Are you going to vote?

[Hustler]

Election day is approaching fast here in the US, and I'm curious what INTP voter turnout is going to look like.

[outmywindow]

I am, yes. Even if I didn't bother to vote on any other issue, I'd show up to the polls simply to vote No on Prop 8.

Those fundies won't going down without a fight! :dont:

[Vagabond]

I was the first one to vote on the poll? How sad.

I'd definitely be voting this time if I were American, though.

[manza]

I am a registered No Party Affiliation. As such, I've been getting a lot of attention from both parties this year.

A middle-aged woman and a small child came to my door this morning, to ask whether I was going to vote (and undoubtedly to harass me if I were to say no). I told them that I intended to.

I was still wearing the overalls and flannel "costume" outfit that I'd fallen asleep in last night. She looked me up and down, presumably trying to determine whether I was just a lesbian or some kind of crazy backwoods redneck. "And--" she added nervously, hesitantly. "Well, we're encouraging folks to vote for Obama." Her eyes were almost fearful.

I gave her a hard glare for a few seconds until she broke eye contact, and then laughed and assured her that I would be doing so.

I wish I'd had on my beard still.

[foodeater]

Yeah. Not for either of the two main parties, though.

As an aside, I predict an all time record high for young voter turnout too.

[Ghost-Girl]

Already did.

[Hustler]

Already did.
Well, you should definitely count that as a 'yes.'

[Madrigal]

I wouldn't vote.

[bluebell]

I would like to be able to vote because the outcome is likely to affect my country.

And if I was an American living in the US, I would definitely vote.

[Oso Mocoso]

I wouldn't vote.

That's because you're a soulless and inhuman Communist monster who thinks humanity should be deprived of their basic rights. Starting with the minorities, no doubt. Yes? First they oppress the gays. Who's next? If they pick on the Asians again, there goes my nation.

[V Profane]

Americans; if you fuck us again, we'll be petulant, and probably make jokes about you.

So think on...

[Ferrus]

Is there anyone here willing to be my illegal proxy vote?

[ApeTheDog]

I would. I rather like the process - it shows people in a different setting from how they usually are. Also responsabilities, etc, etc... whatever.

Are you going to vote, Hustler? I can't help but notice you haven't answered your own poll.

[MacGuffin]

Yeah.

I actually get up in the pre-dawn hours, walk the three blocks to my voting location, stand in line outside the elementry school in the dark with my neighbors, and cast my vote.

In real terms, my vote is pretty meaningless (my area is heavily "blue" aka Democrat Party), but it's something I enjoy and look forward to. The capitalist oligarchy may ultimately determine the direction of our government and society, but I still feel a part of the democratic process stretching back to the Greeks.

Hell, I mostly enjoy our church for the fact that George Washington and Robert E. Lee attended it.

[Ferrus]

but I still feel a part of the democratic process stretching back to the Greeks.
You do realise the Greeks only practised a democracy unrecognisable to its modern inconsistently and only for short lengths of time, and there was no real democratic process after them till the early 19th century (even the US had property restrictions on voting till the Jacksonian reforms)?

[MacGuffin]

You do realise the Greeks only practised a democracy unrecognisable to its modern inconsistently and only for short lengths of time, and there was no real democratic process after them till the early 19th century (even the US had property restrictions on voting till the Jacksonian reforms)?

Oh, of course. There's nothing directly linking it all. Still, the idea survived.

Even the oligarchs have to bend to popular will now and then.

[Oso Mocoso]

You do realise the Greeks only practised a democracy unrecognisable to its modern inconsistently and only for short lengths of time, and there was no real democratic process after them till the early 19th century (even the US had property restrictions on voting till the Jacksonian reforms)?

Well ... that depends on how you define democracy, doesn't it? I mean modern U.S. democracy might be quite a bit different but it's certainly derived from ideas that were hatched during the French Revolution, yes?

[Ferrus]

I mean modern democracy might be quite a bit different but it's certainly derived from ideas that were hatched during the French Revolution, yes?
The most democratic part of the French revolution was the election of the Estates-General in 1789 called by the monarchy, the consitutional conventions were highly liberal (even socialistic) after that, but often only patchily democratic, with strict property restrictions based on concepts of classical and Rousseauian citizenship. Modern democracy is, if anything, castrated democracy made to serve the guilty conscience of a Lockean classical liberal state which wants to deligitimatise internal violence. Classical liberalism guided both the American Revolution and the French Revolution. Democracy was a dirty word in most places till the early 20th century, where it somehow shifted its meaning towards signifying a 'constitutional liberal state' and then became deified as an untouchable ideology throughout the world thanks to Franco-British imperialism and then later American cultural dominance.

