It was with a degree of trepidation and excitement that I went to vote about 30 minutes after the polls opened in New Jersey this morning.
The nerves were over the state's use, this year, of touch screen ballots. I've heard and even reported about problems with these type of machines in early voting in other states. There were even allegations of "vote flipping" where the voter touches for one candidate and the X appears by the name of another.
Listening to New Jersey 101.5, the state-wide talk station, on the short drive to the polls didn't do much to ease my mind, as several callers reported problems where they voted.
It's a short ballot this year in New Jersey, so voting shouldn't take terribly long. But the folks in line ahead of me were in the booth an awfully long time. Probably because they were a bit confused by the new procedure. The short delay gave me time to reflect.
In this day of bitterness and analysis over claims and counterclaims and negative campaigning and campaign fatigue, I thought my feelings would be of relief that it's finally over. But they weren't. I thought, instead, about what a great country the United States is. And how fortunate I am, by simple virtue of nation of birth, that I, unlike so many of my fellow human beings around the world, have the right to cast a vote for president of my nation.
Then I thought for a moment of all my fellow Americans who died in pursuit of this freedom we hold so dear.
The apparently confused voters ahead of me finally cleared the booths and I was ushered into one. Perhaps because I was unintimidated by the touch screen process I was in and out of the booth in record time. I found no problems. It was easy and straight forward.
Driving home I flipped the radio back on. Caller after caller reported unusually long lines at the polls. Not because of problems. But because so many people are turning out to vote.
Today, I feel particularly proud to be an American.
23 comments:
Will be a day of nervous tension as to the outcome, but may the best man win.
I don't know about the american people, but from a British outsider point of view, I know a lot of us Brits are wishing obama to win the election, It would be a graciosu day in american polotics and a united one for america's first black president.
This new touch screen voting sounds kewl, although they r stuck on tradition when it comes to voting over here and so I can never see britain doing such things, there would be too much talk of rigging!
As I read Gary's Story, I too had a nervous stomach, thinking that most americans will be wanting their favourite to win this election, an election that can I say has been covered across the globe, by just about every news station on the air. I know a lot of you are nervous, but I, as we all do, know the american public will speak their mind in the vote and that truth will out!
Who will win? Let's wait and see!
its very nice and different to read a bitta goss on garys personal day loool :P .. nice to know you had time to reflect and that you used the day respectfully to remember those who gave you the freedom that you hold so dearly..amen .. now that the campaigning wars are over i spose you can cover the general media topics again :D gbu gary nice post
I live in a small town in West Virgina so I did not have to deal with the long lines as many have. I got in and out in less than 5 minnutes. When i was reviewing my ballot I got to think a little about this long hard fight that brought us to this day and the historic act we all do when we vote.
Obama said it best.....
One voice can change a room
and if one voice can change a room then it can change a city and if it can change a city it can change a state and if it can change a state it can change a nation and if it can change a nation it can cnange the world!! YOUR VOICE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!!!!
Reading Gary's feelings after going to vote today, reminds me of the last election I voted in leading up to leaving montreal quebec and moving to the USA. It was the election for Canadian Unity Vs Quebec Separatism.
I as a canadian can not vote in the USA, none the less i feel the nervous tension today. In all the 11 years living in the USA, I will be happy to see the end of one of the most dishonest relentlessly one-sided campaigns of bias and distortion by the mainstream media in American history. (in my opinion)I have also seen the media discourage voters from going to the polls. I do know on a day where one has the right to vote, and i use the word RIGHT, I do hope that the american people will ignore the main steam media and cast their ballots. Elections are not won by news stations, they are won by people who have the RIGHT to vote.
My the American people excerise their freedoms today and use all the common sense they have Go vote! Every single vote counts.
I just returned from voting myself. I was there a total of 2 hours. I won't say who I McVoted for because well I don't want you to know who I want for McPresident.
I reflected while waiting too. These people need a fashion consultant. I mean one other guy looked homeless and I wanted that to be my private fashion domain. People like that are robbing the poor of our rightful position of looking homeless. I mean I shop for the 'homeless look' and it is an affront to me.
There needs to be some decorum here in the trailer park and I for one will put that on the ballot next time.
Well enough from me.
