Dallas County, TX voting experience this morning

I feel so good. I have waited four years to vote against that bastard bush and not only did I get to vote against him but I got to vote FOR a true American hero and our next great President, John Kerry.

We used touch screen voting, but it is not Diebold. There is no paper receipt, no exit polling. I recognized all three poll watchers from our city Dem group. They reminded me of the Fair Witness characters in Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land." They were just there to observe and take notes.

I asked one poll worker "If I don't vote in the uncontested races, will there be any problem with the rest of my votes?" He said "It shouldn't, but I've never heard of that." I told him I had, though not from around here and he walked away, shaking his head and CURSING the touch screens under his breath. I had the strange feeling he was a Dem.

I voted in the uncontested races, just in case. They were almost all Republicans, so now I have broken my streak of having never voted Rep, but I wanted to make sure my whole ballot counted. Where there was only a Rep and a Libertarian, I voted for the Libertarian, so great is my hatred of the Republican party (and yes, I know Libs are loony, but they've got no shot anyway).

When I walked out, I felt so damn good. There was quite a crowd and it was 7 am on a Saturday morning. We have no stickers saying "I voted early" or anything.

I voted straight Dem ticket except for the ones I was forced to vote for.

I went to the grocery store and started talking to the produce manager. I said "Have you voted yet?" and we got to talking. He is very upset with bush, a big Democrat and lives in Ft. Worth. I encouraged him to go and vote early. He said the Supreme Court justice appointments disturb him the most and said the moment Kerry said in the last debate that he would raise the minimum wage, tons of his friends decided right then and there to vote and to vote for Kerry (they were already registered, but only occasional voters, that pronouncement apparently gave them motivation to hit the polls).

He works THREE jobs and his wife works two just to pay their bills. They have two kids. He shook his head and said "It's been a long four years. I hope people get some help soon, we're hurting all over."

I told him I hope so, too. I persuaded him to contact the Tarrant County Dem party and see if there is anything he or his friends can do to help. He seemed quite excited about that.

I am not comfortable with no paper receipt of how I voted and no exit polling, but I am hoping for the best.

I really hope you're situation is representative is large swaths of the south. It would be so great if the South wakes up and votes for Kerry.

I voted for the Libertarians, too, in the uncontested races, just to stick it to the Repugs. I've never heard that leaving blanks would invalidate your ballot, though. Hope it's just a rumor.

One thing I did tell my friends to do is to go through the ballot page by page instead of touching the "straight party" button. Not that I've heard anything to verify this theory, but it seems to me that if someone was going to tamper with the ballots, they would single out the "straight ticket" ones.

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

she wins, but I'm not sure.

Anywho, Mr. Moonbeam had gone before me and voted straight party ticket. I hope his vote is ok. I hate feeling worried about it! We shouldn't have to!

for this little ray of hope. I enjoyed your post.

The lines in Raleigh, NC are extraordinarily long and we saw lots of people turning around and leaving. I hope they all get back to the polls tomorrow and that your produce manager and his wife go cast their votes for K-E. Thanks for the post; I enjoy the hometown reports more than any others.

but keep in mind it was about 8 am on a Saturday. I just spoke to my best friend on her cell phone and she was just leaving after voting. Said she stood in line FORTY minutes just to vote. The line came out of the building and was snaking around the corner. And there are several early voting locations in Dallas County.

According to what one lady said (who was working there) while I was there, this is the heaviest early voting turnout she's seen since 1960.

but my hope is that K-E have everyone so energized that they feel compelled to vote a Dem ticket. People, don't let the long lines or Repub poll thugs intimidate you!!

FWIW, I went to election judge training yesterday and I do feel pretty good about our local office wanting to give us a fair election. After this one is over I hope to build more ties with them and get them a "certified ethical hacker" volunteer in there to help with the technology.

I believe we have done approx. 100,000 early votes so far -- as of Friday. We are on target for 65% or possibly even 70% voter turnout. This would be up from 49% in 2000 --- an incredible increase.

There were very long lines and it was the old fashioned paper ballots with number two pencils. My area is 70% rethuglican so I am not sure if the long lines bode well for democrats but only time will tell but I am not holding my breath.

too! Voted straight Democrat! I hate those touchscreens. I don't trust any of them! When I saw them, I thought to myself "This is how they are going to steal our votes!". You know chimp will take Texas (highly Repub state), even though I see a lot of Kerry supporters here! :(



Jennifer