future of our little city, but mostly I’m cheering for my neighbor who is running for school board! Go! Go! :)
Voted! Mostly won’t make a difference, here in California, that I voted for the Democrats — except in one race: for House Representative. Ami Bera (D) has been doing a fine job, and Doug Ose’s (R) ads against him have been despicable — but what else is new? Anyway, Bera got my vote.
Voted, largely so I could weigh in on some IL referenda.
I turned it in yesterday. I’m signed up as an absentee voter, and I usually end up putting it off until after it’s safe to mail them. Fortunately, there’s a drop box at the courthouse downtown that I’ve used for the past many elections.
I voted straight-ticket Democrat, since there aren’t any sane republicans in my area (and they all lose anyway. I voted for this guy: http://youtu.be/fG8UuZ0NZGY for governor ;). The most interesting part of my ballot were the various state and local measures. I’m not a fan of the initiative process, so that I voted for roughly half of them is pretty interesting. In my experience, the initiative process is often used as a way for rich people to side step the legislature. I think what is happening is that the state and city government in my area are having to put more stuff on the ballot themselves, so the state as a whole is ending up being a third house. This is something that has been cropping up more and more in the past few election cycles, and most of the measures I voted ‘yes’ on fell into this category (I didn’t vote for all of them, though, and not all of my ‘yes’ votes fell into that category).
exoboist: Yes, I think that sticker is a bit odd, as well. Obviously some graphic designer thought that the shape of Ohio looked like the conventional representation of a heart, which is a bit of a stretch, IMO. :-\
Voted before work. In and out in about 5 minutes, nice and easy.
John D: that plan would work … as long as the two parties didn’t have an “agreement” for the two parties to collaborate. The Democrats would approve a district favorable for the Republicans in one area and vice versa in another.
Voted! Then went to Glam Doll Doughnuts to celebrate exercising my franchise.
I voted about six weeks ago via permanent absentee ballot. Multi-party voter as always.
Steve L, if the two parties have an agreement, then they will have had to compromise so we win. IMHO, it is the “winner takes all” philosophy that allows the majority party to solidify their majority by gerrymandering districts (among other things) which is poisoning modern politics.
Fortunately, we’ve been here before (witness the Reconstruction era) and we did work our way back to civility. It just takes time and an informed electorate.
I voted early; my sticker is already worn out. Of my family of five, I’m the only one that isn’t a poll worker, so I’ve been up since 4:30 when they got up.
Like Justin, I’m in Washington State, and am hoping that there’s some positive movement on the initiatives regarding firearms; partner and I mailed our ballots in last week.
You voted for a republican? I know you have said you have voted for some republicans in the past… but surprised by this. A blog post on the republican you voted for would be interesting. Is the person really a republican? You are in a rather conservative area and its likely you get democrats who run as republicans because no one votes for a ‘D’ (this happens with republicans in liberal areas too).
I sent my ballot into the black hole of King county (Seattle) election fraud counting.
If you wanted to create the perfect system to ensure voter fraud, Washington state has it.
1. allow anyone to get a driver’s license. All you need is an electric bill with your name on to establish residency.
2. Motor voter requires the DMV to ask if you want to register to vote. While the form states that it is illegal for non citizens to register, there is no requirement to prove your citizenship when filling out the form. That electric bill is all you need.
3. Make sure everyone votes absentee so they can’t ID you personally. There are some locations in Seattle where they get between 10-50 ballots mailed to the same address.
4. Automatically have a recount when the results are less 1% difference, and recount multiple times until the Democratic candidate gets a majority, then stop counting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_gubernatorial_election,_2004
I fully expect that Udall in Colorado will win. The Dems in CO just installed the same system.
Yup. First time for me in NM — discovered that the polls for my precinct are a block away.
And the neighbors are certainly noisy about it, in a “Fiesta!” sort of way.