Your voting experience reflects a lot of peoples fears and relief I think. I voted early because the anxiety was overwhelming and today I feel relaxed and hopeful. For those who say they will not vote because of whatever excuse, they do need to think of all the men and women who have fought and died for our freedom to do so and how lucky we are to be Americans. But our voting right should be more than cross our fingers and hope it will be counted. Thanks Gary for sharing.
Today as I go to vote in NYC, I'm reminded of lyrics by songstress Patti Smith:
The people have the power
The power to dream to rule
To wrestle the world from fools
It's decreed the people rule
It's decreed the people rule
Listen. I believe everything we dream
Can come to pass through our union
We can turn the world around
We can turn the earth's revolution
We have the power
The people have the power.
Today as I go to vote in NYC, I'm reminded of lyrics by songstress Patti Smith:
The people have the power
The power to dream to rule
To wrestle the world from fools
It's decreed the people rule
It's decreed the people rule
Listen. I believe everything we dream
Can come to pass through our union
We can turn the world around
We can turn the earth's revolution
We have the power
The people have the power.
Gary has it right.
When it's all said and done, with all its defects, ours is an amazing system. An experiment in self-governance that has lasted all these years and continues.
Yes, there is partisan bitterness in a well fought campaign such as this. But we as Americans know how to put that aside and unite when necessary.
And we will unite as a nation after the election, no matter who wins.
As I voted this morning, I recalled some thoughts for an election year:
* You cannot help the poor, by destoying the rich.
* You cannot strengthen the weak, by weakening the strong.
* You cannot bring about prosperity, bye discouraging thrift.
* You cannot lift the wage earner up, by pulling the wage payor down.
*You cannot further the brotherhood of man, by inciting class hatred.
*You cannot build charactor and courage, by taking away men's iniatitive and independence.
* You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should, for themselves.
-Abraham Lincoln.. the 1st Republican
"I know a lot of us Brits are wishing obama to win the election.."
Obama is a separationist who favors pulling back all international supports. At least, thats what he said several years ago- when it was easier for him to say such things and not undergo scrutiny.
But I think I am more dismayed that this year it was an election based on "historical changes", visa vis: a black man for president and a woman for veep, than an election based on genuine issues.
Gender v skin color. She gets painted as a bimbo and he gets painted as a messiah?
Maybe the problem with America is that we're sexist, not racist. But that doesn't make for good copy.
These voting numbers should have been out there FOR EVERY ELECTION. Which tells me that Americans aren't so much voting for Obama as a "change" from Bush as they are wanting to make a historical statement.
I, for one, stuck to the issues with my vote. And history will judge the wisdom of the votes of others.
-LD McLellan
Voted to day at lunch time..There were no lines i was in and out. Do you think it was wrong of me to crazy glue the obama lever?,lol...nyake
In my polling place lines were fairly short, but it is a small town and it's mostly the elderly and unemployed there at this time of day. After 4pm I expect to see people lined up around the block to get in to vote.
One elderly gentleman commented that he had never seen a line this long, even at that early hour. I told him that I had seen much longer lines in years past, but admitted I was early. His long line was my short wait, so I guess it depends on your perspective.
Anyway, we are used to our touch screen machines and there was plenty of help to go around from the poll workers. People came in on crutches and carrying babies, which says to me that they think it is important to get out and vote this year. Several people I talked to said that this was the most important election in recent memory. I live in a VERY republican district and I assume they were talking about the need to keep the democrats out of majority control.
I myself did a write in, and voted for a mix of republican and libertarian candidates. I think it is important to vote with your heart and not with your party.
I am sure I won't get much sleep tonight, although I know that one of the two major party candidates will be president, and not the guy I wrote in. But thats ok with me, I won't feel guilty about it, I still went to cast my vote and participated in the process, and I will continue to do so in the future.
All in all a smooth process, and if you are lucky like me the little old ladies have all kinds of soups sandwiches, and pies for sale near the polling station. It's kind of like a community get together and bake sale event.
I am so glad I live in a small town where we all get along, young and old.
i was just wondering that in a state governed by a democrat governor and democrat senators, how they would be using electronic voting when there is such a big call to go back to paper ballots by democratic activists? who will they blame if their are any problems??
I voted this morning. We were slightly attacked with buttons, letter openers, and nail files to sway our votes. It was not bad though. After we made it in, we were in and out of there in 30 mins total. Rumors that people would be crazy and lines would be long, was just rumors. It could have been timing. I went about 930am. I think most people that I stood in the line with knew who they wanted to pick. I even stood by a couple first time voters that just turned 18 this year. They appeared to know who they wanted and were excited to go through the process for the first time.