And it has worked nicely for the upper middle classes of the world mainly.

[Oso Mocoso]

The most democratic part of the French revolution was the election of the Estates-General in 1789 called by the monarchy, the consitutional conventions were highly liberal (even socialistic) after that, but often only patchily democratic, with strict property restrictions based on concepts of classical and Rousseauian citizenship.

Yes, but basically without that the early U.S. might not have got their inspiration, yes? I mean, we're talking about ideology not practice right?

[outmywindow]

I can't believe no one else here is a convicted felon.

[Oso Mocoso]

I can't believe no one else here is a convicted felon.

You are a convicted felon?

[puzzled-observer]

Voting is a waste of time, the only useful thing that could come from voting would be perhaps convincing many other people to vote as I did. But that can be done just as effectively by telling lots of people I'm going to vote for the guy I would vote for, and convincing them that it's the right choice with a good argument, or a sea of lies that sound good, or with death threats. After all, that's the only chance I have of affecting the actual vote tally.

[outmywindow]

You are a convicted felon?
Ha, no. I just admired Huster's thoroughness and thought the option was funny.

Besides, I replied that yes, I'll be voting.

[V Profane]

You are a convicted felon?

Grand theft literature.

[Oso Mocoso]

Besides, I replied that yes, I'll be voting.

Sure you will be. Doesn't it suck that as Californians our vote counts for so little in the Senate? Seriously that's lame! People who live in Wyoming have a lot more say in our government and that totally ticks me off.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe no one else here is a convicted felon.

That's what you get for taking your animal castration lessons beyond the classroom.

Oh, and I voted, yes.

[outmywindow]

Grand theft literature.
:grin:

Sure you will be. Doesn't it suck that as Californians our vote counts for so little in the Senate? Seriously that's lame! People who live in Wyoming have a lot more say in our government and that totally ticks me off.
I thought that was the whole point of the House of Representatives... (high school US History, don't fail me now!)

That's what you get for taking your animal castration lessons beyond the classroom.

Oh, and I voted, yes.
Hey, I thought the party was supposed to be an all-nighter.

[Anonymous]

Hey, I thought the party was supposed to be an all-nighter.

It was going to be if there was alcohol. No alcohol, and I'm out early. ;)

[djm]

I wouldn't vote.

Neither would I, a 'choice' between two people with practically identical policies is not a choice at all. Never voted, never will, it just adds legitimacy to the whole ludicrous popularity contest.

Still I'm English so we don't get to vote for a change of dummy across the pond anyway.


Well ... that depends on how you define democracy, doesn't it? I mean modern U.S. democracy might be quite a bit different but it's certainly derived from ideas that were hatched during the French Revolution, yes?

You can't blame the French for your silly little tiff with King George.


Americans; if you fuck us again, we'll be petulant, and probably make jokes about you.

So think on...

Sharpen your pencil, it doesn't make any difference which one wins.


I can't believe no one else here is a convicted felon.

Convicted felons can vote over here, not that I have ever been convicted of anything.

[Ptah]

No point.

[Oso Mocoso]

I thought that was the whole point of the House of Representatives... (high school US History, don't fail me now!)

Well ... yeah. In one House we're sorta close to equal in our representation. In another all 36 million Californians are equal in their voting power to 0.5 million people from Wyoming.

But in relative representation, we're still underrepresented in the House of Representatives. California has over 70 times the population of Wyoming, but because the number of Reps is frozen, Wyoming gets one Representative while California only gets 53.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2000-census-reapportionment.png

[Evignus]

The people who said that they aren't going to vote I think that is lame because people have fought and died for your right to vote. I'm definitely going to vote but not for John Mccain or Barack Obama because I'm voting third party probably for either Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr ; the former is of the Constitutionalist party and the latter is a of the Libertarian party and since I'm a Libertarian I'm leaning heavily towards Bob Barr especially since Chuck Baldwin is a Jesus freak and I'm an avowed Atheist. :devil: BTW, I must also mention that Ron Paul told his supporters that they should all vote third party in this election so that is good reason to do so ! I think Ron Paul has endorsed Chuck Baldwin though officially so I'm not quite decided on who I'm going to vote for between the two. I do like the fact that Chuck Baldwin is for the gold standard and the right to keep and bear arms etc.. etc..


