what are you doing right now?

[azucena]

Nov 5, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:57:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I need to go vote. which means I need to motivate myself to go shower, since that didn't happen yesterday. my polling place got moved since last time, now I only have to go just past the other side of the development. I want to go before the afternoon, bc I plan to be parked on the deck enjoying 70+ degree weather on election day. that's nutty.

I can't remember what exactly our rules are IRT signs and stuff outside polling places, but you definitely cannot wear or bring anything inside. the guy in line in front of me got really loud when he was told he couldn't wear his MAGA hat inside the HS gym to cast his ballot.

I don't have to worry about which way my state will go for the top race, but I am concerned about a couple of the ballot questions we have this time around. I have some very strong opinions on three of them, and the opposing view for two have been heavily advertising in recent weeks.

Is it an active school - like students in session? I can't see how they could have voting take place there and keep the school secure.

Our schools are polling places so school is def closed.

Our new church also happens to be a polling place. That's where DH went this morning.

Libraries are another polling place but they are also open for business.

[daisylu]

Schools in my state are closed - I voted at the local elementary school. 

In my area is easy to study which polling places are busy at what times. And by polling the candidates know in what areas they need the most support. For instance, there are many manufacturing facilities in this area that start work at 7AM - with at least 5 being within a 15 minute drive of my local polling place. I have seen people line up by 530am to get through and go to work. I have seen candidates out there at 5am. You will also see them @330pm when the workers typically clock out and vote on their way home. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 5, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:57:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I need to go vote. which means I need to motivate myself to go shower, since that didn't happen yesterday. my polling place got moved since last time, now I only have to go just past the other side of the development. I want to go before the afternoon, bc I plan to be parked on the deck enjoying 70+ degree weather on election day. that's nutty.

I can't remember what exactly our rules are IRT signs and stuff outside polling places, but you definitely cannot wear or bring anything inside. the guy in line in front of me got really loud when he was told he couldn't wear his MAGA hat inside the HS gym to cast his ballot.

I don't have to worry about which way my state will go for the top race, but I am concerned about a couple of the ballot questions we have this time around. I have some very strong opinions on three of them, and the opposing view for two have been heavily advertising in recent weeks.

Is it an active school - like students in session? I can't see how they could have voting take place there and keep the school secure.

Our students are in session, but voting is in the gym/rec center building which is separate from the academic buildings that are locked.

[soupandstew]

Nov 5, 2024 8:51:51 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Nov 5, 2024 8:49:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

They can put signs up at the polling places there? 

Outside, yes. There can even be tents/awnings set up with candidates hawking their goods. I effing hate it. There was one setup this morning but where I parked I was able to avoid it.

Yes!  I call it "running the gauntlet" and loathe it too.  They do have to stay 100 feet away from the entrances into the actual voting site.  And the signs!  Every night the supporters of some candidates take down other's signs and it starts all over again at 5 am the next day.  

[wvugurl26]

There's only 3 early voting spots in my county so not a lot of ground to cover. The one closest to my house is probably the biggest/most popular. I've only ever early voted in this state at that site. I couldn't tell you where my assigned polling place is.

Legally we are allowed leave to vote but it's not something that is taken in my group. Especially being in a state that has early voting, I feel like the leave request would be denied. So we go during early voting and it's done with. Tuesdays are also my in office day and I work in a different county.

The schools are closed today. The early voting takes place at the senior center in what appears to be the largest activity room. I guess they just have fewer activities in the weeks around election day?

[chiver78]

Nov 5, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:57:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I need to go vote. which means I need to motivate myself to go shower, since that didn't happen yesterday. my polling place got moved since last time, now I only have to go just past the other side of the development. I want to go before the afternoon, bc I plan to be parked on the deck enjoying 70+ degree weather on election day. that's nutty.

I can't remember what exactly our rules are IRT signs and stuff outside polling places, but you definitely cannot wear or bring anything inside. the guy in line in front of me got really loud when he was told he couldn't wear his MAGA hat inside the HS gym to cast his ballot.

I don't have to worry about which way my state will go for the top race, but I am concerned about a couple of the ballot questions we have this time around. I have some very strong opinions on three of them, and the opposing view for two have been heavily advertising in recent weeks.

Is it an active school - like students in session? I can't see how they could have voting take place there and keep the school secure.

I havent been to this polling place yet, but yes, active school. in the various places I have lived, and the schools I attended as a kid, voting generally took place in the gym. the way schools are built around here, it is very easy to isolate that space from the rest of the school. they are typically their own wing, with separate entrances. there are a lot of schools as polling places in MA.

