Share your voting experience
Early voting has been under way in Ohio for several weeks. We are curious how that experience was for those of you who voted early by absentee ballot. Let us know if you had an experience that you would like to share. Was the convenience of the early voting process worth the effort? Would you recommend it to a friend? Would you do it again? What do you think can be done to improve the process?
Tell us your story here.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
When Greg Palast says vote early, I vote early.
I was in and out in about 30 minutes. Proverbial piece of cake. No problems, no hassles. I will do it again next year–unless the RNC has figured out a new way to mar the early voting process.
October 25th, 2008 at 1:47 am
I early voted a couple weeks ago. It was quick and easy, maybe 20 minutes total. It felt more like a painless visit to the DMV than it felt like voting on election day.
There was one major error that I observed. The demonstration ballot posted in the voting booth showed a choice between Barry White, Billie Holiday and someone else and the example showed the voter choosing Barry White when the correct choice was clearly Billie Holiday.
Honestly, I sort of missed the election day vibe but the Obama campaign people are really stressing the early voting and I care more about turning the Republicans out of office than I do about my feelings, so I went with it.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I voted about three weeks ago at the early voting location over on East Tallmadge Avenue. I was impressed by the sheer size of the facility and the volume of voters it was set up to handle efficiently. I agree with comments above of Keith and Gogiggs. It was fast and painless. I recommend it over dealing with what is undoubtedly going to be a high turnout on Election Day.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
The past two elections had our Mississipi Migrants whom worked for the elections board cat calling us white voters racist with the chip they displayed on their shoulder.
I'm glad that this won't be a November 4TH ritual this year.
The casino should be State Operated and Cleveland & Cincinnati should be the only two waterfronts of tourism.
Lottery games should be reduced and the casinos should pay the former installments.
If dope is not a Obama/McCain issue obviously the state has been the straw that broke the camels back when it comes to sucking the life out of poor communities or strangling the outlook of our youth.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I don't know if you meant early voting by absentee ballot or in person, as most of the people who commented already have done. I voted by absentee ballot and I just wanted to advise anyone who wants to do that, that we are responsible for the postage to send the ballot back, unless you want to drop it off, in which case you could just vote in person. I am glad that they warn you - they put a big piece of paper in to tell you exactly how much to send (1.22, if I remember correctly) but it might be a hesitation to some, especially if they don't have the stamps at home, it might mean a trip to the post office, which again, defeats the purpose of voting at home. Otherwise, it was nice to sit down and take my time voting, look up some articles in the ABJ to see what their opinion is, etc.
October 27th, 2008 at 8:57 am
My wife and I voted Saturday at the Tallmadge Ave facility. We arrived at 3pm and walked out the door having voted in about 35 minutes.
The lines were not too long. The woman I spoke with said the lines were very long earlier in the day. It was a very good experience and I encourage everyone to vote early.
Once you arrive you fill out the paperwork and hand it to a worker. Then you can sit down and wait while they process the paperwork and prepare your ballot. This beat standing and waiting in a line come election day.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Voting is easy in OH. Need nothing but the desire.
October 27th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Several calls to the board of elections have had no results. My 83yr old bed ridden mother will not be able to vote because the fine folks at the board state that her absentee ballot was mailed Oct. 2nd and that we should call the post office to find out what happened to it. Unfortunately they have no clue either. Another replay of the mayoral election?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:40 am
My husband and I voted yesterday evening. We were very impressed at how quick the process was. The only thing that concerned me is that nobody ever asked either of us for ID. Other than that, I definitely recommend voting early….it's going to be a lot less painful then standing in line Nov 4th.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I requested and received an absentee ballot by mail. Overall, it seemed like a seamless process. If I was not familiar with a certain candidate, I could take time to find out more about him / her, something I would not be able to do at the polling place on general election day. I would certainly encourage others to vote by absentee ballot, especially if one has travel plans or, quite simply, does not want to go to a polling place for whatever reason. To me, it did not make sense to go to a polling place before election day to vote; I might have as well waited for election day! Here, I could vote from the comfort of my home, which, I believe, is the reason the absentee ballot process is in place. My out-of-pocket expenses: $1.17 for mailing back the envelope with the completed ballot! It would have cost me more in driving time and gas.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
It would be easy to have a website so we can vote online. We do our banking, bills, etc. online, why not vote online? I for one voted absentee ballot because it is to my convienence…. the postage.. should of been a prepaid envelope.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:30 am
NO ID REQUIRED!! I had the same experience as "akron resident" above. I encountered FOUR different poll workers and not one asked me for a picture ID. If you have the DL# or SSN could you vote for someone else? (though it would be a federal offense). HOW DO THEY VERIFY THE PERSON VOTING IS ACTUALLY THAT PERSON? BY SIGNATURE ONLY??!! I think this is unacceptable.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I voted at the Tallmadge Ave. location on Monday Oct. 27th. The process ran like a very well oiled machine. Like "Akron Resident", my boyfriend and I both questioned the fact that no identification was requested.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
It was a great experience. I registered to vote 3 times by an ACORN worker during a lunch that they provided for me. I asked them how they can afford this. The said Obama gave us $65,000 to spend.