We did not have the new touch screen voting it was the regular pen and paper voting. Personally I like that better. Although, it really does not matter, if someone wants to fraud the system they will find a way of doing it.
I think there was more tension leading up to the vote. I was in therapy and witnessed a slight argument while a few people while they rode stationary bikes. They argued who was better for our state McCain or Obama. It’s a bit hard living in a state (Michigan) with unemployment so high. This election means the world to some people around here.
Whoever wins will have a multitude of issues to work on. May the best leader win!
If you haven’t voted get out and vote :-)
here in california i have voted absentee since the election that carter ran against reagan....,
i decided to vote after work on the drive home, listening to the radio, they had already called the election..., i still went and voted, the same as i was going to anyway and to vote on the other ballot items.
so this year, i did not get in line and vote with others.
i do share your sentiment that we are privileged to have the right and duty to vote in this great country and also am proud to be an American.
Change is everywhere in Michigan. The Change of colors in my neighborhood was beautiful on this bright and sunny fall day as I drove to the local elementary school to cast my vote this morning in my community on the western shore of Lake St Clair.
The signs on the lawns of my neighbors told me that they were looking forward to Change in Washington DC. As I and my neighbors enthusiastically and patiently waited an hour or more in line to vote, I could feel the Change most of my neighbors want for our economically challenged state.
Personally, I take great pride in casting my vote for the 2 Democratic Irish American candidates who are descendents of the Emerald Isle.
I made my way to the polls this morning which was located at my son's elementary school. There was no long line, and no voter harassment. Just several retired volunteers who were friendly and ready to assist in the process. The ballot was cast electronically and consisted of eleven pages.
I have never been one to vote straight party because here in south Texas, politics has its own way about it, so I vote based upon my evaluation of candidates policies and qualifications.
Personally, I was not particularly impressed by the presidential candidates this election and I felt more as though I was voting for the lesser of two evils as opposed to the candidate that I really liked.
All in all, I am excited to watch the outcome not because I expect a landslide, rather because I anticipate this being a far closer race than the mainstream media is portraying it to be. But more than the excitement to me is the relief in that it will finally be decided, and all of the speculation and posturing will finally be at an end.
Finally we will know which candidate emerges victoriously, and which doctrine will be the standard of the next four years.
Voting was no less a privilege this election than any other, but I felt especially encouraged that my vote was cast exactly as I chose, and that it will in fact be counted for the benefit of the candidates that I saw fit for election.
One thing is certain and that is the fact that today, I exercised my most valued right as a citizen of The United States of America..the right to vote.
Gary, I am just glad you voted. I was very concern Friday when you said that your vote was to not vote. I am so glad you did your civic duty. However you voted is your business , but that you voted is good to let everyone know:)
fl_doug
A little FYI for you - those are not Lincoln's words.
They belong to
William J. H. Boetcker who was an American religious leader and influential public speaker
The TEN CANNOTS were published in 1916, well after Lincoln's death.
Thank you for the invite to comment Gary. I live in the great state of Ohio,USA. I am so thankful that I am alive and well, to see that, a man of any color can become a President. I was so touched with his acceptance speech,like he actually gives a damn about our great country.
I hope he works on the the major problems with our country ie: the economy,poor people in the states,creating jobs, bringing the troops home and stop the terriorist. To sum it up ::::
Yes, we truly have an AMERICAN president elect! The world is rejoicing - there is hope again for our planet and our diverse population! Eight years of tyranny is over!
What now? I heard a journalist, who happens to be African American, on NPR this morning talking about the incredible campaign network that Barack Obama built. I was so amazed that minutes before President Obama, doesn't that sound great!, made his acceptance speech, I got an email from him saying it was my victory! My hope is that from this time forward, all the volunteers, all those young and not-so-young canvassers and telephoners for Obama will take this energy and work on something for change. Be it in school, at work or in the community. I hope we all make the commitmet that Barack Obama is asking us to make, to change our communities. We need better schools, programs for kids after school, community health clinics and better access to health care for all, poverty and racism aren't going to change overnight, we have a lot of work to do, but finally we have a leader to push a new agenda...so much hope, so let's get busy and get involved. So many people have said to me, "Whew, we don't have to move to Canada after all!" So let's work beyond the campaign and concretely work for change.
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