[raeoflyte]

Nov 5, 2024 10:00:37 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:45:50 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, is this like one of the only places to vote?  I'm just curious how candidates choose where to hang out.  Or are they just constantly driving around to new ones all day?

Our city is only 26K people and there are 16 polling sites in the city alone. Another 14 in the surrounding townships in the county.

eta: Nevermind.  Just saw it was your early voting place so that explains it being one spot.

I was wondering the same thing about candidates traveling around to polling spots! We have 80 polling places county wide. Then I saw your edit so never mind on this end too      

We had several early voting places too.

As I read here I think every state should follow Colorado's lead for voting.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Nov 5, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:57:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I need to go vote. which means I need to motivate myself to go shower, since that didn't happen yesterday. my polling place got moved since last time, now I only have to go just past the other side of the development. I want to go before the afternoon, bc I plan to be parked on the deck enjoying 70+ degree weather on election day. that's nutty.

I can't remember what exactly our rules are IRT signs and stuff outside polling places, but you definitely cannot wear or bring anything inside. the guy in line in front of me got really loud when he was told he couldn't wear his MAGA hat inside the HS gym to cast his ballot.

I don't have to worry about which way my state will go for the top race, but I am concerned about a couple of the ballot questions we have this time around. I have some very strong opinions on three of them, and the opposing view for two have been heavily advertising in recent weeks.

Is it an active school - like students in session? I can't see how they could have voting take place there and keep the school secure.

When they used to hold voting in the schools it would be a teacher work day so everyone was off.

[soupandstew]

All voting centers here are very tough about the dress code. No attire of any sort visible can advocate for a candidate, party, cause, etc.  It gets interesting when some of the candidate's supporters have to go inside the building to use the toilets-they are required to cover their clothing before they come through the door.

I have worked a tent outside a voting center to support my councilmember.  It generally stays pretty civil between candidates but can get interesting if one of them has been making nasty comments about their opponent's family members.  The larger voting centers have a law enforcement officer present and backup on speed dial.  Funny how a slow stroll with hand on their service weapon restores civility 

Cell phones are an issue to.  Most times a poll worker at the entrance will remind people their devices must be off but some actually demand to see each person's phone to verify.  No silenced either, really off.  

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 5, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:57:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I need to go vote. which means I need to motivate myself to go shower, since that didn't happen yesterday. my polling place got moved since last time, now I only have to go just past the other side of the development. I want to go before the afternoon, bc I plan to be parked on the deck enjoying 70+ degree weather on election day. that's nutty.

I can't remember what exactly our rules are IRT signs and stuff outside polling places, but you definitely cannot wear or bring anything inside. the guy in line in front of me got really loud when he was told he couldn't wear his MAGA hat inside the HS gym to cast his ballot.

I don't have to worry about which way my state will go for the top race, but I am concerned about a couple of the ballot questions we have this time around. I have some very strong opinions on three of them, and the opposing view for two have been heavily advertising in recent weeks.

Is it an active school - like students in session? I can't see how they could have voting take place there and keep the school secure.

This prompted me to check out schools. They listed schools in county going virtual on Election Day.  I didn’t cross check schools to see if all since way to many listed. 

[raeoflyte]

The school thing blows my mind for ones that keep school open during voting. The new schools are definitely designed to keep people from getting out of their section during a lockdown better so I can see that a little better but you still have to be on school property.

[steph08]

I'm in PA like cookies, so we have people and signs, etc outside of our polling places.

They are also allowed to wear clothing endorsing the candidates, so I saw some really stupid @$$ shirts when I was voting.

I had on my RBG-inspired t-shirt, though. 🙂

[minnesotapaintlady]

DS called me last night to tell me his third day of work was a holiday.  Apparently all government workers and schools are off in IL for voting day.

[raeoflyte]

Nov 5, 2024 10:21:27 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Nov 5, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Is it an active school - like students in session? I can't see how they could have voting take place there and keep the school secure.

When they used to hold voting in the schools it would be a teacher work day so everyone was off.

I remember my middle school being a polling location when I went there but we were in session. We were lectured about the distance rules which is the only reason I know them.

[Cookies Galore]

Nov 5, 2024 10:00:37 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:45:50 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, is this like one of the only places to vote?  I'm just curious how candidates choose where to hang out.  Or are they just constantly driving around to new ones all day?

Our city is only 26K people and there are 16 polling sites in the city alone. Another 14 in the surrounding townships in the county.

eta: Nevermind.  Just saw it was your early voting place so that explains it being one spot.