I then asked if it was illegal to vote 3 times and they said to vote early, steal a couple of utility bills and use them as your ID.
October 29th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
My husband and I sent in applications for absentee ballots 3 weeks ago. His was sent to us in three days. He filled it out and mailed it back. My ballot never came. When I called the Lorain County Bd. of Elections, they said they never got an application from me. Well, now, who knows? Did the Post Office screw up (which is pretty rare!), or did someone at the Board of Elections 'lose' it, hoping I just wouldn't bother voting rather than go through the hassle. Stood in line today at the Lorain Bd. of Elections for almost an hour and a half. What a crock THIS has been!
October 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
i have voted sense i was 18 in every election and it is great to do it this election is the most imporant in my life time.i was leaning toward mccain i searched the web to see if he was in telling the truth and straight talking,throug my search of the web i found out he has lied and been very negative to negative for my liking .the wait was worth it i voted my belief in sentor obama.
October 29th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Voting absentee in the privacy of my home with no time pressure was absolutely great. It was a pressure-free way to go. Also, I could consult whatever election material that I wanted to use.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I do not live in Ohio anymore but I do live in the other swing state of Florida. I never thought I would live 2 see the day a Black man would be this close 2 becoming the next President of the USA. Florida has a very dark history of Voter disenfranchisement and voter irregularities. The 2000 election is an example of Voter disenfranchisement and Voter Fraud.
I voted early, using an Absentee Ballot. I made a copy, spent $1.00 for postage and dropped it in the mail. The voting machines, made by Diebolt, (use to be an Akron Company, made ATM machines 2), do not generate receipts. I can get a receipt at the any gas station store but I can not get a receipt when I vote! I hope my vote will be counted. I have no paper trail or any other way or verifying my vote except 4 the copy I made.
NASA space engineers over in Titusville, Fla can put a Land Rover on Mars but with that technology, we still can't get a receipt when we vote.
Our voting process needs a complete overhaul! Europeans vote from the comfort of their homes via the telephone and the Internet. Voting is a requirement. Voter participation is 90% or greater.
I read somewhere that 60% of Americans are ILITERATE and can not comprehend beyond a 5th grade level.
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
OBAMA/BIDEN 08 I VOTED 4 "THAT ONE"
Vote early! I did.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Snowbyrd/You should be able to go online & type in your "county board of elections" & check your voting status. I did that with mine. It shows the documented date when my vote was received. If you have your tracking # you can check your information.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I voted early with an absentee ballot. Instead of worrying about postage, I personally delivered my ballot (in its' sealed envelope) to the Board of Elections. The process was very easy and the instructions were easy enough for most fifth graders. As I don't read the Beacon, I wasn't familiar with the mumbo-jumbo terminology used to describe each issue. However, completing my ballot at home gave me the opportunity to do additional research on the issues to make a more informed decision about each.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Diane Greenman ; Thank you.
I live in Hillsborough County, Tampa, Fla..I'll give it a try. Buddy Johnson is our Superintendent of Elections in my county…All I do have is a hard copy of my absentee ballot!
It's SCARY down hear!
Tampa made the FBI's number one (1) list in Florida 4 HATE CRIMES. I didn't know there were so many racist people here in this city! Everybody has somebody they hate! The Cubans don't like other Spanish speaking people. Black people hate white people, Jamaicans hate the Haitians..Southerns don't like Yankees! Democrats and Republicans hate on each other..it is sad!
It wasn't like this back in Akron! or at least not on my side of town it wasn't!
Just Vote!