Chuck Baldwin :

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/CBaldwin08.jpg


Bob Barr :

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Bob_Barr-2008.jpg/479px-Bob_Barr-2008.jpg

[djm]

The people who said that they aren't going to vote I think that is lame because people have fought and died for your right to vote.

Actually as a Brit my ancestors fought against your right to vote ;)

[Utopmk]

I sent my absentee ballot in Tuesday. Barack Obama and Joe Biden for President and Vice President, and straight democrat for Alabama.

(Truly, I moved back to Oklahoma City, but had to vote in Alabama due to Oklahoma deadlines)

No vote on any Republican candidates that don't have democratic opposition.

Not that it matters. Alabama will go Republican even if the candidate is in a casket.

[outmywindow]

But in relative representation, we're still underrepresented in the House of Representatives. California has over 70 times the population of Wyoming, but because the number of Reps is frozen, Wyoming gets one Representative while California only gets 53.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2000-census-reapportionment.png
Would it make you happy if, during the next appropriate election, Wyoming elected a representative who was missing his/her legs?

[C.J.Woolf]

In real terms, my vote is pretty meaningless (my area is heavily "blue" aka Democrat Party)...
*ahem* Democratic Party.

Alexandria is blue but Virginia is very much a swing state. It's worth voting here at the state level.

I'll be at my polling place Tuesday, touching the screen with my middle finger. Welcome to the dustbin of history, Republican Party!

[skip]

Voted weeks ago.

[Oso Mocoso]

Would it make you happy if, during the next appropriate election, Wyoming elected a representative who was missing his/her legs?

You mean so they'd essentially have 5/7ths of a person representing them? Well, that's one way you could slice it. I'd rather if California had 20 extra Representatives (with other densely populated states being bumped up as well), but if Wyoming would agree only to elect appropriately fractional people that would work too. Alternately, they could pass a law making only midgets electable to national offices.

[avolkiteshvara]

Ehhhh

[Anonymous]

Ehhhh

It's ok, one of these days, I'm sure zombies will get to vote too.

[outmywindow]

I'd rather if California had 20 extra Representatives...
Limiting the number of members of the House to 435 (or really, any arbitrarily chosen number) does cause mathematical compromise when it comes to disproportionally populous states, but if you removed the cap just so California could have extra Reps, the fractional weight of the smaller states becomes less and less significant, and eventually completely null and void. California already has 21 more Reps than the next guy (Texas) and 23 more than the third (NY), and frankly, I think I'd rather be slightly less 'represented'* as an individual than be fully proportionally represented at the expense of having huge swaths of the country effectively not represented at all.

Yes, I know, the Senate counterbalances this, but still, it seems a little wrong to have five or six populous states determining things in the House (even more) for everyone else. It was for this very same reason that the Electoral College was enacted way back when.




*Especially since I don't feel politically represented much at all.

[foodeater]

The people who said that they aren't going to vote I think that is lame because people have fought and died for your right to vote. I'm definitely going to vote but not for John Mccain or Barack Obama because I'm voting third party probably for either Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr ; the former is of the Constitutionalist party and the latter is a of the Libertarian party and since I'm a Libertarian I'm leaning heavily towards Bob Barr especially since Chuck Baldwin is a Jesus freak and I'm an avowed Atheist. :devil: BTW, I must also mention that Ron Paul told his supporters that they should all vote third party in this election so that is good reason to do so ! I think Ron Paul has endorsed Chuck Baldwin though officially so I'm not quite decided on who I'm going to vote for between the two. I do like the fact that Chuck Baldwin is for the gold standard and the right to keep and bear arms etc.. etc..


Chuck Baldwin :


Bob Barr :


I haven't looked into Baldwin much, but Barr flipped his positions on A LOT of issues. However, since it's obvious that neither will win I'll probably vote libertarian just to support the party. I hope they pick a better candidate next time though.

[puzzled-observer]

The people who said that they aren't going to vote I think that is lame because people have fought and died for your right to vote.


People have fought and died for lots of things that I don't much care for.

A couple of examples:
1. The continuation of slavery- or to acquire more slaves
2. The conquest of the supreme race
3. The spreading of the muslim/christian/etc. faith.
4. The glory of Rome.
5. To prove who's got the bigger penis
6. To purge some land of witches and warlocks
etc. etc. etc. pretty much just about every stupid reason you can think of, someone has probably died for.

