Early voting report from Columbus, OH

[SallyMander]

Well my sweetie and i just cast two votes for Obama/Biden here in Ohio!!! Voting was a snap -- not many people there since it was about 3:30pm on a weekday. One thing that really jumped out at me -- there were maybe 20 other people voting while we were there. Of those, the majority were African-American (maybe one or two white folks besides us), and just about EVERYONE was carrying the Democratic sample ballot.

We chatted with one of the poll workers there, who said that all last week (while we had simultaneous registration and early voting) they were SLAMMED! In fact they still had the ropes up where the lines were, they stretched on and on!

Made me excited to see the numbers out of Franklin County. It'll certainly be blue, but i am hopeful that the Dem turnout could be huge! :D

[RichGirl]

1. Cool!

[Zodiak]

Yay!!!

Admittedly Venus and I have not early voted....we like the smell of election day and cannot deny ourselves that heady aroma.

But that is great news!

[VenusRising]

2. YAY!!!

We will be early voting, too. I even have my Sample Ballot ready to print!

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

:applause:

:toast:

:hug::loveya:

[SallyMander]

5. You and your hubby better discuss your voting plans

(see above)

:rofl:


I recommend early voting -- it's fun filling out the little bubbles with a pen, and it was definitely a sort of festive atmosphere! :D

:hug:

[VenusRising]

10. We actually did right after we posted.

:rofl:

Our roommate is going to be out of town on election day, and we were all going to go together to vote. He knew that, but forgot. He does that sometimes. ;)

How was your projection party last night?

[SallyMander]

12. LOL! Silly ZI

The party was great! We had a bunch of people over -- i decided to drink when McCain said "my friends" which turned out to be a bad idea. :rofl: :crazy:

[VenusRising]

14. How are you still alive?!

Did you go to the hospital for alcohol poisoning? IV drip? :wow:

:hangover:

:hug:

[SallyMander]

17. LOL! Nah, i was just drinking "girl beer" as Iza calls it

(Mike's hard lemonade) -- if i'd been doing shots i would probably be dead!!!

Hope you guys are having a nice rainy evening. :loveya:

[prolesunited]

3. That's great

It'll help avoid broken machines and huge lines on election day from preventing people from voting as in the past.

[SallyMander]

6. Yup, i figured since i had the opportunity

I'd make the lines a little shorter for other voters on Nov 4. :D

[AlCzervik]

4. Obama will be in Ohio tomorrow.

American Jobs Tour Rally
with Barack Obama
This Thursday, October 9th, please join Barack Obama in Cincinnati, where he will talk about his vision for creating the kind of change we need.

American Jobs Tour Rally
with Barack Obama

Ault Park Pavilion
5090 Observatory Circle
Cincinnati, OH
Thursday, October 9th
Doors Open: 1:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 3:00 p.m.

[SallyMander]

8. And he'll be in Columbus on Friday!

I just got the email! :bounce:

11 am

Genoa Park
303 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH

:woohoo:

[ebdarcy]

11. He's coming back to Columbus? Yay!

I'm glad to see him back in Ohio. That must mean we're really trending blue.

[SallyMander]

13. Yup! Should be great!!!

I love your sig picture by the way! :rofl:

[elocs]

7. I voted here in Wisconsin on Monday at my City Clerk's office.

Obama/Biden were at the top of my ballot.

[SallyMander]

9. Awesome!

Do you have no-fault absentee voting in WI?

[elocs]

15. Yes we do and you can register at the polls on election day, too. n/t

[Lerrad]

16. Another Ohio Voter Checking In...

My wife and I filled out absentee ballots last week, and mailed them in. This is the first time I voted this way, and I'm worried that it could be lost in the mail, or thrown away by the Repug that opens it.

Which is worse long lines with faulty voting machines, or absentee ballots?

I will never know if my vote was counted, but at least I voted.

If this election is stolen for the third time in a row, I will be rioting in the streets!

[SallyMander]

18. At least with early/absentee there is a paper trail

and you're making it a bit easier for everyone else on election day. I have the same concerns though -- none of it seems as secure as it should be. x(

I'll be out there with you in Cbus -- but hopefully this year we'll be CELEBRATING in the streets! :toast:

[Lerrad]

21. No paper trail if it is thrown in the trash n/t

[mod mom]

19. Here's some stats from Ohio:

Voting sign-ups hit record
Ohio adds 665,949, to nearly 8.2 million

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 3:18 AM
By Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH





A record number of Ohioans are registered to vote in the Nov. 4 election, for which officials expect record voter turnout because of the hard-fought presidential race.
Nearly 8.2 million people are on the voter rolls in Ohio, including 665,949 added this year, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced yesterday after Monday's registration deadline.

That means 94 percent of eligible voters in Ohio are registered, based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Brunner predicts turnout of 80 percent, which would mean 6.5 million Ohioans casting ballots. By comparison, 5.7 million voted in the 2004 presidential election.

Absentee voting in Ohio started Sept. 30. Most of the partisans who have voted early in Franklin County are Democrats, according to data provided by the county elections board.

Of the 9,280 people who had cast absentee ballots in person as of Monday, 3 percent were registered Republicans and 39 percent were Democrats, records show. The rest were unaffiliated.

-snip
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/08/copy/early_voters.ART_ART_10-08-08_B1_CKBHTPA.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

[SallyMander]

20. AWESOME, thanks mod mom!!!

Those numbers are just incredible!!! :woohoo:

80% turnout???? :wow:

[mod mom]

22. You're welcome. Be glad you voted early. A study of voting times in Franklin co indicated

that the average voting time this year for Cols (due to initiatives) would range between 8-9 minutes per voter as compared to ~ 5 minutes in 2004. Despite more machines, early voting and the use of paper ballots (if requested), election officials expect to se more long lines like in 204.

I'll be working the rally on Friday-can't wait!

:hi:

[SallyMander]

24. YIKES, i think i waited almost 3 hours in 2004

Definitely glad i voted early!

Obama probably won't come at 11, right? I have class until 11:30 or so... i wonder if i go afterward if i could still see his speech... :think:

:hi:

[mod mom]

26. They always run late. As long as you're not too far away I think you'll be fine.

Lunchtime traffic on Friday's can be bad. A bus/bike might be the best choice.

[SallyMander]

28. I can definitely bike -- i'll be zipping down from OSU campus

Thanks! :D

[phleshdef]

23. Another Columbus person here... that sounds great.

My wife and I are tempted to vote early too, but our location won't be as crazy as a lot of the others on election day so we are on the fence because we kind of want to hold off until election day because of the historic value of it all. I know that sounds cheesy, but its how we feel.

But my hope is that the people that really NEED the early voting, such as the people in the more populated locations or the people in locations where disenfranchising attempts are more likely, will take advantage of the next 4 weeks and get their votes in safely.

[SallyMander]

25. I felt that way too about voting on election day

But you can still go to the polls, hand out sample ballots and snacks, etc. I'm hoping to get involved in something like that. :D

Sounds like from mod mom's post above that the votes are rolling in already -- i am so excited!

[phleshdef]

29. Well unfortunately, we still have to go to work that day, we will be voting extra early though

I live on the edge of the part of Columbus that borders Westerville though and our location isn't one known to be prone to the crazy stuff you see as you get to areas that are closer to downtown and campus. We will probably wait it out.

[mod mom]

27. Ask for a paper ballot. They are not required to offer them to you, but can be requested.

If you are wondering why head on over to the Election Reform forum.