October 30th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I voted by absentee ballot this year per a friend's suggestion. I thought it would be a hassle. But dreaded waiting in line on election day. I'm so glad I voted early! It was a breeze. I sat, had coffee, perused the issues and backgrounds, selected a candidate, darkened the little circle and was done. It was the first time I actually took the time to really know who I was voting for and why. The only negative thing was I didn't get a little "I VOTED TODAY" sticker! They should have included one in the envelope! I would have worn it with pride. Thanks to women and men like John McCain who fought for Americans so that we may live in a free country and exercise our right to vote.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Hey Bill:
You couldn't have voted 3 times moron because Ohio requires you to show your driver's license. So if you registered 3 times, you would have to use false names and then you would not be able to vote under the false names.
I'm sure you were a Bush supporter, and now McSame. Thanks for the last crappy 8 years of life under the GOP.
The Nov. 4th announcement is going to suck for you - too bad!
October 30th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I voted in Tallmadge at the beginning of this week and only had to wait for 5 minutes. I was very impressed and think it is a great idea for all the people to be able to vote early cause of their work schedules or family or whatever. They had convenient hours and open 7 days a week. Thanks to all the people that work there so the American people can vote early.
October 31st, 2008 at 7:39 am
ojSfjo
October 31st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I went to early voting the evening of 10/30 at the Summit County location.
Here is what happened:
1. Walk in and get the absentee ballot application from table 1.
2. Fill it out, putting in either your DL# or SSN (last 4 digits). No id required.
3. Turn it in at table 2. Apparently there is some check between the ID number you give and the name/address on the form. Again, no id required.
4. After an hour, your name is called and you go to table 3.
5. At table 3, you say that you are so-and-so and they give you the ballot
and you go to the voting booth. Again, no id required.
6. You vote and then put your ballot into the envelope.
7. You turn it in to another person who seals it and throws it into an open, unsecured box.
8. You get your "I voted" sticker and leave.
How many steps in the process allow for some sort of voter fraud? Each and every step. There is never any ID required at any step, and someone could have walked up and intercepted my ballot at table 3. And, my ballot could mysteriously disappear from that box at the end.
What kind of crappy early voting system is this?
October 31st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
We went the evening of 10/31, around 6:30 pm. The entryway was jammed with people milling around confused. There was a group of costumed children near the entrance, also. I would estimate there was over 200 people waiting to vote. Out of approximately 40-50 voting booths, only 15-20 were filled. We were told it would be over an hour or more… so we left. It is our right to vote, but due to time constraints we might not be taking advantage of that right this year.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:01 am
Early voting is easy and takes about 45 minutes. Go early in the day, avoid lunch hour and take a book or magazine. My wife and I went together and our paperwork got separated - it took an extra 30 minutes for her ballot to show up. Whatever the problems with the voting system, just remember - in the non-too-distant past, people in this country died for registering people to vote.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:28 am
I voted early this year too. A few days ago, while down at the OSU campus, I was approached by an ACORN. The ACORN told me to fill out some forms and vote. So I did. Seventeen times! I love this counrty! Then the ACORN gave me a pack of Newports and an Obama sticker to put on my shirt and sent me on my way. Man, I hope OBama wins so you all can spread your wealth and give it to me becasue I don't have a job and after Obama wins, I wont need one. I'll be on the same level as you. Socialism in the U.S. is our gift from the Messiah…er I mean, President Obama.
November 1st, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I put in my request for an absentee ballot request 2 months ago and it STILL hasn't arrived. No one at the voting office can give me a straight answer! WHAT IF I CANT VOTE!! we need a change and I want to help! GO O!
November 1st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I voted absentee ballot some weeks back. Mailed it on what would have been my dad's 89th birthday as a gift to him (he like me, was a good Democrat).
Part of it I enjoyed as I could read the issues and do some investigating before checking how I wanted to vote. Most I already had made up my mind.
Voting early and by absentee ballot freed me up to phone bank and canvass for Obama in my hometown, which is good.
BUT: I think come Nov. 4th, I will sort of miss that thrill of casting my ballot at the polls and walking out with my head held high for all to see with my little " I voted today" sticker.
Will I vote absentee in 2012……probably.
I had no problems but we live in a medium size town and not a city
I sure hope all reading these posts has either voted or will vote.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I had a terrible "non voting" experience today. I live in Portage County and unfortunately the only early voting location for the entire county is open from 8am - 4:30 pm Mon. - Fri. and from 8am - 12 pm on Sat. Most people (including myself) work Mon. - Fri. therefore the best time to go would be on Saturday. Imagine my surprise when I arrive on Saturday to vote only to be met with a line that has wrapped around the hallway on its way out the door with a greeting of, " its a 3 hour wait". How many booths are being used you wonder? Why 6 of course! What?????? Portage County serves Kent, Ravenna, Streetboro, Aurora, Garettsville and numerous other counties. To whomever was in charge of gathering the voting machines, you have certainly done a disservice to our county. In what has been labeled the most important election in history, to only have 6 voting machines available is deplorable. I am not naive and of course knew that there will be a wait of some sort, however imagine how the wait could have been reduced had there been enough voting machines? Do not believe for a moment that this experience will deter me from voting— not at all. I just wanted all the readers and bloggers of the ABJ to know what frackin-nackle bull is going on in Portage county!
