Up to 125 million Americans will cast votes to choose the leader of the United States for the next four years and set the country’s course on the Iraq (news – web sites) war, the fight against terrorism, the economy and foreign relations.Polls show the race is extraordinarily close, with a flurry of surveys showing a dead heat nationally and contradictory polls indicating most of the 10 hardest fought battleground states could tip either way.
Bush and Kerry spent their final day on the campaign trail on Monday racing back and forth through a handful of crucial swing states in a last-ditch hunt for votes, as both men try to stitch together the 270 electoral votes needed to claim victory.
Tell us about your experience at the polls today. Did you witness voter fraud or was it uneventful? Long lines or empty buildings?
Round-ups: PoliBlog
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Update (8:55 a.m.): The line at my polling place is at least three hours long, so I decided to wait. I’ll leave work early, but before I go I’ll open up a “live-comment” thread because I may be in line well into the evening. No worries. I have my handy little wireless device where I can monitor all online activity! I’ll be live-blogging online in line.
These people are motivated. Funny comment from Michelle Malkin.
Democrats’ chief pollster predicts Bush victory. Are we conservatives nervous or what? Power Line links to the prediction story. The Bear has some online election resources.
It’s getting really stupid. Cars carrying voters to the polls are being vandalized. And some of you think people are really good at heart? Far from it! See B4B.
Update II: George Bush said, “This election is in the hands of the people, and I feel very comfortable about that. Now’s the time for the people to express their will.”
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I voted early but there was a steady stream of people in what normally is a relatively slow rural polling place.
upstate New York.
Take Care
Michael
I got to my polling station in Lorton, VA at 6:10 (polls opened at 6:00). The line was pretty long. It took 1.5 hours from the time I stood in line til the time I hit the VOTE button. I had a few Bush-Cheney pins and I wore one on my sweat jacket and gave my mother the other one. What I found interesting was the number of Blacks who stared at us wearing the buttons (being Black ourselves). Some made faces but more had thoughtful looks on their face (perhaps they were the “undecided” Christian voters who felt torn between our historical blind allegiance to the Democratic party and the common Christian sense God gave them). Maybe seeing another Black supporting our president gave them courage to break away (who knows). There were reps from each party handing our voting instructions. I was pleasantly suprosed at the number of Black voters who had a Republican voting sheet in their hand (only time will tell).
Overall, very calm experience and many people talking to each other in the lines, regardless of who they support.
Here in “Red State Central (Emporia, Kansas) the lines were longer than I’ve ever seen them in my polling place. This is a heavily Republican county and it looks to me like even here where Republicans are the majority, they are engaged like I’ve never seen them.
The voting machines were very user friendly. They even had features that would allow you to go back and review your ballot before casting it. If you needed to make changes there were features that would allow you to do that.
I cast a straight Republican ballot for the first time in my life. I found it both engaging and disappointing. I’m a Democrat who has found he cannot support his party as it is today.
Long, Long line this morning. I live in a Republican district wherein I have never seen a democratic sign near my polling place. I was shocked to find so many Kerry signs on the way in and even further shocked by people in my Republican precinct voting for John Kerry. I walked away from a number of conversations prior to the polls opening because I was caught off guard.
Be of good cheer, Thomas. God’s steady hand is in all things.
Very short lines at my polling place in Lowell, MA. My wife and I were in and out in less than 10 minutes, and that’s only because one of voted at a time while the other waited with our 3 children. We may be the only 2 votes for W in Mass, so when you see the return tonight for Mass – that was us.
It felt great to do it, too.
-Scott
Here in NYC polls opened at 6am. There’s really NO elections here that are in doubt.
And yet… when I got to my polling place at 6:40, I had to stand in line behind 4 others at my machine. There’s usually =no=one= in line. Let me repeat – NY has been in the “Kerry lock” position for some time, and there’s no seriously contested race here, no ballot initiatives. People I know in Manhattan and Long Island had to stand in real long lines. All of us had a smooth experience – just saw more people than we expected.
