On Demand
Election Day 2008: Hour One
Bo Lipari, executive director of New Yorkers for Verified Voting speaks about voting problems--and what voters can do about them--in New York and elsewhere.
Then
Bob Hennelly, WNYC reporter, talks about the races in New Jersey--and why he thinks the Garden State is at a generational crossroads.
Then
Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, reporter for Feet in 2 Worlds and the Polish Daily News, joins us live from a polling site in Greenpoint.
Check out the Feet in 2 Worlds twitter feed
Then
Elizabeth Fiedler, news reporter for WHYY in Philadelphia, talks to us live from a polling site in North Philadelphia.
Then
Fred Echols, All Things Considered Host WVTF, Virginia Public Radio, joins us to break down what's happening in Virginia.
Bo Lipari's information and advice for New York State voters this Election Day
Additonal voter resources from the New York Times
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The lines at the PS-29 polling place in Cobble Hill are around the corner. I've never seen it like this. Look for an Obama landslide, at least in New York.
Wow, an Obama landslide in NYC? I hear Christmas is in December this year. Can anyone confirm?
We spent ours sometimes even day on a line for Janet, Britney, IPOD, PS2/PS3, XBOX, NITENDO etc
Why not line to VOTE
There were nearly a dozen people (mostly young white people in their 20s) waiting on line when I left PS 111 in Bushwick. I've lived here for more than four years and there have never been more than a handful of people at the polling place when I voted. This election is obviously different!
POLL WORKERS AT THE 79TH E.D. (P.S. 139 IN BROOKLYN) WHERE ASKING EVERY VOTER FOR ID!! There is no voter ID law in NY. You can get a provisional pballot with an ID, but if your in the book you DONT need ID.
I called the NYC Board of Elections, they were shocked to learn that you dont need to present ID to vote.
Ballot Initiative - Was surprised to see a proposal on the ballot. Although it sounded somewhat esoteric (softening requirements for disabled veterans to qualify for points on civil service exams), had not seen any coverage on it.
Could you touch on this? It was so far on the right, no doubt many missed it.
Fyi, when I voted this a.m. in Harlem (at 6am) there were very long lines, but they moved quickly. In and out in 30 minutes!
Thanks!
Went to my polling place in Brklyn this a.m. it was a cluster-*** of democratic mismanagement...long lines, little signage, no directions, poll workers not knowing left from right (I ain't kidding)...took me a long time to vote 3rd party, but it was worth it...
In our small (Somerset County, NJ) town one of the two mayoral candidates is also working at the polling place.
Legal?
At my Town Hall I saw an 18-year-old girl voting for the first time. She was with her mom and grandmother and I don't know why, I got really emotional...I just felt compelled to shake her hand and say congratulations...
I know so many parents who were planning to vote this morning, but were asked by their grade-school children to wait until the afternoon or tonight so they (the kids) could go, too. A lot of my friends who are grade-school teachers say that they have never before seen this kind of interest in an election from young kids.
I drove home from Town Hall listening to "Sufferin' Until Suffrage" off the America Rock album. Feels good.
I noticed almost no difference at the polls today. I thought there would be a line, but there was only one person in front of me at 6:30 am. I voted and was out of there in less than 5 minutes. Yahoo!
Euphoric feeling and a relief to vote. It's no longer about them, it's about us, and the whole world is watching. I'm proud today to be American...
Around a 20 minute wait in Greenpoint at 7 this morning with around 50 people waiting. The poll worker said there was a line down the block at 6am when the poll opened.
By way of comparison, when I voted in the 2004 presidential election at the same location and around the same time of day, i was the only voter in the polling place.
Voted in Jersey City, NJ this morning. ONE voting booth, ONE! You've got to be kidding me. Poll workers were extremely unorganized and had no idea what they were doing. Handed me a PENCIL to sign the voter's book and when I asked for a pen was handed a major does of attitude.
Am wondering if experience would have differed in a another area of JC? This was in McGinley Square off of Montgomery.
5 SECONDS TO VOTE! I vote at PS 116 on East 33rd St. There was a line of people waiting to find out which election district they were in. But since I already knew, I waltzed
right up to my voting machine. It's a small district and there was no one waiting. It took the poll worker 5 seconds to find my name and I voted right away.
