2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumI voted this morning, Southern Cook County, IL. Here is my report:
Because our Teabuggered Governor filed suit to keep turnout low in Cook County (chicago), and won, today is the first day of early voting in suburban Cook County. They even cut down on locations, meaning that people could not just go to their city halls as we have in previous years.
I got there at 9:15. The line was to the door.
12 electronic voting machines, all with a printed secure paper trail. Every booth filled. Four intake stations, which both signed you in and allowed for early registration. All four stations in use, with a long line of people waiting. Finally got to vote by 9:40, and by the time I was done, the line had actually grown.
There was one technical glitch in that the voting card they program with a unique number (prevents voter fraud) was not programing in one prep station. They had to clean the cards' computer chip with an eraser, and it worked fine.
By 9:45, I'd guess that 50-60 votes had been cast. The judges commented that they had never seen it so busy, so early.
Not one red shirt to be seen (if that is still Trumpenstein's idea to intimidate other voters).
This is southern Cook County. With a few pockets of red, pretty uniformly democratic. I am getting a feeling that this will be a blowout election. For the good guys' and gals' side. (That is not sexist. If they could name a musical that way, in which all the good songs were not assigned to Frank Sinatra, when he was in his prime, I can use it here).
PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)Whoo hooo!
I love hearing first hand reports like this! Thanks for posting!
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)of voters actually brought a tear to my eye.
The best part was not one red shirt to be seen. Assuming that Trump's folks got the message out to wear red while voting. Purportedly, not all his voters have the capacity to read, so the message may have been lost in the noise.
ILFightinDem
(56 posts)Off work today for some other business. Wanted to vote this last weekend and was surprised to find today was the first day. Thanks, Gov Ruiner...
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Thanks to our governor.
Still, they are allowing registration today, too. Several people in line in front of me told the election judges that they had moved from the city and wanted to register today. All were allowed to register and vote.
Honestly, the only time I have seen such energy was when Barack announced his campaign and when he held a rally at Chicago's lakefront.
Neema
(1,151 posts)Depends on if I can get my ass off DU and get my work done.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,481 posts)Chicago where I live. We had a shitload for 2012. Unless I'm missing something:
http://www.cookctyclerk.com/elections/earlyvoting/Pages/EarlyVotingLocations.aspx
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Interestingly, I think this is backfiring on Brucey. People liked the convenience. Having access limited seems like an attack on our voting rights. And that pisses off and energizes voters.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,481 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)"Four intake stations, which both signed you in and allowed for early registration"? Can you same day register in Illinois?
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)From now to November 7, we have early voting.
From now to another date (I am not sure what it is), we have early registration. I saw at least 4 people register this am.
The registration stations do NOT check IDs unless you are changing your registration. Then, they want an ID and some mail to your current address. They ask for your name, look you up on the registration computer, plug in a voting card (credit card sized, with a computer chip). Once programed, you stick the card in a voting machine, and your set of candidates pop up. This way, they can handle multiple municipalities and voting districts, all with one machine. (or 12 voting machines, in this case). The Sequoia Machine is a touch screen. Once you have voted, it allows you to confirm your vote, and a paper result is printed and slowly scrolls by to allow you to confirm your voting choice. You can even change your vote if you wish.
Once done, the scroll of paper moves your voting out of sight, and leaves it blank for the next voter. Secure, safe, easy to use, and NO BLOODY VOTER FRAUD, Mr. Trump. The only fraud is you.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)Not sure it should be called early registration at this point, since voting has begun.
In any case, I am totally in favor of same day registration.
Often, brand new voters are intimidated by the registration process, as they perceive it to be more onerous than it is. I know I thought that when I was a young, first-time voter.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Didn't occur to me to look for red shirts in my small city, all very civilized and pleasant, but then I don't think people worry about finding any Democrats here.
Ace Rothstein
(3,099 posts)Went for my class to be an election judge and voted after since I won't be able to vote on election day.
ILFightinDem
(56 posts)No Sequoia machines in Lake County...still paper ballots and electronic readers.
The ballot boxes now look like the garbage carts that you put out on trash day (with a feeder on the 'lid'). Not the best messaging, IMO.
This was the first election I know of that the paper registration books were NOT used (maybe because the early voting sites cover the entire county, not just your local township). Being an IT guy, I would always chuckle at the anachronism of paper registration books, and the election judges paging through them to check registration.
Speaking of registration - ID's *were* checked here in Lake Cty. The judge also checked my signature against his printed record 8 ways from Sunday - and even asked for verification from the other judge (who told him "oh, yeah - no mistaking that" . My signature hasn't changed *that* much in 14 years!
As with other places we've seen - the wait isn't for a voting station to open up - it's to get through the gatekeepers. And the Trumpsters are worried about voter fraud? I'm worried about everyone getting tired of waiting and leaving the lines!
I saw women of all ages voting today. Most of the men were older than me (I'm early 50s). Probably 65%-35% women / men. Many of the men were there with their wives / partners.
I wouldn't say the line to vote took 'longer' this time - I remember early voting in 2008 for Obama-McCain, on a Saturday, and it was about the same wait back then. Today was for the really motivated, I suppose.
This time, I took a picture of my ballot. I can't remember if I had a smartphone in '08, but I know I didn't think to take a picture.
I thought of my mom as I was marking the oval for Clinton/Kaine - she passed away about a year ago, and wanted to be able to vote for a (Democratic) woman to become POTUS. I voted for both of us today
Gabi Hayes
(28,795 posts)years here. glad I saw this
they also changed my polling place
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)NOT for voting.
Gabi Hayes
(28,795 posts)mom was a Bircher, took me to see Goldwater, had Ed Derwinski at our house
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Lotsa GOPer here, but they drop off at the borders.
Funny, So many of them, usually GOP stalwarts, are not happy with Teh Donald. Some even admitted to me that they will vote for her, because he is such an ass.