So, as you can see, the fact that people died for something, doesn't make it useful or meaningful to me. In fact, all it means is that it was useful/meaningful to that person who is now dead.

[avolkiteshvara]

The people who said that they aren't going to vote I think that is lame because people have fought and died for your right to vote. I'm definitely going to vote but not for John Mccain or Barack Obama because I'm voting third party probably for either Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr ; the former is of the Constitutionalist party and the latter is a of the Libertarian party and since I'm a Libertarian I'm leaning heavily towards Bob Barr especially since Chuck Baldwin is a Jesus freak and I'm an avowed Atheist. :devil: BTW, I must also mention that Ron Paul told his supporters that they should all vote third party in this election so that is good reason to do so ! I think Ron Paul has endorsed Chuck Baldwin though officially so I'm not quite decided on who I'm going to vote for between the two. I do like the fact that Chuck Baldwin is for the gold standard and the right to keep and bear arms etc.. etc..


Chuck Baldwin :



I love the knee-jerk propagandist reactions from Feelers when you tell them you won't vote.

"If you don't vote you can't complain"
"voting is patriotic"
"people died for our right to vote"
"If you don't vote you have no say in today's issues"
"the last election of 20xx, the marginal winner won by 800 votes"

Its a hobby people. Get over it. Nothing was ever decided by 1 vote. Either work for a campaign or shut up.

[!diom]

Now that I think about it, I was registered to vote in Georgia before I registered here in California. Seeing as how Obama is only slightly behind in Georgia, I should have voted with an absentee ballot.

[djm]

So, as you can see, the fact that people died for something, doesn't make it useful or meaningful to me. In fact, all it means is that it was useful/meaningful to that person who is now dead.

Most of the time it's due to conscription, not meaningfulness to the victim. Like the various victims amongst my ancestors scattered around the world for the whims of whatever regime Britain had at the time.

[joft]

I'm doing it for the free coffee from Starbucks

[outmywindow]

I'm doing it for the free coffee from Starbucks
Yeah, I saw that ad last night while watching SNL and threw up in my mouth a little.

[Hustler]

Are you going to vote, Hustler? I can't help but notice you haven't answered your own poll.
Of course not. But...

Is there anyone here willing to be my illegal proxy vote?

If I had known there was a market for it, I might have registered and sold off my vote.

[mgb]

If I had known there was a market for it, I might have registered and sold off my vote.

What do you expect you could have sold your vote for?

[Ferrus]

Most of the time it's due to conscription
Well... modern conscription has only really been around since the end of the 18th century and was never used in Britain before 1916.

Your ancestors probably got themselves killed in various wars in the past because it was a quicker way of making some cash than working 14 hours on a field just to have the bastard landowner come and take half the produce anyway.

[Chunes]

I would vote if we had a popular election.

Alas, I live in the middle of hick-state that contends with Texas each election for the most red state. Whether you vote Democrat, Republican, or independent in this state it doesn't fucking matter. There's so many hicks here that all of our electoral votes go for the republicans.

I'd much prefer to spend that half hour doing something not wholly pointless.

[Delilah]

Whether my vote counts, or not, I will never miss the opportunity to vote against the worst of the pack.

I always hope it counts.

[Hustler]

What do you expect you could have sold your vote for?
You'd have to ask Ferrus that; he's the one offering to buy a vote. The other question is how many votes he'd like to buy. I'm sure deals could be brokered for many votes.

[Methofelis]

I screwed up fairly badly by moving, not changing my address, then not getting my absentee and ... ugh, lots of crap. I may not get the chance, as much as I want to vote.

[Delilah]

I'm sure deals could be brokered for many votes.

I can't be bought.


Ferrus, you're a bastard to try.

[sandwich]

I'm completing my ballot as a distraction from studying.

[A Schnitzel]

I'm completing my ballot as a distraction from studying.

That must be one complex ballot.

[sandwich]

I haven't kept up with the local candidates, so it requires a bit of research. And it took me a while to find my postage stamps.

[Utopmk]

That must be one complex ballot.

You should have seen the Alabama Absentee ballot.

I've heard it was much harder for Floridians in 2004...

http://www.thekjs.essex.sch.uk/yates/Documents/Votergate/florida%20ballot.jpg

[C.J.Woolf]

I'm completing my ballot as a distraction from studying.