Mailed in early ballot a week ago. I used to be able to find Republicans I could feel safe about voting for, but not any more. If they’re not extremist themselves, they’re extremist-enablers.
On my own blog, I had a few comments and complaints about various campaigns in some Arizona elections. The only one I felt real enthusiasm for was the Democratic candidate for District 5, James Woods. In one of the most conservative districts in a conservative state, he’s pro-humanist, pro-choice, pro-national-healthcare, pro-sane-gun-laws, etc., AND a publicly proclaimed and proud atheist. But being the longest of long shots also makes him able to speak freely and honestly, not just in carefully massaged and focus-grouped sound bites. (He reminds me a bit of Alan Grayson at Grayson’s best, with the added benefit of frequently being quite funny in his writing and speeches.) (Did I mention Woods is blind, as well?) Not a hope in hell he’ll beat right-winger Matt Salmon, but boy is it ever refreshing to see someone like him at least try.
(In my own Congressional district, District 8, no Democrat even bothered to run against long-time incumbent Trent Franks. Christ on a crutch, not making even a token effort makes me want to slap whoever’s supposedly in charge of Arizona Democrats.)
I voted in the People’s Republic of California. Two of the races offered the option of voting for a Democrat or another Democrat and nothing else.
Held my nose and voted this morning, a bit of a split ticket, for the first time in a while. I brought my kids along with me. Since they’re dual citizens, I assume that they count as international observers.
Voted a week and a half ago, before I left for PAX Oz, because I wasn’t sure I would be in any shape to vote intelligently today* and I don’t know precisely where my polling place is. (Texas allows early voting at any polling site in the county, which encourages people to take advantage and reduces congestion on election day itself. In my case, I voted at the grocery store up the street.)
I voted for several Green Party candidates, notably in one race where neither the local daily nor the local weekly endorsed either major-party candidate and in races for the state board of ed, because I’m not putting any more Republicans on that board until they promise to quit teaching mythology as science.
* Some would argue I failed to vote intelligently anyway.
We went and voted an hour ago, when things were a bit quieter at the polls. There weren’t many choices on our ballot, but turnout has still been pretty good here. Since I live in VA, it’s always a tossup who’s going to win, although I find it hard to disagree with a guy who my husband told me has put up hundreds of signs (I believe in Loudoun County, VA) that say variations on, “Throw ALL the bums out!” A more ineffective Congress would be hard to find.
Voted. No line. I think a lot of people used early voting.
I registered!
I almost put myself as a part of the “Cat Party”
Cause cats.
Oh, and the “i voted” sticker they gave me was in Spanish.
Voted on the way to physical therapy on the way to work. (Falling just from a porch turns out to be bad news, if you’re 50-something and hit knee-first.) I’ve seen so many campaign promises broken that my research almost completely ignores campaign speeches and concentrates on track records. (This means the folks who haven’t left a trace where I can see it don’t get my vote, but I like this better than swallowing lies whole any longer.)
Voted by mail! No sticker, though. :(
Voted this morning. I’ve never gotten a sticker. :(
by mail, last week
Wish we had early voting here. I’m going to force my sick body out the door in an hour or two, because I care about some ballot questions and a couple of close races, but I so wish I could just veg on the couch drinking tea!
Voted…sort of.
For the third election in the last 5, there were problems with the voter ID system at my polling place. So I, along with several of my neighbors, got to cast provisional ballots instead of the real thing. If the voter ID system suddenly springs to life and verifies that we are who we say we are, then our votes will count. Otherwise, they won’t.
So I’m not sure if I actually voted. I think burying my sample ballot under a tree would have been more satisfying…except I’m afraid it might poison the tree.
@JohnD: I like your pipe dream — my beloved city council rep is no longer in my district, due to some heavy-handed gerrymandering a couple years back. Jerks.
I’ll be voting this afternoon on my way to the gym — ye gods, I sound like a responsible grownup. Help meeeeeee….