The "takeaway" -- know your Assembly District and Election District numbers before you go to the polls.
There was no line today in Morris Township. I breezed in at 6:30 and was out in less than 5 minutes. Go Obama!
My girlfriend and I voted shortly after 6:00 a.m. at our polling place in Brooklyn, PS 19. We witnessed--and directly experienced--several troubling irregularities. Lots of confusion, very little organization.
My girlfriend's name was found on the roll, she signed, but then the poll workers handed her another piece of paper to fill out. We eventually discovered this was a mistake; they had treated her as if she needed a provisional ballot. We had to tell them again that she was indeed on the voter roll and could vote normally.
After my girlfriend voted in the booth on the big clunky machine, it was my turn. When I moved the handle to the right, the entire machine moved with me! And it did not make the tell-tale "ka-chunk" sound that it's supposed to. I tried to flip the switch for my chosen candidate, but it wouldn't budge. I had to call a poll worker over to get the machine to work, and only after moving the big handle back and forth and then hitting a mystery switch on the outside of the machine did it work properly again. Very disturbing.
I have no idea whether it calculated my girlfriend's vote properly, or my own, and whether the nonsense with the extra paperwork for my girlfriend will somehow negate her vote. This experience turned what should have been a positive, uplifting experience into a sour one. Never in my political experience have I been so aware that voting in this country is an act of blind faith.
I have always hated wating on lines probably stemming from my time in the army when it was "hurry up and wait" I never felt so good to be in a line before and felt a community spirit with everyone with me this morning. What an exciting day this is. I feel like a proud American for the first time in a long time.
Yes, having a party tonight! Circling the wagons at my house, making some chili...
I have voted in every election since I turned 18, that's every 2 years for the past 28 years. Every single time I vote, I get all choked up. I have to try hard not to be crying by the time I finish. I've voted for both Democrats & Republicans over the years. There is nothing else that makes me emotional like that. I always wonder if other people feel this way.
I had to file a provisional ballot at 6:20 this morning because my name was not in the pollbook. My registration is active - how many others have been removed from the list of eligible voters by an oversight?
I got to the polls at 5:45 am at PS 75 on the UWS. I was about 50th in line. By the time the polls opened the line was around the block. Everyone on line knew today was going to be special!
Thanks Brian!
Voting was frustrating. It was my first presidential election living in Texas, and despite the record early voter turnout and three-hour lines, we're told over and over again that Texas is a red state no matter what. I've never felt the unfairness of the electoral college so strongly.
A _very_ crowded polling place at PS93 at 8am, but a lot of the line was people trying to find out their election district.
If you can look up your election district ahead of time, it can save you a lot of time; we were able to walk right up to the 28th district booth and vote with no line at all.
election district lookup:
http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm
I always vote. This was the longest line with the most people of color and the most young people than I have ever seen. My daughter is 17 so has just missed the election, but for the first time I took her into the stall with me to observe the process so she will be that much more prepared for next time. Afterwards we went for fresh baked bread at The Bread Shop in Montclair where the English owner had baked warm toasty Obama buns! :)
The Early voting ballots and absentee ballots will not be fully counted until November 15th. Therefore we will not know who wins the election for at least another 2 weeks.
True or False?
I didn't vote for Obama or McCain.
I voted for NADER.
Until there is a viable third party there never will be any change or hope.
Obama is better than McCain however they voted the same on some very important issues.
Patriot Act
FISA
Lifting the Ban on Offshore Drilling
Partial birth abortion ban
Obama isn't going to lower your taxes either he's just not going to renew or make permanent the Bush tax cuts which EXPIRE 2010!
Voting today was a truly cleansing experience! Tonight, with my partner out of town, I will be glued to TV coverage for the greatest night of theatre possible.
I voted at around 6:30 this morning in Ridgewood, Queens. It was basically smooth, although it took th clerks a while to find my name in the book (even though I've been in the neighborhood since 2001 and have voted many times). And no one could really tell me how to do a write-in vote. I was told to press some button in the booth and to not pull the lever. "How am I supposed to vote for everyone else?" I asked. "Then pull the lever." I ended up not voting at all in the local city council election (neither of the candidates being any good at all). After I was done and was waiting for my friend who who had come with me to finish, I was basically kicked out by a police officer because I had an Obama shirt on, and some Obama pins.
