Long Lines, Everywhere
Already, Flickr folks are posting photos, and even this video, of long lines at the polls, all across Brooklyn. In Park Slope, the line stretched out even before the booths opened at 6AM. Bring coffee. Prepare to wait. Where did you vote? How long did it take? Any problems? Video by wnyc.
I voted at PS 9 in PH. I got there around 6:30 thinking it would be quick and painless but the line was around the corner and down the block. It moved quickly until we got inside and then it was pretty chaotic with everyone trying to cram in and get into the right lines. Took about an hour overall. I knew I’d be too lazy to go after work but I sure am sleepy now.
Hadn’t thought of that, edmiha, you’re right. The lovely weather is a coup of sorts. (I wonder how many Republicans were actually praying for bad weather throughout the country and are now chagrined. At God no less)
Biff, methinks it’ll need to be a stiff bourbon. How about mint juleps tomorrow night if we’re celebrating?
Macon/Malcolm X was crazy this morning. I left since i had a meeitng first thing. I am running back home at lunch time to get in the vote. Working late today and don’t want to miss out. This is my 4th year voting at this school and have NEVER seen a line. Period. This is a good thing adn I hope the rest of the country is experiencing the same issue of long lines.
And why can’t we text in our votes via cell phone? Set me up with my ED via a text that reminds me to vote and allow me to vote only once using a secure password and my cell number. Or allow me to vote on-line somehow. How can I pay taxes on-line and – if I so choose – select the next American Idol (I hate that show) with a text, but I still have to go into an ancient voting booth.
Voted at PS 10 around 7:30am and it took about 20 minutes total. Would have taken a lot less time if I could have remembered my district number…It was the 19th.
If you are voting at PS 10, look up your district before hand and enter by the 17th Street side of the building in order to wait directly in your shorter individual district line.
By 9 am the wait was up to 45 minutes.
Everyone is lining up for this ride
Hubby went this morning at 6:30am.
He texted me later and asked how he can change from being a reg. Republican. I told him, he needs to change his thinking first!!
John Jay–arrived at 6:15 AM to see about 300 people in line outside the building. Wrapped around the corner and halfway back up 5th St. Good thing it’s such a warm day. Line actually moved fairly quickly; it took me 40 mins. to get inside the school, but only 5 mins. more to vote. I felt like going back and posting signs at various points along the way: “your wait time is 30 mins. from this point,” etc.
Again, all Democrats should be thrilled by this weather. Republicans who drive their SUVs to their suburban polling places can turn out in a snowstorm. Democrats who have to stand in line outside an urban high school need good weather to persevere. Go Obama!
“I’m impressed at everyone’s effort considering the NY vote is a foregone conclusion.”
ditto, it’s a great sign. I encourage all Democrats in New York to take nothing for granted and do everything they can to vote. The What just admitted in his Forum post that he hasn’t voted in 10 years and doesn’t feel he needs to now as New York has it “locked up”. I’m glad so many others seem to see things differently.
Nokilissa, mint juleps all around tonight.
You gotta wonder. Tuesday, mid-week, no extensions, no national holiday, no mandatory allowance of any kind, ancient contraptions, confusing lines and numbers… and still lines snake around and over and under, sometimes for many hours, across the country.
Makes me misty a little.
And then makes me mad. How many CAN’T take the time or risk being fired? Or they’d lose too much in wages? How many can’t stand in line for 4 or 6 or 8 hours because they have little kids with them? Or physically it is too difficult?
Something has to change. How is it that Columbus Day is a national holiday, but not election day? Why is it that we can’t get this thing switched to a weekend? Why can’t we simply switch to paper ballots with little number 2 pencils? A nice, quick, easy and accountable system that would be. A paper trail would make me far less nervous.
Anyway, down. Off of soapbox.
The subways were about 1/3 less crowded to my far too practiced eye this morning (my four year old actually had a seat!) and my wait to vote was about an hour 15. Probably twice what it usually is. I brought a book and a huge tumbler of coffee. Starbucks, btw, is giving away coffee in honor of voting.
I’ll tip a drink to everyone tonight as I nervously watch results roll in.