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:37 am
I voted by absentee ballot. There were some items on the ballot I was not familiar with. Voting absentee allowed me the time to research these items and cast an informed vote. I will vote absentee in the next election too.
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 am
Here we go again! This will be the 7th time I have wrote you guys to be responsible and broadcast important facts going into this election. The last 6 you never even said a peep! Seams that you paper is Democratic propaganda only! My wife works as activity person in Tallmadge two Saturdays a month at a nursing home. She came home yesterday and told me ONE more scary story. She said OBAMA workers came in yesterday, ballots in hand and wanted to go around to the old peoples room and get them to cast vote for OBAMA! Most of these residence are altimers people! If my wife had not called director and put a stop to it this would have been a done deal!! I personally think this voting early crap is just that, and only invented to give OBAMA workers a chance to "bus in" votes for this moron!! I guarantee this is how this election will be decided, BY VOTING FRAUD!! Lets see if you have guts to take this and broadcast it as NEWS!
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 am
I voted early Nov. 1 at the Portage County Board of Elections, arriving at 8:30 a.m. Within 30 minutes, the line behind me almost doubled. The whole process took less than two hours from the time I pulled in to the parking lot until I left and was on my way to work. I noticed the electronic voting machine also kept a printed copy of my ballot, which I thought to be a very good precaution. While in line I heard no one grumbling about the wait; rather, people were talking about how much it meant to them to cast their vote. No one I heard spoke of their positions on issues or candidates but it was a side benefit to standing in line to hear folk in my community talk about their disparate life experiences.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Ken, your story is so much BS. How in the hell would the "Obama people" get ballots? The ballots are tightly controlled - nobody has a pile of ballots to hand out to people- unless you're the Board of Elections.
At the nursing home I work at, workers from the Board of Elections called and set up a time to come out and let the residents vote. It was handled professionally and privately by them…not the nursing home employees. And I can assure everyone that only the competent and willing residents voted, no one was forced.
Ken, what country do you think you're in anyway?
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
My experience with early voting went well. I voted almost 3 weeks ago. It took about 25 minutes of my time. But I did notice there wasn't anyone asking for ID's. I hope in the future we will be able to vote online.
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
If I hadn't been so worried that my ballot wouldn't be counted, my experience would be funny.
I requested my ballot at the earliest time, received it and filled it out. I checked and before I returned it, I realized I'd voted NO when I wanted YES (the wording was so tricky on some of the issues). Why can't we just have FOR or AGAINST?
So I returned it to the Board of Elections (finally finding a parking space), where I was given a new number and new ballot.
Then 2 weeks before Election day, I went back to Board of Elections to return my ballot and when I couldn't find a parking space, I decided to mail it at the Main post office around the corner.
While driving there, old age came down on me, and instead of going inside, I put it in the DriveThru mailbox. After I got home and realized what I'd done, I called the P.O., only to be told there was nothing they could do. Since there was no Return Address, it couldn't be returned to me and could possibly go to the "Dead" file. I was told that sometimes mail is delivered and postage is requested at the far end.
Which is what happened, but I had to keep calling to see if they'd received it.
Boy was I glad on 10/28 when I was told that they'd received it.
It's rough getting old !!!
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I went in for early voting about two weeks ago. There were many vacant machines and just a few voters voting early like me. I was surprised to see Ralph Nader on the ballot running for President as an independent - how did he get on the ballot with no party paying for the thousands of petition signatures required to get on the Ohio ballot? I know that the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, and the Green Party paid alot of money to canvassers to get signatures on their petitions to get on the ballot. I expected to see a real estate agent by the name of Richard Duncan on the ballot as an independent, because I read about him. But Duncan was not on my ballot. Was he on yours?
I was happy to see the Party designations beside the names of all 7 candidates for president. There were many choices for president - a half white/half black man, a black woman, an Arab-American, and four white guys: Obama, Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader, Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Brian Moore, and McCain. There were 2 Senators (Mc-Bama) and 2 former Congressional Representatives (Barr and McKinney, both from Georgia). There was a preacher (Baldwin), an independent (Nader), and some guy from the Socialist Party named Brian Moore.