I haven't kept up with the local candidates, so it requires a bit of research. And it took me a while to find my postage stamps.
If we ever have a thread on "Productive Procrastination", these two posts will be in it.

[airjaw]

I voted absentee! no idea if my vote will count though. theoretically it should, but in reality we all know the shit that goes on.

[fripping]

voting doesn't necessarily mean you believe in the political process. it can also mean you aren't totally sure if it's 100% fraud, or just 99% fraud.

[Ferrus]

Ferrus, you're a bastard to try.
Well, what can I say, merely indulging in the traditional practices of rotten boroughs.

[amazingkae]

I'm not voting this election, so remind me I have no right to point fingers or bitch these next four years if I break my own rule and ever start to talk politics here.

I'm a registered independent and I can't vote ethically for McCain because I am pro-choice and wholly in favor of affirmative action programs. I also support gay rights to a legal union fairly openly everywhere.

On the other hand, I can't vote for O'Biden because I don't believe in or trust the fiscal policies of either of them. I also think it is foolish and dangerous to remove ourselves from the Middleast wars in haste; since the chain of events has been put into play, you have to complete your tasks effectively and leave when the time dictates it wise--not by some "mystery date" plucked out of the ethers. To do so seems egocentric, rash and ill-advised: all character-driven impulse behaviors that smack of the original GW Bush administration's errors blatantly.

Add to those aforementioned concerns the plainly sad and somehow typical American fact that I am not going to make it back home to Florida in time to vote because I am sitting here wasting my day online in another state relaxing with my feet up, drinking coffee, and handling business teleconferences while trying to hustle up some of that much need income for my middle class family (and I never ordered an absentee ballot) and you've pretty much got down my "why I am not voting in the 2008 election" story.

If I had to punch a card this year, though, I would have absolutely done it for McCain except for our little disagreement about civil rights legislation related to womens personal and moral health issues... Though I think his folks promoting him intentionally set him up to fail, I think he is a gentleman, an honorable politician, and would have made (ultimately) an excellent president. Had the republican party been smart and had HIM get the nomination to run against Kerry in 2004 instead of Bush, I think the world would have had both a Republican president and a positive socio-political outcome--which, unfortunately, has become an oxymoron concept.

The GW Bush administration is and has been a frustrating low point in American history as I see it... but I won't say anything more that that (which would show disrespect or harm them publicly). Enough damage has already been done to the world economy and public image of the United States. I'd rather keep myself active in the economy and through organized civil activities (like supporting charity needs) than to tangle for the next 4-8 years politically with whatever organizations are involved with politics.

No one has all the right answers in Washington, DC--and I don't envy anyone stepping in to the current market crisis or global tension (whomever they may be). For that reason, I am going to stay quiet and hopeful that those in power choose their path and steps wisely, and I will observe and wait for better candidates platform choices that are less party oriented and more directly guided by justice, common sense, and pragmatic in nature before I openly stand behind anybody.

Successful political leaders must be both feared and respected to effectively lead.

I see McCain as a person to be feared and respected. I also see him as the anti-Bush, having followed his career politically for years hoping he would come to his senses and lean that touch more left he needed to be for me to lend my support to him politically.

I see Obama as a scripted movie actor with an ability to present a face but who only wags his blaming finger when it comes time to step up to lead. [I think of Meshou's old avatar every time I hear him speak.]

Change is inevitably coming--it comes with EVERY shift in presidency. Voting this year comes down to voting for the policies and future choices presented that each of us thinks will be the fundamentally proper way to proceed as Americans and as a "placing our bets" on which administrations platform is more or less likely to help us succeed.

[pangolin]

I live in a definitively red state. I am only informed about the presidential candidates, and they are the only ones about which my vote is immaterial.

[Eye-In-TiPi]

I live in a red state and I'm always aware that I'm surrounded by Republicans. My boss and most of my coworkers tried to convert me but they failed. I voted Saturday and I voted, as one of my coworkers put it, yellow dog. I did vote for one Green Party candidate, though.
Voting does make a difference. About 20 years ago, my mom didn't vote in an election in which one of my cousins was running for state rep. It was a tie. Mom's vote would have put my cousin in office. He lost in the runoff by a handful of votes.

[Hustler]

About 20 years ago, my mom didn't vote in an election in which one of my cousins was running for state rep. It was a tie. Mom's vote would have put my cousin in office. He lost in the runoff by a handful of votes.