The weather is nice here. People are getting out the vote. It makes me feel good.
already voted last week, but I’ll swing by once I get off work to see how everything looks. My neighbor across the street works at the polls..
I got to the poll about 15 minutes before it opened this morning and made it in and out in around 45 minutes. The line was massive when I was leaving though. It went all the way down the street outside.
Keep your chin up J. Thomas, I spoke to many democrats in line who were saying they couldn’t bring themselves to vote for John Kerry.
Tonight will be interesting for sure. LaShawn, what type of wireless device do you have?
I got to my polling place (in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA) at 7am on the nose, and there were 30-40 people ahead of me. There weren’t many problems though…and I was out by 7:20.
Argh! Was my comment eaten?
Anyway, looks like large turnout early in NYC. I felt good. First time in my life I voted for no Democrats at all. There were two Dems running unopposed for state legislature, I did not vote for them. It’s symbolic, but I want to send a message. I think lots of New Yorkers are sending a message.
LaShawn,
You stole my idea!
I was gonna put that on my blog. hehe i love it!
This is what we’ve all been waiting for. Four more years or we become the loyal opposition?
Will you be blogging the poll results tonight?
I vote in a very heavy democractic area of Western Pennsylvania. I was 6th in line. As usual the Democrats had a representative, right outside the polling place, there with a big button that said “Vote Straight Democrat.” He was handing out ballots that showed who to vote for, I politely declined one. I went in voted for all Republicans except for one Constitutional candidate, Jim Clymer for US Senate. 12 minutes total time.
I waited One hour and fifteen minutes to vote, things went pretty smoothly. There was one lone Kerry stumper at the outskirts of my polling place, and a few loudmouths in line talking about “No WMD’s”, but just with eachother.
So, as of 8:30am at Arkansas’ Pulaski County Precinct 99, all was well.
I was the 75th voter at my precinct, and my votes are posted on my blog.
I got up at 3:45am (I couldn’t sleep) and I was at the polls here in Raleigh NC at 6:00. I was about number 20 in line. I moved since my last vote and found out I was at the wrong precint. I went to that precint; got in line at 6;45 on the nose. I finished voting at 8:55! Wow. Saw so many people who didn’t look ilke they would ordinarily vote in line? Guess, it was my prejudging. Got into a conversation with someone in line and on the bus. When they found out that I was voting for Bush, one just nodded and said he was going to vote for Kerry and the other said,”how can you vote for Bush. I am a Christian,When I see Bush, I see a devil.” My mouth dropped. Than I proceeded to educate her. Another young black male was nodding in approval of what I was saying. I believe its going to be an interesting night.
Only took me 30 minutes or so to vote!
Tis done!
Usually my vote is cancelled by my wifey’s vote.
Household vote – net ZERO!
But that’s the way it goes!
I’m still cool though
Oh yea, when I went to get my card for voting, the gentlemen (elderly black man) saw that my card had REP on it. He said ‘aaahh a fellow republican, good to see, good to see’.
We are growing!!
Its all good
The polls in Oklahoma City opened at 7 am; I had arrived at 6:40 to find about 50 ahead of me. Of those 50, I noticed one who spoiled a ballot — a new one was issued forthwith — and one who was sidelined while someone researched an address change, but otherwise, things went smoothly, and I was out of there by 7:15.
In my suburb just outside of Cincinnati, the polls opened at 6:30 and I voted at 8:00 AM. I had the 104th ballot, and a poll worker said they had 585 total ballots. They have extra, so I figure something like 400-500 registered voters go to our polling place. I joked with him that they would be done by noon.
Everyone was very pleasant, no hassles, no problems, no lawyers. I would guess that our polling place is 60-70% Republican. So I was happy to see a good turnout.
By the way, the weather is dreary & rainy, and the traffic was bad. But the people are voting.
Here in Detroit, MI, I was in and out in about 25 mins. It was raining at 7:05 when I got there, who knows if that puts a damper on voting. A couple of Dems outside the church with handouts on how to vote — I thought there was to be no activist within 150 yards, oh well.