All in all, though, a positive experience. I'm going to a party tonight. I feel like a little child on Christmas Eve! (Let's hope there's no coal in our stockings tomorrow!)
Usually when my mother and I vote together, it's a process of under 5 minutes. We're in and out without any lines or fuss. Ah, but this Election Day in November, it was totally different in New York City.
Arrived at polling place at 6:15 am. Waited in line for a good 25 to 30 minutes to vote. I've been voting since the election of 1992, and have never seen anything like what I saw this morning at a public school, where I went to vote with my mother. There were around 50 people inside on line waiting. Now, that was the first surprise I had this morning. The second was when my mother and I were standing in that line of people waiting for our turn to go into the booth. And, I looked around and realized there were almost another 24 standing behind us.
When I saw my candidate's name, I took a deep breath and pulled the lever for him. Although I will not say whom I voted for, I knew my single vote had the ability to change history. And, that is the golden principle of democracy to me.
I voted at 7 a.m this morning, and brought my 13-year-old son with me to be part of this historic election. I was very surprised and pleased to see how many people were already there, and my wait was surprisingly short.
This was my first presidential election voting in Texas. Despite the record turnout in early voting, and the hours long line, we're told again and again that Texas is a red state no matter what. I've never felt the unfairness of the electoral college system more clearly. If Houston was it's own state, it would go for Obama. Instead, the will of the voters are subsumed and canceled by the rest of the state
I voted at the school I've voted at for years, and where I accompanied my parents to vote for years before that, and I've never seen anything close to this crowd. I waited 30 minutes (not bad, compared to other places, but still shocking for Jersey City!) then no problems voting. I miss that big lever we used to pull, though! Just pushing some computer buttons feels so anti-climactic.
Also, just wondering, any McCain voters in downtown Jersey City?
In California, we can vote by mail. I heard many did so.
I became a citizen this year and voted for the first time at PS 41 in the West Village.
The line was around the corner the tail end half way down 10th st., around 6th ave. to the polling station on 11th st., but I was out within 1/2 hour. - got there at 7am.
I love the sound of those levers.
I was so proud to be a part of this election, and I was so proud of my fellow voters. The line was about 30 deep in Kensinton at IS 62 at 5:40AM when I arrived, and by the time I finished (at 6:15AM) it was wrapped around the corner. It was so unbelievable!
was up at 6:30am, and at the voting site at 6:40am, and still had to wait 30 minutes. i was happy to wait. happy people were there to get there vote in. and happy to be part of a very important historical event.
I personally love the clunky old lever machines. Why is it necessary to replace them with something dodgier? Whynot just build some new lever machines?
Too, why isn't Election Day a National holiday? It strikes me as a given.
Yes, I am having a party tonight, a Tex-Mex extravaganza to celebrate the return of George Bush to his ranch in Crawford, TX, the one certain outcome of this election! I am serving gazpacho soup, 2 kinds of chili, and corn bread.
A group of us have been getting together on Election Night for 30 years, and, happily for me, the event is at my house this year
Hi All,
I voted this morning in Washington Heights. There was a line at 7:30am. I did wait in-line for 25minutes - not too bad.
Did Charles Rangel debate his Republican challenger this year? I am a political-junkie, and listen to BLL every day, but I don't recall hearing a debate - too bad.
Mmmm... Starbucks coffee never tasted better!
Best,
JJ
Easy voting this morning. About a 15 minute wait.
Lots of hipsters drinking oslo coffee.
Obama all the way!
I'm still not a citizen, but I have been wearing an Obama pin proudly as a global citizen.
I am hosting a little election night party and will be making Obama's chili and my friend will be bringing over an Apple pie.
Doesn't Federal Law provide all with 1/2 day for voting in Ntl. elections?
If so, why has this not been mentioned on your show or NPR?
Thanks
what does "voter status: inactive mean?" can i not vote?