Truth or apocryphal family story? I'm going with the latter.

[Eye-In-TiPi]

Truth or apocryphal family story? I'm going with the latter.

It's the truth. It really happened. I'll swear on a stack of bibles.

I also admit that I had to look up 'apocryphal.'

[Arachne]

Yep, and I'll be wearing my Obama T-shirt.

[MacGuffin]

Voted!

I went later than last time. Last Pres. election I got up to be in line at 6am. So many people there it took at least 20-30 minutes to vote.

This time I decided to go at 8:30, after people have left for work and the old people are already looking forward to lunch (one old guy was even out mowing his lawn). Walked in, cast my three votes (Pres., Sen., and Rep.) and walked out. < 5min.

[Ferrus]

Well, I suppose, as is usually the case in elections in many different countries, I'll end up falling asleep before I find out the result.

[Saeculustra]

Voted.

I can't wait for this campaign to be over! Make the hurting stop!

Then I'll have time to make more INTPc logo prototypes. :devil:

[outmywindow]

...Walked in, cast my three votes (Pres., Sen., and Rep.) and walked out. < 5min.
No state/local issues that caught your fancy?


I can't wait for this campaign to be over! Make the hurting stop!
Ditto, absolutely.

We get up to two hours of "paid administrative leave" for voting purposes, which I fully plan to take today. In the past I've never bothered since my polling place is in easy walking distance from my house, but with all the OMG LIENS!!! hooplah, I figured I'd rather get an earlier start than still be in line at 7:30pm.

[starla]

We get up to two hours of "paid administrative leave" for voting purposes, which I fully plan to take today.

Wha? All we got was an email telling us we could vote early if our work schedule would impede us from voting on election day (which it will for those who work the 7-7 shift). Said email included absolutely NO instructions on how or where to vote early, just that you could. Ah, the joys of working in a red state.

[Rajah]

I voted. In Florida.

Take that.



Got there at 6 AM. I was the second person in line. By 7, when the polls opened, there were probably over a hundred people in line.

[outmywindow]

Wha? All we got was an email telling us we could vote early if our work schedule would impede us from voting on election day (which it will for those who work the 7-7 shift). Said email included absolutely NO instructions on how or where to vote early, just that you could. Ah, the joys of working in a red state.
Oh, we don't get told how or where (or what) to vote, simply that we can have two hours in which to do it.

[starla]

Oh, we don't get told how or where (or what) to vote, simply that we can have two hours in which to do it.

Well, my point, which I completely failed to make, is that you vote early in different locations than you would normally in NC. Unless you have access to the internet (which my employer does not provide to the hourly folks who are going to miss voting hours), I don't know how you'd figure out where to go or when.

[manza]

Done.

[MacGuffin]

No state/local issues that caught your fancy?

We actually had nothing else on the ballot for once.

[earwax]

Well, my point, which I completely failed to make, is that you vote early in different locations than you would normally in NC. Unless you have access to the internet (which my employer does not provide to the hourly folks who are going to miss voting hours), I don't know how you'd figure out where to go or when.
You mean, other than a newspaper or calling city hall. No offense, but you're going to have to put a little effort of your own into this.

[starla]

You mean, other than a newspaper or calling city hall. No offense, but you're going to have to put a little effort of your own into this.

They definitely could have made it easier for people. How hard would it be to copy/paste the info from the internet into the email, or put it on the company intranet? We're not talking about physics PhDs here, we're talking about hourly folks who drive in from the boondocks to work a twelve hour shift at $11 an hour.

[outmywindow]

We actually had nothing else on the ballot for once.
Wow, I'm jealous. We have 12 state propositions, eight or nine city/county issues, mayor, school board people, judges, housing authority people, and I think that's it. Arrgh.

[sandwich]

I voted. In Florida.


Did the ballot format give you any trouble?

[earwax]

They definitely could have made it easier for people. How hard would it be to copy/paste the info from the internet into the email, or put it on the company intranet? We're not talking about physics PhDs here, we're talking about hourly folks who drive in from the boondocks to work a twelve hour shift at $11 an hour.
It's obviously a conspiracy to keep the uneducated masses under the thumb of big business. :ph34r:

[nonperson]

http://www.momentumpictures.co.uk/assets/posters/51st-state_Poster.jpg

We are all American because Mr Jackson says so.

