Early report from Washington A, Washington Twp., Montco

Gemdem and I got to the polling place (Bethany Lutheran Village) right as it opened at 6:30. Already there was a substantial line -- we have been voting for 24 years and we've never seen it like this. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the booth. I was #28. When we left, the line was even longer. There is a hallway/breezeway from the parking lot to the rec room, and people were halfway down the hall to the door. If things get slow at the tables, people will be out the door.

No problems I could see, other than some confusion with the man in front of me -- they couldn't find his name in the book. Turned out pages were stuck together. No big deal.

It's true -- expect RECORD-BREAKING turnout today. Bring a book or newspaper to read in the line.

:hi:

I'll add to your report when we return.

Thanks for everything, AOD -- you've inspired me with your posts, your enthusiasm, and your ample supply of common sense.

Kerry On!

And the other precinct that shares our polling place was even more lined-up than ours. The poll workers said there hadn't been anybody there at 6:30, but that not long after seven people started rolling in, and there'd been a 30-40 minute wait from 7:30 on.

Took us about forty minutes. Something simlar happened in ours, too -- someone's name was misspelled on the registration card, they took the person's photo ID and found the name on the rolls by that, but it took them a half hour to figure out that was the problem.

The person had the registration card from the BoE, there wasn't much chance they weren't going to hand out a ballot, but figuring it all out caused this person to have to wait a while.

The important part was this: they waited.

We had 60% turnout in 2000, and I went at eight in the morning that time, too. It took me ten minutes from the time I got out of my car to the time I got back in it, that time. If the wait at eight in the morning is any indication, we'll have in excess of 70% turnout here. I know many of them are Republicans, but also know we're not far off 33/33/33 with D, R and I here.

when they couldn't find the guy's name. The man going through the book kind of began to make a big deal of it, but the woman next to him kept telling him to make sure pages weren't stuck together, or that the page wasn't in the wrong place in the binder -- in other words, there had to be a logical explanation. He kept saying, "It's not here, it's not here!" and the voter was starting to tense up a little -- so was I.

This turnout was incredible. People had to have been in line as early as 6.

and it took him about twenty minutes. He was pleased when I said it was already up to forty by eight o'clock. There was another voter who had an address change, but it only took them ten minutes to sort him out. I felt sorry for the other one -- but it got fixed.

I was voter #148; there are 447 registered voters in the precinct (as of 8/4/04). Approximately 35 people in line ahead of me; about the same behind me.

Three people had to get provisional ballots. They waited in line only to find out they weren't on the books; they were confused but not upset.

One gentleman came in and asked if he could vote -- said he didn't live in the precinct but was under the impression he could vote anywhere in the township. He was told "sorry, we can't help you" and he left without arguing.

No CHALLENGERS present.

I've been voting in this (heavily Repuke) precinct for 25 years and HAVE NEVER HAD TO WAIT MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES!

If it really is all about turnout, it's lookin' good.

They were going to be concentrated in Dayton, Jefferson Twp., and Trotwood. But that may have changed with the recent confusion.

There was a provisional judge, and another guy who was sitting behind the panel of four judges. I'm not quite sure who he was. He was not wearing ID of any kind.

The last time I recall having to wait in Dayton was the '92 election. We were in Indiana in '96 and there was a wait there, too, but I think that's because they were using the old-fashioned machines, which take a little longer to figure out than the punch cards.

I predict a record-setting turnout -- unprecedented.

Did they at least tell the guy where he could go to vote???

Since I wasn't there in any type of offical capacity, I was reluctant to open my mouth . . . that might have been a bad decision on my part.

And, as you stated, NO ID BADGES OF ANY KIND WORN BY POLL WORKERS or the big guy walking around, acting important, and making decisions. I wonder WHO he was?

I don't know how many are in my precinct, though. Over 300, since I remember adding up the numbers on the primary ballots, and I noticed on the voter rolls they had tacked up on the door at the front of the polling room that a lot of them are registered as Independent.

I came early before the polls opened, or I thought I was...but I was still voter #6 ! LOL.

Yet, there was a pretty long line, going out to the parking lot, when I left.

Talking to my partner, who voted around 2:15 PM or so, there was no lines.

So this precinct probably voted really early, and then after work.

No problems...same nice little old ladys telling me to make sure the ballot is punched through..no challengers as far as I could see. Some folks where confused what precinct to vote in...since two precincts vote at the (new) township hall...turns out there is yet another precinct voting in the next door fire station!