Voted about 9:30. While I probably have not missed voting in a general election for more than 40 years, for once there is a very important, and close, Senate race in Kentucky. In addition, there were also several contested non-partisan, Judicial races in which I wanted to cast my vote.
I voted this morning!
I work in the same building as a preschool and overheard the kids talking about how the nice lady gave them all stickers when they walked past. Apparently the poll workers are suckers for four-year-olds on their way to the park.
Voted.
My polling place was a new one this time. The old place was half a mile away, the new one is two blocks away. I am ok with this change! There was only one person in front of me in line (advantage of having a job with weird hours, I do errands when everyone else is at work!).
I’m also a multi-party voter.
But now my day shifts to doing election coverage for the TV station where I work. We’re in “prep mode” right now but starting around 8 or 8:30 my butt will be in the director chair for a good three hours. I am hoping to do less yelling than I did on primary night. I only yelled at two people that night, but I think it’s doable since a couple of the issues have *supposedly* been dealt with.
I took advantage of early voting in DC and voted last Friday. Elections were for mayor, AG, my ward’s DC Council rep, my ANC rep, 2 at large council positions and a board of ed rep. Also the ballot initiative to sort of legalize marijuana.
Colorado has a statewide mail-in ballot this year, with both a gubernatorial and senatorial race underway. It will be interesting to see how many post-election day legal challenges delay the final results.
+1 on the end to political ads, it’s been up to 1 or 2 phone calls an hour the last week or so. -1 on the fact the the replacement ads are already holiday topical.
I’m excited to see the results since, in non-partisan posts in local government, 3 of my neighbors are running for different seats. If they ALL get elected (or even if one of them does)… the city will KNOW when my street needs plowing or repairs or has a crime wave! (This is my theory, anyhow, and why I went to vote with some enthusiasm today.)
Absentee sent last week.
My polling place is walking distance from my house, and the walk was lovely. I’m really looking forward to the end of the political mailers and the phone calls. Our landline phone message machine recorded 9 messages this past weekend and ALL of them were political ads. 4 were for or against city council candidates.
Yes, I held my nose and voted today – mixed ticket, voting against purveyors of the most negative attack ads. However, in reference to the picture for this post, John,…THE CAT VOTED?!?!?! (Yes, I know, the cat probably voted more intelligently than most politicians, but still…). And people wonder why so many people want voter ID laws (CRIPES!!!).
Voted for every Democrat I could find. But then I missed the part of the ballot with referendum questions, so I didn’t get to weigh in on the minimum wage, darn it. But my wife managed it all.
Voted a week ago Saturday. Texas has a lot of problems, but I really like the early voting. Cuts way down on standing in line.
Voted 9:30 am and there was a bit of a line (they should consider dividing the alphabet other than by A-L M-Z because the M-Z line is always longer). Lots of yellow highlighter on the list of voters (which is how they “cross out” people who have voted) so it seems like a high turnout and early voting is reported to be high here too. We have state rep, congress rep, senator and governor on the ballot as well as some interesting propositions (Alaska).
Judges here are non-partisan and appointed – we vote only to retain or not for fixed terms. The voter info pamphlet has recommendations from a Judicial Review board which includes their recommendation and reasoning and poll results broken down from attorneys,police,fellow judges and court workers. Interesting system.
I voted for the lesser of evils in some cases, hoping it will result in less evil.
I have no belief my vote makes a lick of difference, as a libertarianish Republican here in the Bay Area. I voted for Jerry Brown but otherwise largely Republicans. As a lawyer, I pretty much refuse to vote in the judicial retention elections, and I voted against all ballot initiatives save the water bond.
Although I have absolutely no belief my vote matters, I never ever miss an election because what I like — what I really like — is the ritual of voting. I like going down to the polls, talking with the nice ladies at the polling station, filling out my ScanTron ballot and getting my sticker.
I voted. Don’t want to say more than that, other than to quote David Mitchell: “What is an ocean, but a multitude of drops?”