The polls opened at 6 a.m. in New Jersey, and by 6:30 our neighborhood polling place (an elementary school)was crowded almost to overflowing - totally unprecedented! This is a solid Democratic area; it didn't look like complacency was going to be a problem in getting out the vote. Even with the crowd, voting still only took about 15 minutes.
No party for us, but it won't seem any less historic watching it at home. Maybe there are some leftover fireworks from the 4th of July - that would be fun!
Thanks for all the great coverage.
Yes, I am having a party tonight, a Tex-Mex extravaganza to celebrate the return of George W. Bush to his ranch in Crawford, the one certain outcome of this election. I am serving gazpacho soup, 2 kinds of chili, and corn bread. The guests are a group of friends with whom I have been getting together on Election Night for 30 years. We rotate the event from house to house, and happily for me, it is at my home this year.
"All,
I am certain we will be called upon 20-30 years from now to provide an account of where we were and what we did that night.
Let us not miss the opportunity of bearing witness to history with a select group of friends. Our forebears who have endured chains and all sorts of dehumanizing treatments could never have imagined such a night - centuries in the making. For those of us who came from Haiti, this has a special and dual significance for us.
The symbolism is bound to reverberate the world over. The most powerful country on earth arguably is being led by a Black man - Not even Dr. King, Toussaint L'Ouverture, and countless of other prophetic souls who shed blood to pave this path could have anticipated this in just 40 years of breaking Jim Crow's bondage.
Life will in no doubt be the same on Wednesday if Obama wins. He faces a seemingly insurmountable task economically and geo-politically. Yet, his mere presence in the White House will not only usher in a new era, but it is bound to send an even stronger message to those who attribute mistakenly or stereotypically blackness with failure, disorder, chaos, as well as incompetence and unabashed low expectations. This applies sadly to our own brethren and the rest of the world.
Let's rejoice in sending a different message to the rest of the world and our kind.
See you at 8pm sharp.
The electoral college insures states with smaller populations get a voice and count.
Without the electoral college candidates would only need to campaign in large states like New York and California and major cities where there are large concentrations of people.
My friend's dad Bob who lives in Lancaster Pa is voting for a democrat for the very first time in his life. He decided a few weeks ago to not vote for McCain for two reasons, one because he thought the choice of Palin as a VP was poor. And also there have been multiple layoffs at the large company he works for, and he believes that the economy will be in better hands with Obama.
I'm a first time voter. Became a citizen last year. I found the voting experience archaic and chaotic. The NY Board of Elections could learn a lot from the NGOs helping out in countries with serious threat of voter fraud, on how to run clear and well run elections.
What is this part of history nonsense?...If Obama doesn't win electing another white guy isn't historic...now it would be historic if we voted out of faith instead of fear for a change...
we moved 5 blocks last year, and our voting place changed from a school gym (never a wait) to a small cramped church hall (line out the door and down the block). the roll book happened to be open to the page with my wife's name (it was the last name on the page). when the poll worked turned the page for my name, I noticed that my wife's name was also at the top of the new page. I'm sure my wife is not going to wait to vote twice, but how many mistakes like this could be turned into an advantage for a candidate (or turn into a re-count situation)?
First time voting in SI. Voted @ 6:05 this morning 3 deep for my assembly district but 10 deep at others. Much better organized than my voting experiences in Brooklyn and Manhattan 3 people per voting machine with the most knowledgable poll worker running the show. Very impressed. Hope we keep old school voting machines until the electronic machines actually work. Go Mike McMahon D(NY-13)!
Goosebumps! ...and a few really happy tears shed this morning as i left my polling place with the thought "I just voted for black man for president of the United States of America! ...and he could WIN!"
I'm a deeply cynical 48-year-old leftie white woman, who regards--and will continue to regard-ALL politicians with a skeptical eye. Pretty much every vote i've ever cast has been a lesser-of-evils decision. Voting normally depresses me, and i WEPT for joy--for goodness sake! Who would've thought?
Around 8 a.m., upper Manhattan, waited 30-40 minutes in a longish line for the 40th district (1 machine). Turnout looked just as good for the 39th (faster line with 2 machines), much lighter for the 41st.
I live in Ossining, but am working in Amsterdam for a few months. I have voted in several presidential elections, but this is the first time I have had to vote by absentee ballot.