After I voted for one of the other 5 candidates besides Mc-Bama, I thought about how the mass media ignored them; how the mass media is controlled by a mere five very wealthy billionaires (Rupert Murdoch, Rothschild, Bronhof, Newsome, and Redstone) and how they turned Mc-Bama into celebrities. I have yet to find anyone who knew anthing about Obama prior to four years ago when Mass Media was dangling Kerry and Bush in front of our noses. He is certainly a media creation. All anyone knows of him is what they see on the boob tube. Too few of us have checked out his voting record, which is just like McCain's 90% of the time.
I tried to establish a 3rd party with my vote. That only takes 5% of the total votes. That is the only way we can begin to stop the Demopublicans, who are two sides of the same coin, from continuing to shove it to us.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I voted early this past Saturday, 11/1 and it took about 1-1/2 hours. Clearly, the Board of Elections was not prepared for the huge numbers of early voters, but they did the best they could given the circumstances. What I don't understand is, and perhaps it is because I never "early voted" before, is that no one ever checked my ID. I filled out the absentee ballot form and all the individual did when I returned it to her was check to see that everything was completed and signed were needed. I was never asked for any form of ID. I assumed when my name was called to vote they would ask, but they did not. With all the worry about alleged voter fraud, you would think that this would be the #1 priority.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Scare tactics, an old proven mean to obtain control over ignorant people will soon be used by McCain and his people, and the only one(s) who could “defend” the people would be… yes, you guessed, only McCain and his people.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
This year was the year I have waited for nearly two decades! Both of our boys joined my wife and me in the voting process. That, to me, was huge…
As for the voting early… I like it! I am not sure what the people were talking about not having to show their id's because we all had to show ours and the workers at the polls were outstanding. If no id's were shown then how did they get a ballot? I'm not so sure I can believe that one.
This, casting ballots early, could work into a good thing as long as it is not beaten up to badly by the looser of the presidential race. OR… as long as the looser does NOT win!
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Went to Obama rally yesterday in Columbus. Everyone I spoke to had voted early for Obama! It rocked - some waited over 6 hours in line to be part of this historical event, I waited only 75 minutes on Tuesday evening in a red county in which the long line was clearly excited Obama supporters, many young, many African-Americans.
This is going to be awesome on Tuesday!
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
I voted two weeks ago and the longest I was there was about 45 minutes. It was well worth it. I'm glad I got it over with as I hate long lines.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Despite the huge crowd, we were in and out in half an hour. Everything went smoothly and everyone was helpful. Nice to see something going so… right. Kudos to the Board of Elections and all the poll workers for an outstanding job.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
i was in and out in about twenty minutes…..now got time to shop on nov 4th instead being in a long line to vote… hope they have it again next year election…
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
My Early Voting experience was phenomenal!
The wait was less the 45 minutes and the people where thrilled to be there! It didn’t matter if you where Democrat or Republican- because there was no talk of who we where voting for, but of the issues we where voting for or against!
The elderly where full of vigor and the youth proud. The que congratulated its members on being there.
We all echoed that this should have been done long ago. Many of the college students attending have classes and tests on the 4th and would have to choose between the classes they have spent thousands of dollars on or voting on the issues that would shape their world where they are finally done with university.
I would recommend early voting to my friends and my enemys. In Ohio it can be hard to get around because of poor transportation options, early voting give those less fortunate a chance to vote when they have the abillity to get to the polls.
It may not matter who wins the election, if the people have the ability to be involved in our state’s and nation’s politics then the true representive of the people may step forward!
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Rich, I assure you, there was absolutely no ID check in Summit County.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I voted today in Medina. The line was long, took about 1 hr. 45min to wait and vote. Everyone was very friendly. It was easy, line kept moving.
I think absentee is the way to go, could have done it at home and mailed it back!
I will miss the election vibe of voting on election day. However, I knew my wait today would be less than tomorrow.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Somebody somewhere made a colossal blunder during my visit–I waited patiently (!) for about 5 hours for a ballot on the evening of Nov. 2 at the Talmadge Avenue site. There were easily a couple of thousand people in the building at the time. I didn't care; I'd do it again.