For the 1st time I voted straight Rep, although about 5 or 6 positions were Dems running unopposed here in Detroit/Wayne County. Also voted no on every single proposition asking for mo’ money for this or that. Voted yes on strengthening the DMA.
Voted yes to force a vote for every lottery/gambling iniative, that way the Michigan government can’t just hand out gambling licenses willy nilly. I don’t care if it’s supposed to be for schools, since most of the money earmarked hasn’t made it anyway and besides, I’m against the govt sanctioning gambling.
Thanks for the updates, everyone. Keep ‘em coming.
Chris – I have a Smartphone, Treo 600. I like gadgets. Before this one I had an iPAQ handheld PC, but the online service would have been too expensive had I gone that route. What I have now is a cell phone and personal digital organizer all in one device, AND I can surf the web.
Just got back from voting here in the Southwest corner of red state Virginia. The line was steady but it was a quick process. Turnout is expected to be heavy here. I cast my vote for President Bush. Virginia is expected to easily go for Bush.
I voted early a week ago, but I ran by a couple local polling places and checked out the activity. My own polling place looked moderately busy. The polling place I used to vote at was fairly well packed, from what I could tell. This on top of a HUGE amount of early voting. I haven’t heard of any problems, locally. Time will tell.
Voted about 9 this morning. No lines, no waiting. But steady. 200 + voters since 6 AM in a demographically mixed precinct in a red county in Coastal NJ.
No hassles no problems – this poll is in the lobby of a police station!
I had to get an absentee ballot for my 99 yr. old mother, so i got one for myself also. Saw in the local paper this A.M. that the county auditor thought voting might hit 85% of registered voters in our county. Up from 64% in 2000.
Note to Christians: Get out and vote your biblical values and don’t worry about the outcome. God is still in charge no matter who wins.
Voted at 8:20AM, only one couple ahead of me in line (good thing my last name doesn’t start with M – R; their line was by far the longest there, at about a dozen or so!). I showed them my voter ID card & licensce even though they didn’t ask for it (’course as LaShawn said, it’s easy for *me* to find my licensce, being that I’m white… sarcasm off).
Polls open at 0600 in LA.
I arrived at 0530; no one was present.
I was the first to vote at 0600. Line was already long.
Best way – arrive before others.
LB,
I love that you posted this. Reading everyone elses experience is fun.
Waited for an hour but no problems. But I already hear mess from 15 miles NW of me (Detroit). Polls opening late, etc.
Ah, SmartPhone
I have an iPaq so I was curious. I don’t have an online service for it though because as you said it’s expensive. It would be nice though.
My husband & I voted this morning around 8:15…we’re in Tidewater, VA. The wait was approximately 20-25 minutes, and there were no problems. I’d already prepared myself for some issue b/c my driver’s license has an old address on it (two addresses ago), but no one questioned me since my voter registration card was accurate & up to date.
I turned down a Kerry flyer outside but took the BC04 flyer. I told the fella who was handing them out that I liked his stickers better.
FTR, we had only four items to vote for: President, Representative (for the House), and two issues we agreed were ok with us. That probably shortened the wait considerably.
Ps 119:113, NLT I hate those who are undecided about you, but my choice is clear – I love your law.
I live in Weehawken NJ – and I voted this morning at 7:30 – there was next to no one there. I was in and out of there in 15 minutes. The guy working behind the table, who found my name, and filled out my information for me had on a gigantic wide tie printed with the American flag. I just loved that.
I voted this morning, quite pleasant. No hassles, long lines, nothing.
After I voted and came into my office I received in my email something interesting from the DNC. I did a quick blog if you want to check it out and read the email and the link attached called VOTERS BILL OF RIGHTS, which is supposed to spell out what our rights our as voters. I think some of you will find the email and the pdf quite interesting.
took me about 2 minutes to vote here in the heart of Bush country
easy to use the machines, too!
moblogging from my IPAQ…
Here in Columbus, Ohio, the polls opened at 6:30 and me and my wife arrived at 7. We were in line for over two hours.