OK, I voted early this afternoon (provisionally, because I managed to lose my mail-in ballot). Several measures and a few propositions and a sizable number of judges, not to mention a football team’s worth of mayoral candidates. I’m not sure if the duck that wandered in was a voter or a poll watcher.
Voted by mail last weekend. Yes on school, no on trying to resurect the #%#^ monorail. (It’s dead! Pushing up daisies, gone to meet it’s maker! Let it be.)
Jimbot, I know you don’t like vote by mail, but I think its a good thing. And maybe that address with 50 ballots is a nursing home?
I voted yesterday (I live in an all-mail-in vote state). For one of my local state representatives I voted for a dead man (literally, not metaphorically, dead), something I thought I would never do. However, his living opponent is someone untenable to me. I did not vote for any position for which the candidate was unopposed. That just seems wrong to me.
Voted!
I usually drop my absentee ballot in the mail, but took a little too long to fill it out this time. Had to turn it in at the polling place this AM.
A tip o’ the hat to the state of California, which makes it ridiculously easy to vote. Why only 40% of us vote is beyond me.
Voted. Since it’s San Francisco I voted for something like 12 state offices, school board, community college board, a supervisor, seven state propositions, twelve city,
initiatives (two of which are only “suggestions” with no actual power and two others are attempts to cancel each other out because micro-managers don’t like some decision a city department made), and a bunch of judge retentions. Fortunately, i double checked my four ballots because it turned out I’d missed one side. Got a sticker.
JT, if I had my way, we’d all have purple thumbs right now.
County courthouse. http://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/blog/liberty-live/detail/homeless-voter-registration-drives-raise-concerns.html
I voted by mail, so I didn’t have to worry about rushing back to the polling place after work. But my hope is that San Francisco and California readers of Whatever vote in some shape or form by the end of the day. We’ve got propositions to tax speculators who evict S.F. residents just to flip their former homes quickly. The medical insurance industry wants to prevent our Insurance Commissioner from calling b.s. on questionable insurance rate hikes. So this is no time to stay politically silent.
Oh, yes h/t to Scalzi for coming up with Voting Sticker Cat.
Voted by mail (California), but still found it frustrating. The big positions were relatively easy, but the local stuff was hard. I have no idea what to do with the Harbor Authority. I don’t even know what they do. Should these judges be confirmed? I guess… None of them appear to have been indicted recently, so I suppose they are good. Some of the ballot initiatives were easy (pro-tip: if the objection to a new bond is “bonds are bad because it’s debt” then I’m in favor of it. Muster up a specific objection to this bond or go home), but others I found very confusing. I’m still not sure if I made the smart choice on Propositions 1 or 45.
It’s tough being an informed voter.
Mostly voted Democrat, but threw a couple of Republicans in there when the candidate wasn’t obviously bat-shit insane (you might think that California would be all about moderate Republicans, but quite often the attitude seems to be “Eh, we are going to lose, so why not roll out the local loonies?”).
Our polls opened at 6 AM; I was there before 6:30 and had half a dozen people in line ahead of me. Which I found encouraging—I hope there’s a good turnout. In my area we had a long ballot—US Senator, US Representative, several judges, various city officials, school board members, and 14 (count ’em 14!) amendments proposed for the state constitution.
And, yes, I’m one of those who don’t miss elections. Too many people over the years went through too much for me to ignore my chance to have a say. My mother was born before women could vote; I was born before many of my neighbors were allowed to vote—I can’t forget them.
Vote by mail, which means no sticker. Darn it, that isn’t fair.
4 pages, oy. Why do we have to vote for appointed judges? Why are there so many !@#$ propositions? I was mightily confused (except YES on 1&2 because water), but am happy that the phone calls and TV ads have stopped. Blessed silence. Ended up voting straight D ticket, since the R’s have gone nutso and none of the sane ones were bothering to run for anything this year.