The day my ballot arrived in the mail was thrilling. It felt like gold. I sat quietly at home filling it out, double-checking everything, and then carried it around for a few days before mailing it in. It felt like the most important vote I have cast-- simply huge.
I am very anxious to see the election returns. I don't know yet if I will stay awake through the night, or try to get some sleep and get up early. Any partying will come tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
Date line Ossining, NY, time 5:55am.
Having arrived at the polls with my wife a few minuets before the polls opened, there were only 3 people in-front of us. A minuet after 6am the nice old ladies opened the doors and let us in. The first voter signed her name in the voter registration book and was directed to the one and only machine (NYS still uses the old fashion lever units). The poll worker with the silver hair proceeded to push a button on the side of the machine to allow the first voter to cast her ballet. The voter attempted to move the lever that closes the curtain to no avail. The flustered poll workers scrambled to asses the situation to no avail. One worker picked up her cell and called for help.
As the line began to grow in the next three or four minuets, I saw a poll worker sitting in front of us and a look of realization crossed her forehead. She turned to her side and reached into a plastic bag and retrieved a small brown envelope which she promptly tore open and pulled out a set of keys. She triumphantly got up and walked to the side of the machine. Instantly they directed the voter inside the booth, who pulled the lever and democracy was allowed to start...
I was on line in Bay Ridge this morning at 5:50am. A British friend woke me up with a text at 5:00 saying they would be staying up all night to watch the results. This is truly a global event. I beat some of the poll workers there. There were about 35 - 50 people waiting when the doors opened at about 6:05. It was so exciting to see people of all ages and different races gathering in the darkness. There was a woman with her young son waiting in front of us and he was asking about what voting was. As she answered him I felt excited and more American than I've felt in years. The doors opened at 6:05 and we all flooded the hallway.
We are having a party tonight to watch the returns. We have a case of champagne waiting to either celebrate or drown our sorrows. This is the first election party I have ever attended.
It felt like Christmas morning when I woke up today. The anticipation I felt waiting for the polls to open felt like the pre-dawn wait as a kid to look at the tree with the gifts under it. Yes, I will stay up for the results. I will listen to NPR as I have no television. I plan on picking up a bottle of Obama-bubbly to share with my husband and neighbor.
There is a polling place at the entrance to my subdivision. I could barely get out of the neighborhood for the cars and people and for the first time I didn't mind. I voted last week so I did not have to stand in line today. How exciting to see people waiting 6:30 AM.
YES WE CAN!
Every person in my office is either listening or watching -- not much work getting done here today in the name of U.S. election.
There are thousands, probably millions, here in Canada that wish we could vote for Obama. We are here, listening and cheering you all on - do the right thing America!! OBAMA!!
I'll be hitting the Democrats Abroad party in Toronto for awhile and then heading home to stay up all night, if necessary!!
I waited for an hour at 7:30 this morning and was thrilled to wait because it meant there was a big turn out. There was a lot of camraderie - people seemed more excited than any other time I've voted.
I also listened to a podcast of Cartalk while I waited because I couldn't get radio reception inside the cinderblock building.
I wish I could vote early and often!
Tough day for the volunteers, but ultimately this day is not a surprise, so having leadership and a few pens for those of us filling out emergency ballots would be helpful. At the High School of Information Technology in LIC there are crossed district lines (why?), confused people at the table and one very helpful, but beleaguered (it's only 10:30am) coordinator dealing with a broken machine for District 18. They just need direction and to assure us our votes were being counted today not infighting.
hey brian, i own a small bar on smith street in brooklyn (Bar Great Harry, 280 smith street if you ever wanna stop by). we have no TVs, opting instead to foster good conversation and a friendly atmosphere. However, i wrangled a nice flatscreen monitor from my brother for this evening only! i will bring my laptop to the bar, use our wifi to stream CNN (or Huuluu if i have to), hook up to the flatscreen monitor and run the audio through our speaker system. its going to be great. we actually did this for the last two presidential debates and it worked great. all my regulars know about it and i think we're going to have a fun evening!