My precient is now majority black, mainly both lower middle and middle class.
Listened to alot of debate, almost all hate. Found no one that liked Kerry, just hated Bush. Several women refused to believe that my children were Americans, nope, must be black.
The racial situation continues to deteriorate here as the city becomes more dem. We will be leaving one day soon and I will miss my hometown, but I just don’t have the patience anymore for stupidity.
Like Jim I live in a suburb outside Cincinnati. My wife..my youngest son and myself cast 3 votes for Bush. No problems..in and out. However..later on I tuned to an urban station to hear a black voter tell his version of voter intimidation. Seems he had moved and the “Old white man” could not find his name. He made it clear that he felt this was some form of voting racism and that he stood firm against it. Eventually they located his name. But it was obvious he left believing the old white man was trying to suppress his vote..which as a strong black man he was not going to tolerate. I then switched to what blacks call “the white station down the dial” just in time to hear a white man say that they couldn’t find his name in an almost identical situation.. and he had to wait 10 minutes before they straightened it out. It reminded me of “Squiggy’s” profound line in a “Laverne and Shirley” episode when they were trying to make a point with him. In frustration he blurted out..”I’ll see it when I believe it.” Both men looked at exactly the same thing and saw two different things. One saw racism..one saw life the way it often goes.
Thank you LaShawn for your courage and faith in God. You make a difference.. Rainmaker
Lots of traffic in my area, but we are a teeny tiny place so even a lot doesn’t mean much..
I voted and my son. Since my car doesn’t work I had to call the party for a ride.
Drew voted in his first ever election (was nothing to vote on when he turned 18)
Our little firehouse was humming, biggest crowd I have ever seen there for an election, and I been voting there over 6 years!
You mean I had the longs wait at 2 hours?
In NC, all the polls I passed had 200 plus in line. Seems to be heavy voting here.
I voted with my husband during early voting in Texas last Friday. No problems, whatsoever. Everyone was friendly and I saw more young voters out than I expectec to. I snuck my head in our polling place today, about fifteen minutes ago to see what was going on, and there were only five people there. The big rush was this morning, with another to follow starting around 3, according to “inside sources.” When asked if there had been any issues so far today, one polling volunteered replied, “No. People around here know how to behave themselves.” And there you have it.
Another note…close to 40% of the registered voters in my county (Collin) voted during Early Voting, so slower poll activity today doesn’t really mean much.
La Shawn,
I couldn’t vote on the way to work this morning, as the polls in Oklahoma don’t open until 0700 CST which is when I have to be at work. The morning shift dispatcher told me that she was going to vote on her way to work this morning, as she doesn’t have to be in until 0800, but gave it up as the lines were too long. Amazing because she lives in a small suburb of Tulsa, and has never had to wait in line to vote! But, this is predicted to be one of the heaviest turnouts in State history.She is now going to vote on her way home like I planned to do.
Besides the Presidential race, Oklahoma has a very contentious Senatorial race that statewide is as close as Bush and Kerry are nationally. This is a key race because it can tip the majority in the Senate.
In addition to local, State and Federal elections, we have numerous State Questions modifying the State Constitution, to include: starting a State lottery, allowing gambling, a tobacco tax, a definition of marriage amendment, and several others (10 in all I think), which has made this years ballot in Oklahoma one of the most complicated in the State’s history. This is probably slowing things a bit also.
I got to the poll at 6:30. Was third in line. Poll opened at 7 and there were about a dozen folk waiting. I left at 7:15 and there were about 25 waiting to vote. Uneventful. I voted a against Prop 66 which was a deceitful attempt to kill the “3 strikes” law here in Cal.
Rod Stanton
Cerritos
PS We voted with ink and paper here in Cerritos.