Relied heavily on the League of Women Voters booklet for city council and school board. Although I’ve known one of the council candidates since he was in high school, and have met another on many occasions as he’s from my part of town (we do have a right and a wrong side, but it’s nowt to do with the railroad tracks). One of the school board candidates had a Serious Agenda and he ain’t getting my vote. He also smelled like potential kickbacks from contracts. Nuh-uh.
Good to see The Radiant She again!
Voted on my lunch hour. Mostly D’s a few R’s when there wasn’t a D running and the L scared the L out of me.
I will be glad to hear an end to the Robo calls, but I know on creature who won’t. My friends dog loves to listen to them when his person plays back the answering machine calls. She starts listening to messages and he comes running and wags and wags as all of his “friends” make their spiels. She’s not sure if he plans to vote, but suspects that he will be quite sad when they stop calling. She claims she thinking about saving the last couple days worth so he can listen to them once in a while.
Washington resident. I voted last week, and turned in my wife’s and son’s ballots at the same time.
As long as the Republicans are against all tax increases always no matter what, I’m not voting for any Republican even if I agree on most tax increases.
Also as long as they keep alive this meme of voter fraud when the only proven voter fraud is on their side (40,000 registrations not entered, really?).
Spouse and I voted on our way home from our carpool drop-off spot (carpool leaves too early in the morning for us to get in before work).
Younger kid, who lives on the western edge of the state, voted this afternoon.
Elder kid is on her way to the polling place now, after which she’ll stop over by our place for supper.
So our family contributed four mostly-Democrat ballots to our state’s tally. Unfortunately, that is unlikely to make much of a difference, as the Koch brothers bought this state lock, stock and barrel a long time ago.
I voted; my conscience wouldn’t let me live if Mitch McConnell won by one vote. Although I know it’s hopeless for the Democrats to retain control of the Senate. All I can do is sit back and watch us turn into a 3rd world country run by the billionaires determined to keep the serfs in their places. The American people deserve the government that they allow to happen. And anyone who says “there’s no difference between the parties” REALLY hasn’t been paying attention.
Is that how it works; you put the sticker on the cat, and then stick the cat to your clothing? Does everyone in Ohio have an angry cat stuck to them for the day?
Here in Washington state, we’ve been vote by mail for years, so I voted and mailed mine in last week. Pretty much straight Demo, and yes on a new gun control measure, like a large percentage of my fellow Washingtonians.
Voted! I split my ticket with a lot of local Libertarians. I think there were more Libertarians this time, than last election, which is kind of encouraging.
I voted – I hope some of ‘my’ choices actually help the winners, but I’m a (D) in a heavy (R) State. Purple (or better yet, Blue) would be a good color for this State, but I think it will come gradually through attrition (old and white replaced by younger multicultural voters) instead of suddenly in a single election. I want change, but I also want a burrito. I can at least have the burrito tonight.
Yo I voted. I live in California. My sticker says “I voted” in 3 languages!
Got to the polls by 8:25; there were only three people ahead of me. My friend who was working the bake sale (to benefit the PTA of the grade school that serves as the polling place) said it was actually pretty busy when the polls opened at 7:00 (Maryland suburbs of DC).
Actually voted for one Republican for county council at-large rep because I read the positions and he sounded reasonable. Also voted for a Green candidate for the state house of delegates to bring some other opinions in.
I voted for raising the local minimum wage, and also raising height limits on a waterfront parcel. I’m conflicted about the second – if it turns out this “global warming” thing is for real, the new development will be be awash ere long…
No puppets this year, alas.
Voted at 7:30 this morning. Didn’t vote for the unopposed. Sigh. No stickers here in this part of New Jersey…
I voted for a levy to fund something called “Critical Human Services” which I can only assume means that someone is building a human centipede and requires funding. Naturally, I support this.
Voted. I hope that my vote will get the idjit out of Cedar Crest in time that we can fix the disaster Saint Sam has left us.