I was wondering the same thing about candidates traveling around to polling spots! We have 80 polling places county wide. Then I saw your edit so never mind on this end too      

Candidates do travel on election day. Anywhere from at-large council members in your town, county-wide candidates, state house Reps or Senators, congressional candidates. You can't hit every polling place (we have 62 municipalities and 426 voting districts in my county) but you definitely do travel and hit as many as you can.

I hold a ward-specific position so I stay outside my polling place all day when I'm running (2025 re-election for me!)

[Cookies Galore]

Nov 5, 2024 10:28:52 GMT -5 steph08 said:

I'm in PA like cookies, so we have people and signs, etc outside of our polling places.

They are also allowed to wear clothing endorsing the candidates, so I saw some really stupid @$$ shirts when I was voting.

I had on my RBG-inspired t-shirt, though. 🙂

Good luck to your sanity today. SEPA is gonna bring it home!

[seriousthistime]

I hope so, Cookies Galore.

I'm in Illinois. I voted early. Yesterday and today are nothing but rain rain rain. We're not a swing state, but Wisconsin and Michigan will see heavy rains as well.  I hope it does not have a huge impact on voter turnout. The weather map looks clear for PA.

My county is blue but most of downstate Illinois is red. There was a tech glitch and polling places throughout the county were slow or completely down this morning. The system is operating now, but people got out of lines at polling places and I hope their day is such they can go back and vote.  Even if they plan to vote for my candidate's opponent. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I am at least happy that the governor of Nebraska failed in his attempts to force a change to the way the state handles voting because they were beyond pissed that Omaha went to Biden and it did have an influence on who won.  

I remember Rickett's massive tantrum about it and his vow to "fix" the voting fraud that went on because clearly Omaha couldn't actually be blue!

I am interested to see which way it goes this year.   I hope Omaha goes blue again.

While I cannot vote in Nebraska what they do does have impact because I work in the state so I watch pretty closely.

[azucena]

IMHO, seems like an unnecessary risk to have schools open while being used as polling place in light of school shooting and how heated elections have become.

[greenthumb59]

Nov 5, 2024 9:45:50 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Nov 5, 2024 9:38:25 GMT -5 greenthumb59 said:

We early voted at our courthouse.  Candidates have to stay 50 ft away from the entrance.  So they are in the parking lot - all standing next to each other.  I wonder if they talk amongst themselves??  I'm sure it can get awkward.

So, is this like one of the only places to vote?  I'm just curious how candidates choose where to hang out.  Or are they just constantly driving around to new ones all day?

Our city is only 26K people and there are 16 polling sites in the city alone. Another 14 in the surrounding townships in the county.

eta: Nevermind.  Just saw it was your early voting place so that explains it being one spot.

There are lots of places to early vote, but the candidates seem to favor the courthouse parking lot. 

[daisylu]

I do not remember schools being open during voting when I grew up in MD, but that could be old age. 

I know the last 20+ years both WV and VA (my kids started school in WV and moved to VA, but I worked in VA since before they were born) closed schools for voting. 

In this day I probably would not send my kids to school on election day if it was a polling place. 

Now that I think about it, you would think that by now they would have elections away from the schools - at least in my area. There are 19 public schools (12 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 HS) and only 4 are polling places.

[chiver78]

packed the pups in the car to head over. up, voted, and back at the house in all of 45min. 👍

oh, and there were signs on the doors to say it's 150ft for any campaign materials, and absolutely nothing with a candidate's name/logo/brand/party/whatever on your clothes, hat, phone, anything. I walked inside with only my car keys. I did actually opt to grab a different tshirt than the one on the top of the clean stack. the top one was from a charity event to benefit a then-cop who was shot in the line of duty. he later turned out to be a loud MAGA supporter who ended up on the board of selectmen for my former town. didn't want to run the risk, though...

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I took my lunch break from 10:30 to 11:30. I went out to water the landscaping. I am drenched in sweat. It is so freaking hot! Tree watering is tomorrow and the weather is supposed to be just as hot. 🥵 🥵🥵

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 5, 2024 10:28:09 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

The school thing blows my mind for ones that keep school open during voting. The new schools are definitely designed to keep people from getting out of their section during a lockdown better so I can see that a little better but you still have to be on school property.

Our school is a prior college campus in the middle of town with multiple buildings and city streets running through them.

[bean29]

We went to vote about 7:30 am this morning.  Usually if we go that early, we are in and out in short order.  Apparently, they had a printer go down this am, and the lines were wound out the lobby and through the gym.  When we first got in line they had the line running right along the line of voting kiosks with the kiosk turned away from the line towards the wall.  They then pushed the line to the center of the gym.  it was through the gym twice, out into the lobby and back through the side of the gym to the front where the election workers were checking you in.  We were in line over an hour.  There are 3 wards voting together, and I was only #57 in my ward.  DH was right ahead of me, but we go in separate lines as I hyphenated my name and they had issues getting my name to come up, so I took a bit longer than him.  