At uni' we (that is the real students) are really concerned about who the international relations and politics faculty are going to laugh at if McCain doesn't win....

[C.J.Woolf]

I voted at lunchtime; was in and out in under five minutes. We have the option of paper ballots this time (instead of touch-screen).


No state/local issues that caught your fancy?

We actually had nothing else on the ballot for once.
Fairfax County had only the big three (President, Senate, House) and a park & rec bond issue. No gays-as-boogeymen constitutional amendments or suchlike.

Virginia has a lot of statewide elections on off years. (The governor serves a three-year term, for instance.) They're like the cicadas of elections.

[MacGuffin]

Virginia has a lot of statewide elections on off years. (The governor serves a three-year term, for instance.)

Four years.

I also think it's time to remove that one term limit too.

[!diom]

I voted first thing this morning. I won't say for who, but his name rhymes with "Yo Mama".

[airjaw]

Massachusetts had the most interesting ballot questions overall.

- abolish income tax
- make possession of up to 1oz marijuana a civil offense, not criminal, and reduce penalties and jail time
- outlaw dog racing

[Evignus]

I voted today around lunch time. They didn't have Chuck Baldwin on my local ballot selection but they did have Bob Barr. So I voted for the Libertarian Bob Barr for president. His name on the voting machine was way below eye level so doubt most even noticed he was on the ballot being that Obama and MCcain were on top or eye level. I'm a Libertarian and like I said Ron Paul said to vote third party this election so I did. In reality voting for Ralph Nader is probably taking a vote away from Obama and voting for Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr is probably taking a vote away from Mccain. That is just the way the cookie crumbles.

[foodeater]

I voted first thing this morning. I won't say for who, but his name rhymes with "Yo Mama".

I voted a little after noon. I won't say for who, but his name rhymes with "Yob Marr".

[djm]

Massachusetts had the most interesting ballot questions overall.

- abolish income tax
- make possession of up to 1oz marijuana a civil offense, not criminal, and reduce penalties and jail time
- outlaw dog racing

Outlaw dog racing - outrageous.

[Evignus]

I voted a little after noon. I won't say for who, but his name rhymes with "Yob Marr".

Haha , good man.:highfive: :

[C.J.Woolf]

Four years.
I am embarrassed by my faulty civic knowledge. I blame the cicadas.


I also think it's time to remove that one term limit too.
I could go for that. The one-term limit makes for an interesting political dynamic in Virginia rather like the "up or out" policy in the US Army officer corps. What does an ex-governor do next? In the case of George Allen, Jim Gilmore, and Mark Warner, run for the Senate. I suppose a single term as governor can be a disadvantage if one wants to run for President (both Clinton and Bush were re-elected as governors), though Mark Warner was considered a top-tier Democratic Presidential candidate before he declined to run.

[starla]

Just voted. No lines. There were plenty of empty voting booths, and poll workers were basically sitting there with nothing to do. My ballot was the 551st collected at my polling place today. I thought that was a pretty low number, but I have no idea how many people are assigned to that polling place.

[Saeculustra]

I voted a little after noon. I won't say for who, but his name rhymes with "Yob Marr".

I won't say who I voted for either, but his name rhymes with "Yon McCain."









oops.

[purveyor of truth]

I won't say who I voted for either, but his name rhymes with "Yon McCain."

Suprise, suprise.

[!diom]

I should have just said that I voted for your mother.

[Saeculustra]

[insert generic response to all predictable and inevitable flak here]

[Delilah]

Done and done!

5 Minutes, in and out.


sweet.

[Shades of Gray]

Just voted. No lines. There were plenty of empty voting booths, and poll workers were basically sitting there with nothing to do. My ballot was the 551st collected at my polling place today. I thought that was a pretty low number, but I have no idea how many people are assigned to that polling place.

We had two precincts voting in the same place, so they had maps of the city posted, with the pricincts clearly marked. All you had to do was find your street and you could tell where you fell. Our precinct is about six residential blocks.

What I thought was interesting is that the old folks home just up the street from me is it's own precinct. It makes me curious if they set up voting booths in the lobby, or if they had a portable booth and went from room to room.


Here in Michigan we had two proposals on the ballot. One for medical marijuana and one for stem cell research.

[airjaw]

Outlaw dog racing - outrageous.