This was my first time voting in upstate NY after recently relocated from Astoria. The whole process took about 5 minutes. Voting this year was especially emotional for me. I woke up feeling very nervous and excited and got all choked up after casting my vote (and now that I'm at work I keep tearing up hearing the callers into Brian). It's such a beautiful feeling... full of pride and hope and strength.
I am African American man and this morning my wife and I took our kids to the poll with us to vote for Barack Obama. Our kids are 4 and 1.5 years old. I told our 4 year old daughter that we were going to vote and that she should remember this day because we had a chance to vote for Black man for President. I wasn't emotional when we were at the polls but now I am tearing up because it means so much to me and to all of us who are turning out to vote!
Lines in the Newport section of Jersey City are between 1 - 2 hours as of 10:40.
A poll worker said they were longer this morning.
Personally I think it's ridiculous that we have to wait that long. I am fortunate in that I am working from home today but I expect some people may not be able to vote because of the long lines.
At 6:10 am this morning at P.S 87 in Queens New York, my 12 year old daughter pulled the lever for Obama and made history. You can see the picture on www.hackshotnyc.blogspot.com
Though I myself am not a citizen and cannot vote (still after 30 years), several of my fellow co-op neighbors went to vote on Staten Islands, NY 10301 DANIEL LOW TERRACE voting place. Evidently there were 125 folks voting at 7 AM. The room held 1/5 of the voting machines they normally have available at other presidential elections! In SI there is a race for the last republican NYC stronghold for congress with McMahon trying to become the first Democrat. My neighbors saw this as a clear tactic to discourage people from voting.
I haven't voted yet because I'm waiting for my 85 yr old permanent resident grandma to wake up from her nap and will take her alone with me to the poll site. She's a little upset that she couldn't vote but that doesn't make her any less enthusiastic about this election! I can't wait!
Dear Brian
I have always voted and performed that task in a rather perfunctory manner. This time I felt like an Athenian, scratching a big W on an ostracon as I pulled the lever down for Obama.
Cordisally
MS
Problems earlier this morning at PS 116, specifically for the 54th district voters. The machine was down and there was conflicting information being given as to the hand written ballots. The volunteers didn't seem to be able to handle the situation (particularly the republican assistant). There were no translators when needed and no assistance being given to voters questions. It seemed like total chaos. I would be concerned with anyone voting in this district, particularly if you voted around 8am this morning.
I live in Connecticut but go to (a pretty liberal) college in Iowa, where most of us participated in early voting. So my election day today is being spent worrying if our votes are actually going to count. Just yesterday, a team of Republican lawyers gave word that they're trying to contest 700 of our votes based on a registration technicality - that we should have registered at our dorms and not our campus mailboxes, even though we can't receive mail at our dorm addresses. So that's great.
We're having a huge campus-wide party to watch the returns, and you can imagine 1600 rabid college kids worried about their votes being counted and watching this thing...it should be interesting.
I have to add, in terms of how it felt to vote this morning: so proud that I live in a democracy where I can vote directly for the president. Between this and the last election, I lived in Israel and voted there-- but for the party, not the person. It was also a big first, the first Sephardi (middle-eastern, as opposed to European) man to lead Labor, and eventually the first to become Defense Minister. But there's something so powerful about actually getting to pick the person. Let's hope Obama wins, and then let's hope he makes better decisions that Amir Peretz.
I'm planning on celebrating tonight with my parents. This is the first election that has fired them up in my lifetime.
Heading out to vote now in Jackson Heights..
But, we're having a party tonite at our house: Chicago Style Hot Dogs, Chicago Style pizza, Apple Pie
as a mother of a bi-racial white/african-american son, I was especially excited to walk over and vote today. I feel that whatever today's outcome, there is a groundswell of purpose and power that cannot be stifled by voting machine shenanigans, gerrymandering, or the like. The lines were full of proud people, whose eyes were lifted and hearts seemed too full to contain the hope and pride in the air today.
Not bad. It took me almost exactly 20 minutes to vote. The odd thing was there were 8 election districts voting at my polling place. 3 districts had almost no line, 4 were similar to mine (20-30 minute wait) and 1 (the 39th election district) had a line that had to be at least 40 minutes to an hour. It would be nice if the machines were a bit more evenly distributed.