I voted but it looks like my candidate for governor has lost (still very close so the tide could still turn). I’m just hoping there is some positive times ahead for the country…
Oh my sorry for 2 posts in a row but English is embarrassing. I’m just hoping there ARE some positive times ahead for the country. My high school motto was “Every class is an English class.” I hope there are no “Rhodesters” here…
I voted straight D ticket, largely without concern about platform. No, I don’t find that problematic – the Republican party, as an organization, has nothing of value to say to me, and never has. Were I ever to find a Republican I might vote for, my response would be, “Boy, too bad you’re a Republican.” Note: that’s never happened. Besides, I like Udall and really like voting for Polis.
I don’t vote for third party candidates either, because I find them just so adorable. If they were truly viable, they’d hitch themselves to whichever party most closely matches their overall principles, and be the “Green Democrat” or “Libertarian Republican” or whatever. As it stands, it’s clear they don’t really want to win so much as stand up and say, “Hey, look at me!”
Like others, I didn’t vote for unopposed offices (they were all R’s anyway). I’m hoping the “personhood” amendment folks in Colorado finally get the hint (doubtful), still want to (metaphorically) punch Cory Gardner in his smug face (and have since he retook the CO 4th in ’10) and really don’t need everyone weighing in every time my Association has to renegotiate my contract.
Hubby and I voted!!!
Mixed ballots in our household as well.
Voted, although they ran out of stickers at our precinct.
I voted about a week ago using my absentee ballot. No straight party ticket here either. No republicans this time, but I did vote for some democrats and would love to vote for some green candidates.
I voted, although my county is so deep red that all the races save the one statewide (and that’s a cinch for the Republican /anyway/) were decided in the primary – neither the Democrats nor anyone else bothered to run, so I left those blank. Voted against all the nonsense for amending the Missouri state constitution. I expect everything I voted against will pass, because Missouri’s about as nuts as any state ever since That Man got elected in ’08.
Here in Tyson’s Corner, wasn’t much on the ballot. However, like you, I was able to vote for the token Green Party candidate.
Voted before going to work. I voted for a Republican once, many years ago, in a primary, but I wouldn’t vote for a Republican now if they were holding a gun to my head. Those who voted for any Republican may think the one they voted for was sane, but if there are such people, which I doubt, they are still standing shoulder to shoulder with science-denying racist misogynist religious wackos. Party of Lincoln? Lincoln’s spinning fast enough in his grave to power the Eastern Seaboard.
Who did the cat vote for?
We have vote-by-mail and my wife and I dropped off our ballots at a collection box earlier today.
Given that republicans have gone further and further to the right in the last decade, and given the views they usually hold, I highly doubt I’ll ever be voting for one again. Put it this way, it’d take a miracle.
With the republicans posed to take back the Senate, it’s looking like it’s going to be a long two years. I honestly have no idea what would bring someone to vote for a republican for national office. (And I’m honestly not trolling.)
The good (or at least very interesting) news: looks like marijuana will be legal in my state soon!
I was #600 in our district (about 3K people), and much to my annoyance, voted a straight party line (including one of our neighbors!). Oh, well. (And then there was the Registrar of… Probate, I think? Where there were NO candidates on either side! I didn’t write anyone in.)
I voted Absentee, because I’m an Election Inspector for the Democratic Party in NY State. Mostly Dems, and when not I went progressive rather than Republican Tea Party in ALL cases – which is why I didn’t vote for Repub Lite Andrew Cuomo, no matter HOW the Working Families Party sold their soul to support him rather than Zephyr Teachout!
Done. Came back to find out the country got stupid.
I was born on election day to parents who were too young to vote. Let’s say I’m accustomed to disappointment on election day, but I still voted.
PS: I don’t know how the turnout was where everybody else is, but in my polling place in NY State it was huge – like double the expected number of voters! I can hope the Democratic Party’s GOTV finally had an effect, and turned back the supposed Koch-backed Republican Wave – though honestly? The most apolitical place you can be on Election Day – is at the polls!