I don't know if you're joking but, I did vote for keeping the laws as is (dog racing - legal)

I didn't research the issue beforehand and I probably could have cuz I voted absentee, but anyways...my initial reaction was that there is nothing wrong with dog racing and this ballot question was probably proposed by some animal-loving activists who want to ruin life for the rest of us dog-watching, meat-eating citizens.

[Methofelis]

They let me vote anyway! Man, what a relief.

I had to jump through some hoops (wrong address, no voter's card, out of my county...) but they verified me anyway and let me vote. :banana:

[joft]

I canceled some hick's vote, yay!

(That was the best rationalization I could come up with for my irrational behavior)

[Chunes]

My state had a 20 dollar vehicle registration fee or some crap for road construction that is going to expire in 2010. How could anyone actually vote for that?

[garak]

I already voted. Mail voting rules.

[Anonymous]

I canceled some hick's vote, yay!

(That was the best rationalization I could come up with for my irrational behavior)

You don't need to rationalize all irrational behavior. Without it, society couldn't exist.

[garak]

If you're not glued to the boob tube, here are two maps to watch:

AP live results map (http://hosted.ap.org/specials/election_night_2008/election_map_premium/index.html?SITE=MASPDELN)
RealClearPolitics prediction map (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/) (to see what's a surprise and what's not)

[Samurai Drifter]

Yeah, I voted, only because it took about 5 minutes and was free, though.

Also, both of the candidates likely to be elected suck. McCain is Mr. Christian Values and Obama's not liberal enough.

[Rajah]

Did the ballot format give you any trouble?No. They're kicking it old school now. I had to actually bubble stuff in scantron-like with a black marker.

:mellow:

[outmywindow]

- abolish income tax

I'm moving to Massachusetts if that passes, then I can not only be state-income-tax-free, but also within driving distance to New Hampshire for all my sales-tax-free purchasing needs.

Anyway, I voted, five minutes in and out (like a lot of other people have mentioned). As I said before, there were a zillion other issues besides President and State Senate. Voted on nearly all of them (some weird city-level historical preservation amendment thing made no sense to me either direction so I didn't bother voting on it).

Yay, now it's time to watch maps turn pretty colors!

[foodeater]

Wow, I wish my line was only 5 minutes long. I guess that's what I get for voting in a residence hall at a huge university with a bunch of other first-time voters.

[garak]

I'm moving to Massachusetts if that passes, then I can not only be state-income-tax-free, but also within driving distance to New Hampshire for all my sales-tax-free purchasing needs.

A lot of people do that by living in Washington and shopping in Oregon. Of course, the rest of us have to pay for the effects of all their driving... :stupid:

[avolkiteshvara]

A lot of people do that by living in Washington and shopping in Oregon. Of course, the rest of us have to pay for the effects of all their driving... :stupid:

Yep. Live in Vancouver. Shop in Portland.

I used to even use my oregon id to get tax off when shopping in vancouver.

[outmywindow]

Wow, as of this moment (and according to the tracker I'm using), only 5,000 votes separate the candidates. Of course, it's pretty early on and everything, but I find the numbers interesting nonetheless.

edit: make that 2,000 :mellow:

edit edit: 500?!

[garak]

I just can't believe there are counties in Kentucky where 75&#37; of people think McCain is a good idea.

[starla]

I just can't believe there are counties in Kentucky where 75% of people think McCain is a good idea.

Bear in mind that these people also think living in Kentucky is a good idea.

[Methofelis]

I haven't been so angry in a long time.


Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.

I think that shit just won in my state.

Goodbye civil unions and domestic partnerships. :sadbanana:

[C.J.Woolf]

I haven't been so angry in a long time.



I think that shit just won in my state.

Goodbye civil unions and domestic partnerships. :sadbanana:
I'm sorry for the present, but time and demographics are against the haters and they know it.

[Methofelis]

I'm sorry for the present, but time and demographics are against the haters and they know it.

I hope so. I really do.

[Delilah]

CNN is calling it.

President Obama!

[djm]

I don't know if you're joking but, I did vote for keeping the laws as is (dog racing - legal)

I didn't research the issue beforehand and I probably could have cuz I voted absentee, but anyways...my initial reaction was that there is nothing wrong with dog racing and this ballot question was probably proposed by some animal-loving activists who want to ruin life for the rest of us dog-watching, meat-eating citizens.

I grew up round Hall Green / Perry Bar/ Cradely Heath/ Monmore dog tracks - compulsive gambling father. I like dog racing, although there are issues in that retired racing dogs often end up being put down.