Very disappointing and unfair. I am a McCain supoporter and think that the system stinks. I understand that New York will go for Obama because of the electoral college.
Basically because of this, my vote does not count. How democratic is that?
Down with the electoral college. Let every vote count. One vote per person, and let the popular vote decide.
I am a biracial women and I arrived at Ditmas elementary to vote at 6:00 a.m. this morning. There was already a line around the corner. Everyone had smiles on their faces when they arrived and even bigger ones when they exited. This election day is one of the most important days of my life thus far. I feel a very personal connection with Barack and his sincere desire to bring people together. I am filled with hope that our country has and will continue to unite for a better future filled with peace and prosperity for all!!! Congratulations to everyone!!
One hour and 40 minutes to wait and 5 minutes to vote -- Sterling HS in Ft. Greene Brooklyn! In 20 years I've never seen the lines that I saw this morning - never! People were giddy with excitement -- and very hopeful. I'm cautiously optimistic for our candidate -- and I'll be up all night until the nomination is won. I can't wait -- I am at work and barely able to concentrate.
History is going to be made today (I hope:)
S/
We'll be celebrating my son's 22nd birthday and watching the returns together tonight. My son was born on election day in 1986, but he couldn't vote in the 2004 presidential election because he turned 18 two days after the election. He feels like he has waited for this day for a long time!
I have been SO sick with building anxiety as we've approached this day. Now that I have voted (took *maybe* 10 minutes in the "H-K" line in Sea Cliff, NY), I feel so much better.
I will be glued to this station ALL day (as usual). And truly hope for a better tomorrow!
Thanks again for your excellent coverage!
I am an immigrant from the Netherlands, here for 10 years. I Became a citizen in 2006 specifically to vote in this election.
I am addicted to these elections and am glad that it will be over tonight or tomorrow.
I voted this morning at 8am, there was no line but it was clear that many people were out to vote early this morning.
I have a pit in my stomach, awaiting the results.
I have never felt this involved in any election in the US or in the Netherlands. This is the 2nd day I feel more American than Dutch and proud of it, the 1 st day was when Obama accepted the nomination.
After work today I will be picking up my senior citizen parents and 2 neighbors who have asked me to take them to their polling place to vote. They feel very strongly about casting their vote in all elections. their ages are 82,83,85 and 86. They are all voting for McCain. Then I will go home and vote Democratic. This is our system and I applaud it.
My mother-in-law was visiting us in 2004. She is from El Salvador and has raised 12 children into adulthood during a horrific civil war. I asked her if she wanted to come with me when I voted and I saw a flicker of fear go across her face. At first I didn’t understand but then I realized I had forgotten what a privilege the right to vote was! I did my best to reassure her that all would be well. We went to vote and on our way home she cried! She had expected us to be in line all day and that it could be dangerous! It was a powerful and potent moment and I will never forget it!
I arrived at ps 11 today at 5:40 this morning to find myself behind about ten people, by the time the clock turned six there were easily 100 people there. There was an air of excitement as people chatted and smiled drinking there morning coffee. The polling staff was courteous and organized and was able to keep the queue under control. I felt a great deal of civic pride being able to pull the lever. Further me and was quite happy when I walk away from the crowed gymnasium and the line now stretched several hundred yards down Waverly St all the way to Gates Ave. Many older voters smiled at me and seemed so pleased that so many younger voters were involved and participating in this historic election. Oh and Yeah Brian, tonight Brooklyn is partying!
I just want to point out that there is a difference between being a Naturalized Alien, aka a Green Card Holder, and being a citizen. A green cardholder, who is a permanent resident, is not eligible to vote. You have to be a citizen to vote.
I'm a mixed race man (half black half white) and spent 2 joyous hours in line to vote for Obama. I will be having a party tonight with friends and hope to be celebrating this historic win!
The comments just made by Brian and his caller about the importance of keeping voting as an in-person event (rather than all mail-in or online) may be one of the most important comments I've heard in this entire election season.
By Going Out to vote in the community, everyone is reminded that they ARE part of this world, not someone behind the anonymity of this digital media age. The act of going to the polls to vote is a very active personal endeavor, and it should be maintained.