Everybody, Democrat and Republican alike (no Independent or Third Party Election Inspectors in New York – you’re either D or R!), is working long hours like Hell to make sure everybody who wants to vote gets to vote, and we don’t care about seeing your ID to vote so long as you’re in the poll book. At least that’s always been the case in Upstate NY where Tammy and I live now….
I voted 2 weeks ago. We have mail-in voting in Oregon. It’s a really great system that all states should adopt.
I votes and even managed to pick a few winners for a change. Not easy to do in lock-step-liberal Massachusetts ;-)
As expected, the Koch-funded juggernaut steamrollered to another victory in my state. We can look forward to four more years of voter suppression, handouts to big business, and stagnant job growth, along with legislation to keep them uppity brown people firmly in their place and the wimmenfolks barefoot and pregnant.
I actually voted at 1:30 PM; I should have gone out and voted a few more times!
Mind you, I didn’t expect much but I thought a tie in the Senate might be eked out. If you want to be honest the Dems dodged the bullet the last two election cycles.
Scott Walker just became the odds-on favorite for GOP standardbearer in 2016.
How bad is bad remains to be seen, but I can imagine a lot.
I do expect impeachment hearings will be brought against Obama; just because.
As for this scream of hatred from the White Jacksonian Male Republic I grimly snicker at how they keep carrying water for their real enemies.
Shine perishing republic; then again, not all republics are representative.
I voted in Connecticut yesterday. I voted for some Democrats and some Republicans, but I didn’t mark any of them on the Dem or Rep line. Nobody I voted for won, except maybe probate judge or treasurer, results I couldn’t find.
Our entire Governor campaign seemed to be SuperRichGuy saying ExtraSuperRichGuy couldn’t understand working people, but I can because I’m merely SuperRich, not ExtraSuperRich.
Well, that sucks.
In my state, the candidate for governor who had a big lead until a week or so ago saw it diminishing and started robo-calling. To me, that smacks of desperation, but I guess if you’re desperate, you’ll do things even if they smack of desperation. He lost. I got a robo-call from candidate for another office last night only 20 minutes before the polls closed. Really, dude? The message included a reminder that anyone who is in line when the polls close is entitled to vote. Now that really smacks of desperation. I had voted hours earlier, so it wasn’t going to help him with me (apart from the fact that I hate, loathe, despise, and detest robo-calls, so when I get them, they are actually counterproductive). I have to wonder how many people who hadn’t voted by 20 minutes before the polls closed would hustle out of the house to vote because of a robo-call. But I guess if you’re desperate … He lost too, big-time. The governor’s race was pretty close.
Voted and forgot to reply to this post yesterday. I live in a one party small town that seems primed to burn down the Plenarbereich Reichstagsgebäude. It can’t be representative democracy if only one party is allowed on the ballot. We routinely criticize other countries for such behavior, and yet hypocritically embrace such behavior with gusto on our own shores. America may not be the Great Satan, but it is absolutely the Great Hypocrisy.
California has early voting, so my wife and I voted Sunday, after spending the afternoon going over the ballots and candidate literature at a restaurant run by a nice Turkish immigrant couple. And as nicoleandmaggie also said, I like the “Yo Vote'” sticker, even though it doesn’t actually mean “Yo!” in Spanish.
California has a “top-two primary” system, so they got rid of the minor-party candidates back in June, and non-partisan local elections. I mostly voted for Democrats, a few Republicans (state Treasurer, etc.), and a lot of local folks. Back in the primaries, we didn’t have Libertarians running for all the districts I’m in, so I also voted for some Greens and Occupy folks and an independant, figuring the Democrats would get my votes in the fall.
@timeliebe: Fellow upstater here (by birth and raising; I’m a Michigander now). And fucking ugh. Ballot status for WEP!? Seriously!?