After 2 weeks of early voting, still huge crowds....Polk Co, FL....pics

[madfloridian]

Hubby will be a poll watcher from 6:30 AM till closing, food being brought in by volunteers. Lawyers available, two training sessions....every precinct manned by a Democratic poll watcher. I will be doing other things, am a little nervous for him but he will do well.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041031/NEWS/410310415/1004

Long article. Here is an interesting summary of registrations in our county. More Democrats than I thought. SURPRISING number of Independents.
Book Closing Statistics as of 10/19/04

Democrat 125,867
Republican 115,211
NPA & Minor Parties 54,661
Total 295,739
Inside view of early voting 7th day.


Outside view of same polling place on the 12th day of early voting.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Awasome!

This is a good sign.

This turn out is going to be HUGE!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. COOL

I predict the lines on Tuesday will be INSANE.

I plan on taking a book...

[madfloridian]

28. We already voted, thank goodness. Lines will be unreal.

Take a book, and take some water and a snack.

[WI_DEM]

3. Thank you and your hubby, Madfloridian

Awesome pictures. How do you feel Florida will go?

[madfloridian]

11. Hard to say.

It really is. As a rule, our area is not really outspoken on politics, rather private about it. Now the anger is showing, and I think that may be good. People will yell at each other in stores, for example.

It is unusual to see that here. Now, consider that our Secretary of State is a Jeb appointee, totally in charge of elections and not answerable to the legislature (not that it matters in FL anyway)....that bothers me.

Glenda Hood is very partisan, and that disturbs me.

So...I just don't know. :shrug:

[TlalocW]

4. I picture various freepers

Upset at the last picture which shows two black people leaving after voting because 1.) they probably voted for Kerry, and 2.) they're upset that their side didn't keep them from voting.

TlalocW

[bullimiami]

5. they are not standing in line

to affirm their support for the status quo.

[madfloridian]

31. I believe you are right. Status quo does not evoke passion like that.

:hi:

[mhr]

6. Looks Like Richardson, TX

The Polls closed at 7:00 PM; the last voter voted at 9:15 PM on Friday.

[madfloridian]

10. Have family near that area....they are seeing change.

Hard to tell just how much but a lot.

[madfloridian]

7. Democrats have many more poll watchers than Republicans here.

Note the difference from 2000. We learned from mistakes here.

[Orlandodem]

8. I just drove by the Orange Co public library

in downtown Orlando and the line was out the door and around the corner! LOTS of Kerry signs in windows in downtown. And many more in the suburb where I live.

[madfloridian]

26. That is amazing. The Orlando Sentinel's endorsement was huge.

That really surprised me. I am feeling pretty good when I see the crowds like this.

[Orlandodem]

9. oops. Double post n/t.

n/t

[madfloridian]

12. If you can drive folks to the polls in Polk Co. Tuesday, PM me.

I will give you a number to call. People are still needed for that task.

[funky_bug]

13. Girl, I stood in that very line yesterday!

Hubby voted in that line on Friday, I voted in that line on Saturday. From the sounds of things, there were a lot more Kerryites than Bushies, though I did see one guy in a W04 ballcap. I thought they weren't allowed to wear any kind of political items inside the polls? I wore my black hoodie (mosh it) but whose to say I wasn't just cold in Florida in October, hmmm???

Hubby and I are taking Tuesday off to help. Maybe we'll meet Mr. MadFloridian???

Either way, give him our best and tell him we said, "KUDOS!"

[madfloridian]

15. Hey! Maybe you will.

Did you hear about the Kerry supporter giving out water in Winter Haven? To the people in line? The GOP "observers" called the police to him. I don't know the outcome yet, but I will.

I don't think it is against the law during early voting to have stuff outside the voting area. I may be wrong.

Those lines are beautiful, and this area they mean something I think.

Good luck on your work on Tuesday. There is so much to do.

[foo_bar]

18. Bush hasn't seen lines this big since Camp David

[Straight Shooter]

20. LOL

Good one, foo_bar :)

[American liberal]

23. Kudos to you!

I salute every single Floridian who has stood in line outside in hot Florida weather to exercise their right to vote--especially blacks and women. Too many lives have been lost to take that right lightly.

Peace,
AL

[flygal]

14. As someone watching this whole thing from overseas....

These pictures give me goosebumps. I'm so proud of the turnout! The coverage reminds me of seeing 3rd world countries voting for the first time after overthrowing a vicious dictator. It's almost parallel :)

[madfloridian]

21. Your perception is very close to reality, I fear.

I do think the crowds are important. I agree that people do not stand in line for hours unless they are really inspired for change. No way to know for sure, but I see it that way.

Friends I have in Europe are waiting and hoping.

[Karenina]

25. Forget "almost."

The fraud to date is legion. No banana republic can compete with the audacity we've already seen. All bets are off.

[madfloridian]

29. Right, and to have just Glenda Hood in charge is scary.

She is so partisan, and she seems so clueless in interviews. She appears to be oblivious to our world on purpose. She and Jeb control the voting.

And our legislature will of course give it to Bush if it is close.

It sure better be a big blowout.

[H3Dakota]

16. Yep, about the same at my library

Yesterday - I heard the first person in line got there just after 6am (voting started at 9am). I got there a little after 8 - and the wait was at least 2 hours AFTER voting started! I decided I'll just wait until Tuesday at 7am, like I usually do - much less people trying to get in to vote that way. But it did my heart good to see SO many people there - and it stayed the same all day long!

[karlrschneider]

17. Wow. That's great. Early voters are MOTIVATED voters and NOT usually

for the status quo! We have had a HUGH (freeper spelling) turnout on early voting here in OK. I don't think JK has a snowball's chance here but every vote does help!
:D

[quaker bill]

19. The wait was over 4 hours in Orange County

But since I have been waiting 4 years for this, it was more than worth it.

No one was leaving.

[faithnotgreed]

24. you got that right! thanks quaker bill.... peace

[VOX]

22. This is **very** encouraging news from Florida...

Thanks for posting, madfloridian!

Keep up the good work -- :toast:

[madfloridian]

27. It is encouraging, we don't usually have high turnout here.

So fingers crossed.

[madfloridian]

30. Kick because of what I hear Drudge radio said about Florida.

And just because I want to kick it.

Our Democrats are enthusiastic and working hard here in this very conservative county, there is a poll watcher at every precinct.

Our lawyers are working day and night to keep on top of the latest stuff.....and the best part are the long lines!!

No, I can't prove our county will go Democratic for the first time in ages.....but there is damn well something going on. The Bush folks are angry and picking fights. I have to muzzle my husband when we go out, and my neighbor won't let her husband out in public right now.

However, at least the Bush folks are in the defensive mode. That is very very good.

And I have to insert this...it is our Deaniacs who got the local DEC off its collective butt and got them fighting back. Oh, yeah, we made them angry at us, which is just fine. They decided to show us they could fight back as well.