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.
CobbleHilller: Really? Wow. I’m humbled. That’s so unexpected. May I suggest CobbleHiller08?
IS 293/Baltic Street – 86 ED – no line, no wait, in and out in less than 5 minutes at 4:10pm. They seemed pretty organized, a few shortish lines of maybe 4 – 5 people.
I have to say it felt really great to vote, but I left with a little tinge of worry denton. I do wonder how many will twitch to the right when they pull that lever.
And now the waiting begins…
Went to IS88 (SS) at 6:15AM. Long lines, but a good vibe in the air, a feeling history was in the making. Not the usual griping about incompetent guvment etc. I was out in 30 mins.
Shortly thereafter walked by MS51, my former polling place for a dozen years. Never ever saw anything like that line.
But coming home around 2PM, no lines anywhere. So vote.
MM, thanks for that post.
CH & others, given the propensity of my people to tell pollsters they’ll pull for the black guy, then behind the curtain they pull for the white guy, I too am worried. Hopefully that 7% lead will cover that.
Just went back to the school at the corner of Macon & Malcolm X after the 300-400 people were there this morning. Absolutely no line whatsoever. See you at peaches later for an Obama victory party.
I got to IS 61 at Empire Blvd. and NY Ave. in PLG at 6:15. Waited in line only about 15 minutes. It was so good to see so many of my neighbors so enthusiastic and hopeful; I kept tearing up listening to their stories. One man ahead of me said the last time he’d voted had been for Kennedy. One mother went into the voting booth with her daughter (who looked about 6); after they emerged, the little gorl announced triumphantly, “I voted for Obama!” and everyone clapped.
I called my 83 year old mother to remind her to vote, which she was just on her way out to do, and she said, “I know it’s none of my business, but I do hope you’re doing the right thing and voting for Senator Obama.” This from a woman who voted for Goldwater over Johnson. I love you Mommy!
Afterwards I felt so good, and am so hopeful for this country. Now going off to the phone bank to call out the stragglers and then off to watch the results at K-Dog’s.
I arrived at 6:30 am and waited for an hour and 45 minutes at Brooklyn Tech HS. There had to have been close to 400 people there. When my turn finally came I was told I wasn’t in the book despite the fact that I had my acknowledgment notice from the board of elections in my hand. Same thing with my husband and one of his coworkers. We ended up having to use absentee ballots. It was a little frustrating but I am glad I was there to witness everything. The energy in the place was something I will never forget. Did anyone else experience this problem?
Yes, W Families. Seems they get the credit for the vote, which of course goes to Obama, so I selected all those levers. This must an only in NY thing? I’ve not heard of it in 3 other states.
Talking of which, “though there’s definitely a cathartic feeling one gets from pulling the big lever and turning the knob”…YES! Why would we ever want to switch to the wussy touch screens when it’s both so easy to use these ancient machines and so satisfying when you finally commit??
There were precisely 0 people in line in front of me, when I arrived at PS15 around noon.
I guess that’s one perk of living in the midst of lots of warehouses and not many residences in Red Hook.
(There were other booths at the gym when I arrived, and they had lines.)
To CobbleHillier?
cobblehiller
In light of this great day of CHANGE, I will change my name.
No more confusion