It would have been wonderful, though, to have had 24-hour access during this final week. I mean, the overtime the board is paying out is probably astronomical as it is–but I think that's something that might work better in the future; especially in big cities.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Rich, absolutely NO ONE ever checked any ID. Perhaps it was because there were soooo many people waiting - I don't know. But you can believe it - I was never once asked to show an ID.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:26 am
I voted at the Portage County Board of Elections yesterday. I stood in line for app. 2 hours, 50 minutes, and took another 20 minutes once I reached the office where the voting occurred. For the most part, I stood in a long winding line outside. Luckily the weather was pleasant. A BOE representative checked on the line several times in the nearly 3 hours I was there. A worker hammered and banged on the building for the first hour I waited, adding to the irritation of people standing in front of me.
A few observations….
First, with that many people in line, access to a drinking fountain would have been a good idea. The security officers downstairs told us that the fountains were upstairs, meaning a person would have to leave their spot in line, go upstairs, get their drink, and return to hopefully get their place back in line. A downstairs fountain would have been great, but a cooler with bottled water on ice would be a no-brainer. Although I am not a fan of government continually reaching into our pockets, I believe you could have charged for the water and we would have paid.
Second, once you got inside the building, a circulating fan would have been appreciated, especially after waiting close to 3 hours. The air was dead inside the building.
Third, a basket of box of old magazines would have killed the time for most of us in line. Perhaps a website that advised people ahead of time to wear comfortable shoes, bring a jacket in case the weather turned bad, a book, and something to drink would be even easier.
And finally, I didn't understand why nobody there asked me to verify my identity when I voted. Outside of asking my name and address, there was no intent or desire to confirm that I was who I claimed to be. When they handed me a registration slip, I checked off the box that indicated I would ID myself by my Ohio Driver's License. When I pulled my ODL from my wallet and handed it to the BOE worker, she said "Oh no, YOU put your State Driver's License number on the form–not me!" I thought this was a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse. If I wanted, I suppose I could have said I was any of my neighbors, added their dates of birth on the form, and cast THEIR votes for them. I think this is a real breach of security and the most important area for fraud potential. Please do something about this problem.
I know the people from the Portage County BOE work hard, so I hope they read this comment and take it to heart.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I voted in Green at the local church. There was no line at 7AM!!!
p.s. I voted for Obama
November 4th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I voted at a local church here in Akron and was surprised it only took about 10 min. Things moved right along… but I am curious as to why the public couldn't wear anything to show support for candidates and there were candidates at the site.
The Mac is Back! I would not vote for anyone that doesn't wear the flag pin, say God Bless America, or attended a church where the pastor said: GOD DAMN AMERICA!
November 4th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I did not vote this morning, no parking in the church lot, the street was full and people were driving all over the grass of the church and neighboring yards. There is only one polling place in Suffield, Brimfield has 4!!! I went back at lunch and waited for an hour. I finally was able to vote. Next time I will mail it in but I'm not sure it would be counted.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Early voting was the best! We received our ballots in the mail and could actually spend time reading every word and researching our questions before we made a decision. We our time and enjoyed every moment of the voting process. It was especially wonderful for our son who is disabled. At our site, they don't have private place for him as he cannot mark the ballot himself so he needs to have his dad or me go with him and help him. He needs to have the choices read to him and then say his choice out loud. It was especially great for him as he felt that his choices were private and not made known to all those standing in line. We will always use this process for voting. I only hope that eventually they can put the voting process out on the web and we can vote from out computers without wasting paper and postage!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Rosemary:
I agree - I don't agree with you politically, but I find it hard to believe that anyone would have their mind changed on election day by someone in a T-shirt or buttons! If that's the case, they shouldn't be voting. If I saw you with your McCain pins, I don't think it would influence me any more than you would be influenced by my Obama shirt!! Maybe it cuts down on the fights in line, though, in this terrible, divisive, meanspirited country this has turned into because of this election and the previous 8 years.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Hey disgruntled: Consider yourself warned. Next time bring a book, a fan, and a bottle of water, maybe even a chair. Pretend you are camping out for Browns season tickets or something! It's not up to the County to supply these things for you - if they did, our taxes would be doubled to pay for it.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I will probably never vote again. A few years ago the Board of Elections changed our polling place. We now have to go to an apartment complex for the challenged and disabled. I waited outside for 30 minutes while I felt eyes from the balconies, and smelled cigarette smoke from the residents. It took 55 minutes, total, to vote; and, then I was only the 88th voter that morning, after the polling station was opened for 2 1/2 hours.
I will never again vote at Nimmer Place on Brittain Road; if they change us to a better facility, I will do my civic duty; but, only when they change.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Such a usefule blogwow !!!!