1st time voting in Harlem. got there at 6:10 and line was already down the block. After two hours finally got to front, only to find out that both machines were broken and there were still 20 people ahead of me with numbers. Was told i could not take number and come back. Left for work and will try again later. Very frustrating. Seemed as disorganized as previous voting place on 73rd St. Poll workers don't seem to know what to do. will go back tonight!
SI SE PUEDE!
I voted at a public school on 167th Street this morning at about 7:30 and there was barely a line. I was joined in line by a neighbor from my building who I've meant to say hi to for the past 4 years and finally we had a chance to be neighborly.
So I chatted, then I voted. All was good. Hopefully all will be good. I'm still nervous.
But as I was leaving a woman police officer called me over: "ma'am can you step over here please?" She asked me to pull up the hem of my jeans. I cinched them up at the knee to reveal no concealed weapons and she was all like "where did you get those shoes?" And we chatted about wedges.
My biggest disappointment was that they didn't give me an "I voted" sticker.
I've lived in this district for seven years and have always seen a decent turn out. Last time it was exciting and people were optimistic. This year it was serious. I am nervous for the outcome of this election like I've never been nervous before. Fingers crossed!
I'm almost 45 years old & have never been very excited to vote in the past. I did it & thought not very much about my contribution to the process. That was until this election. This was first time I felt like I actually mattered. I actually felt proud for the first time & even what I guess you would call patriotic. I actually smiled the entire way to work.
I do have to give you & the rest of WNYC alot of credit. By giving me the information that actually made me feel like I could understand the process beyond the spin & the political machine I felt that I could really make an educated choice. I really do matter & I thank you all for giving me that.Thanks.
I voted this morning at 8 AM with a wait of only a few minutes. The process was well organized by veteran poll workers I recognized from previous elections -- great job!
It has been a great experience for me to participate in the Obama campaign and it is a great feeling to cast my vote at last. Good luck to all those waiting in line. Don't give up, it's worth it!
Voting in greenpoint was a breeze. But I woke up this morning unbelievably nervous- I can only hope that everyone makes the right decision today!
we're throwing a big election day party, will probably stay up all night to see results.
We are going to have a party here in Argentina to, HOPEFULLY, celebrate the results of the election tonight. Given that we are two hours ahead of the east coast, we may be up late tonight but we hope to be able to open the champagne before ushing in the new day. For those living in the United States, maybe you don't realize that the rest of the world is holding its breath. Even taxi drivers here ask me to update them about the most recent polls. There is no hatred for Americans here but I am confident in saying that everyone looks forward to seeing Bush leave office.
My parents always leave for Florida on November 1st - no exceptions, come hell or highwater, they are gone come the first of the month. Not this year! They delayed departure until after Election Day because they wanted to vote in New York, did not want to vote absentee from Florida, AND wanted to come to my house and be together with family watching the returns. This is unprecedented....
My mother, in her 70s and a Florida resident, took her 5-year-old grandson with her to cast an early ballot last week - a wonderful lesson in Civics. A couple of days later, on Halloweeen night, Aidan went trick-or-treating. One house where they stopped had a McCain/Palin sign on the lawn. Aidan walked up to the door, knocked, and when they opened the door he announced, "I voted for Obama but I still want some candy, please."
In previous elections there have never been more than 3 other voters in the room with me. Today there were 8. Having heard so much about massive turnouts, I was expecting more people but at least it was an increase.
Thank you for the personal ballot. I've been seeking this out for over a week and have not been successful and lo and behold there is was on your site this morning. That's really helpful. Your site is an excellent resource for election day 2008, thank you.
Wish i had gone to vote when I got up at 7:30 this morning when I watched from my living room window the not very long but longer than usual line at the NYU dorm where I vote. Now it's huge and I will have to either wait until it diminishes or just get my butt down there an wait. I think the latter.
Definitely a lot more people than I've ever seen before. Took us about 45 minutes total. Poll workers were telling people to go to the corresponding district but not to the table to sign in so lots of people were just getting right in the line to go to the machine. It makes me wonder what they will do when the number of people who signed in the book doesn't match the total of people who used the machine. I thought I was prepared for lots of possible disenfranchisement but not this. I'll have to research.
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