Gearing Up For Election Day Voting
November 1, 2008 | 11:02 amUnlike so many of my friends, neighbors, coworkers and 35% of Georgia’s electorate, I didn’t want to vote early. I kept my mouth shut, since it seemed like an unpopular position with so many folks out in force telling everyone to “vote early!” and whatnot. I didn’t want to ruin their 2-10 hour line fun. (Incidentally, that line on Ponce last night at 7p was ridiculous; though the AJC did later report that all votes were cast by 10:45p)
But there’s just something about early voting to me that’s a bit of a buzz kill. I want to get in a line on Election Day, be thoroughly inconvenienced, go to work really late, tell everyone my war stories of long lines and then go home and anticipate 7p when GA will be one of the first states to report results (if all goes well).
I’m not arguing the importance of early voting, especially for those that can’t take the time off from work or other responsibilities so easily. And if the lines on Election Day are even worse than those of early/advance voting (though I highly doubt it), perhaps I’ll feel a little guilty.
But for this one, really important election, I’d rather soak it all in on the big day.
I agree with you that it sucks a little of the fun out of it, but I also waited less than half an hour when I voted early about a month ago. That was nice.
There will still be plenty of intrigue that day even without waiting in line.
I also didn’t vote early. I wish I had, though — Tuesday’s gonna be a long day.
Anybody able to tell me what voting at the First Baptist Church of Decatur on Clairemont has been like in the past?
Don’t recall that that was ever a polling place – did you mean First Christian? Maybe it replaced Messiah Lutheran. Have you voted there before?
I’ve never voted in Decatur before. Registered the day before the deadline and the card that arrived in the mail says “First Baptist Church of Decatur.” The Secretary of State’s website says the same thing when I enter my info into the polling locator.
I guess they changed the location …
My polling location has always been FBC Decatur (First Christian used to be the Municipal location, but it consolidated with FBC last year I think). I’ve only voted there once that I recall, since I prefer voting at 330 W Ponce (as I did last week). And Nick, I don’t think the line on Friday was ridiculous; I think it was AWESOME that 39% of DeKalb voters took the time to vote early so that many can spend Election Day helping with GOTV efforts, driving the elderly to the polls, and so forth. It’s also helpful to vote early since you never know when you’ll get flagged as ineligible and have to leave and return with proof, as happened to one of my neighbors last week. He had to return with a birth certificate since the SOS’s system insisted he wasn’t a citizen (gotta love that after standing in a line for hours, eh?).
Have fun soaking up the day! I can think of no reason at all to want to be stuck in any lines. We voted three weeks ago with a whopping 15 minute wait. I’ll do it every time if possible.
Carl, I didn’t mean it was bad, just ridiculous/crazy long. I also found it inspiring. And perhaps you just like 330 because its a shorter walk.
We’ll see how long the lines are tomorrow. If they’re as long as early voting, then I’ll eat my words. But with 39% of DeKalb already through the lines, and more locations open tomorrow, we’d have to approach 80% turnout for me to stand in an 8 hour line at First Christian.
I’m with you Metro! I didn’t want to vote early either. Also my 13-year old really wants to go with me (hopefully she’ll be able to watch me cast my vote–we’ll see what the officials will let us do) so I want to go tomorrow since the kids are out of school.
Will be voting at Lutheran Church of the Messiah. Honestly I don’t expect the lines to be long, since so many ppl have already voted!
Oh, and FBC has been a polling place for at least the past 8 years, as have First Christian and Lutheran. THere are more polling places in Decatur than I think everyone realizes!
I think that lines will be shorter than expected tommorow since almost 40% of people have already voted which is unprecidented. Of course, early morning, lunch and last minute after work lines might be long, so try to go inbetween if you can and I bet you won’t have to wait more than 15-30 minutes.
What do you think is the over/under for Decatur tommorow? I say Obama 80%. Over or under what do you say?
I’d say under 80%, though barely. Those pesky Oakhurst republicans (remember the looong yard sign discussion on here from a few weeks ago?) will tilt things just a little bit to the right, but it will certainly be Barry & Joe’s night.
CSD mom, I have voted with my kids at the touchscreen with me before with no problems. I vote at First Christian Church and don’t expect terribly long lines there, but I’m bringing my book with me just in case.
Yeah, based on that data you pulled for the primary, I think you’re right on the money with that 80% prediction Decaturguy.
Is the turnout for early voting already greater than the average or past turnout for the whole county (Dekalb)?
I don’t know about Dekalb in particular, but in Georgia as a whole, 2,020,839 people have voted early this year either via early voting or absentee ballot. The total turnout overall in 2004 was only 3,317,336 total. So turnout is already 61% of the people who voted in the 2004 Presidential election. Really amazing if you think about it.
In 2004, only 20% of the overall turnout was done via early voting or absentee votes (or about 670,102 votes). So early voting and absentee voting is more than 3 times what it was in 2004 for the last Presidential election.
http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html
Awesome information, Decaturguy. Thanks for providing the stats and link to the source!
Is that 80% prediction INCLUDING ACORN registrants? LOL!
I figure Decatur will be about 95/5 split…
Kumbaya y’all!
I think the hysteria about the turnout caused a large percentage of folks to vote early. Call it the MAD factor (Media Anxiety Disorder) : )
I, too, like voting on E-day in my precinct because I get to share the experience with my son and see my neighbors, etc.
They say all politics is local (Tip O’Neil?) and I prefer to keep that way! I was at the polls at 7am and was on my way to jury duty by 7:50am. I saw 4 of my neighbors, cast my votes (not multiple, just one for each office/item!), got my sticker and left with a light heart.