Beautiful day here in SW Virginia. My thermometer is reading 77 degrees. As Daddypundit said, we took the girls and voted mid-morning, then returned to get some schoolwork done. Afterward, I turned on my laptop to see that Zogby says that VA is tied???? I’d be surprised if VA is even close. Nonetheless, Daddypundit has headed out to the polls to hand out sample ballots.
BTW: Met a fellow homeschooler at the polls today. He was working for the Dem’s. Go figure…
I was voter number one sixty something at around noon today in my very blue state of New York. Hubby went down around 9:45 this morning and said there were more poll workers than voters. There was only one other person ahead of me when I went down and one person behind me. I was in and out of the booth quickly enough for the little old lady sitting next to the voting booth to be impressed.
There are two different districts represented at our polling place and I noticed that all of the folks sitting at the table for the other district were all wearing red sweaters. A pretty uneventful voting experience. I am so glad that I don’t live in a swing battleground state.
Numerous voting machines were rigged with extra votes before the polls opened today in Philadelphia. Click on my name to see how it relates to Philly’s 104% registration and what we can do about it. Please spread the word on this story so we can find the rest of the fraud before the day ends.
In Oregon…we have vote by mail….even so….I always take it to the place where they would actually count the ballots. I want it to actually get to its destination…..we have 4 votes in our home for Bush…
Reading this blog has been a joy. I am fascinated reading updates from around the country about the voter turn-out. (It feels like everyone is right next-door!) I voted in the shadow of the rebuilt Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. I got in line at 6:10AM then waited 1.5 hours to cast my vote for GWB!
Well, at 6:10AM where I live, out in the country, there were only 3 people voting when I was there. However, on the radio as I was driving to work, I heard several accounts of unusually long lines, including one in a small town that someone swore was about 300 long.
I voted this morning. It took about 30 minutes. I did not see any voter fraud in Durham, NC. A lot of college students were voting. I live in a heavy Democrat area, so I don’t know what that means.
I voted early during early voting, my 19 year old daughter is working the polls today and voting for W, she called to tell me the crowds had simmered down. She volunteered to take off and work as a poll worker, she said she is learning a lot, I’m proud of her. I’m recovering from knee surgery so I couldn’t work the poll. I was encouraged by W coming to Big D, for a victory rally. I have one thing to say about liberals around this nation, “Don’t mess with TEXAS” Go GW, I’m proud of my President. Thanks La Shawn for your blog. Once I get back to working I’ll donate to your blog.
HEY EVERYBODY!
Come join us at the Live Election Blogging and Commenting post.
Hey, Drudge posted information on his website and it has sent many repubs into a frenzy. Stated,”Kerry Comfortable with early exit polls”. Yeah, than he puts the rest of the story up that it was mostly women who that were polled. Got to say, it even scared me for a minute.
I voted. In and out in 20 minutes.
I voted for Colin Powell.
PS In Detroit, we voted with heavyweight pape and pen. Basically, they have a “broken” arrow pointing at each name and/or write-in slot. To vote, one only has to draw a thick line connecting the arrow tip and tail, which then gets fed into an optical scanner.
IIRC, there were 6 or 7 parties listed, including the Libertarian, Green, Constitutionalist with Raplh Nader at the bottom.
I voted this morning at 8:00 am and i got it over with at one time i voted by absentee ballot but now i vote in town becuase that where i live in my apartment
Blacks pressure other blacks from voting republican. That’s why estimates of President Bush getting 20 % of the black vote didn’t come true. Because the blacks who told other blacks they wanted to vote for Bush were practically beaten up—–I’M SERIOUS!—–Because I was pressured, insulted, threatened, car-scratched, etc. by blacks who wanted to stay on the “DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLANTATION”.
I tried to show them where freedom is—they refused—–If they only knew (or even accepted) the truth about the past—–the REPUBLICAN party was formed as the ANTI-SLAVERY party.
THEY are the only party with everyone’s best interest in mind.
Oh yeh, Barack Obama will never get any higher than where he is now in the racist Democratic Party—-truth be known!
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