My MIL called while we were in line, and said she and my Father-in-law were going to vote.  DH was going to take his dad, but said it was fine, then they would be done voting before he arrived at their house with the dogs (they are our doggie daycare).  So, then MIL called back and said FIL had been purged from the voter rolls b/c apparently the last time he voted was the last presidential election.  Neither my DH or I anticipated that he might have been purged from the voter rolls.  We have registration at the polls so he was able to re-register, but even though he speaks English, they forced him to listen to somethign on a pair of headphones. 

They do have a question on our ballot about changing the wording of our voting statute from saying “Eligibility to vote. Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?” Concern is they may require you to prove citizenship at the polls in the future.  I am not sure if my FIL had real id yet, but this would most adversely affect lower income people.  DS and her DH are MAGA all the way, but she said the other day that they had held out till the last to get the Real ID licenses.  DH and I got them as soon as we were eligible.  There were not required until May 7, 2025 in WI, so if your DL did not renew before that and you wanted real id, you had to pay for a duplicate card.  So to register at the polls you need proof of identity and proof of residence, which you DL can serve if it has your current address on it.  FIL had lived in the same house for about 15 years, so his DL was all he needed.  My Mother has not voted since 2023, but I looked up to see if she was registered to vote at her current location and she is still registered at her house not the AL facility.  I might take her to vote after work if she wants to go. I am kind of hoping my DB will handle it, but he votes at a separate location.

There was a couple in line at our polling location in Trump cowboy attire.  It was a red sequined cowboy hat, a white blazer with red white and blue stars and stripes and the guy had a similar Hat/Shirt on, so I guess we don't have any restrictions at our polling location.

It was raining when we walked the dogs this am.  DH insisted that we turn around and go home once the 2 problem dogs went #2.  The 3rd will go in the yard.  The problem is, the 2 problem dogs need to burn the energy.  If I was by myself, I would have continued around the block as it was not raining that hard. The puppy was a wild man when we were getting ready.  He was in the bathroom when I took a shower and was unwinding the TP.  I had locked the dogs out of the MB when I went to take a shower, so DH let them in.  He did come and kick him out.  The puppy also jumped from the back of the couch to an end table up on the Kitchen Island/snack bar counter.  There is a word for it, we have the island jutting out from a wall so you can't walk all around the island.  DH was in the kitchen when he did it, so he caught him right away, but he was really mad.  When we went to vote, DH left the puppy in his crate.  TG, because we did not anticipate the long wait.  

ETA, the parochial school where we vote has the gym completely separate from the school, so the kids should not be at risk, unless a real crackpot wants to shoot up the parking lot or something.  When I was a kid, the voting machines were set up in the hallways/lobby in front of the principal's office.  The middle school I went to also had voting machines in the cafeteria/lobby area.  That is still my mother's polling location.  The school was sold by the school district to a parochial Christian school.  They ended up going bankrupt due to investing in some shady investing scheme/scam (the public school was also invested in same thing), the school went bankrupt, and the School District then bought the building back at auction for less than the originally sold it for, and it had been added on to.  They now have torn down the old section, which was quite large, and only the newer section which is maybe 15-20 years old is left standing.  They just finished tearing down the building recently and all the demo'd brick/cement is still on site.  I was surprised if my mother still lived in her house, that that school is still listed as her voting site b/c it is not in use.  it is supposed to belong to parks and rec right now, but I don't think it is in use at the present time.

[azucena]

DH started his chore list...I put pick up your items from the kitchen. Instead he went into full on rant mode and kept trying to make the kids put their stuff away and picking it up and putting it down all over in yet another random spot. They said um, dad we have pick up your items from the kitchen on our chore lists too so pls leave our stuff alone. Then he magically couldn't find anything of his to put away so they pointed out his bbq supplies, cooler and crockpot that have been sitting out since he grilled Fri night. Now he's huffing and puffing that he should have just gone into work today. Good grief!

[raeoflyte]

Nov 5, 2024 12:04:46 GMT -5 azucena said:

DH started his chore list...I put pick up your items from the kitchen. Instead he went into full on rant mode and kept trying to make the kids put their stuff away and picking it up and putting it down all over in yet another random spot. They said um, dad we have pick up your items from the kitchen on our chore lists too so pls leave our stuff alone. Then he magically couldn't find anything of his to put away so they pointed out his bbq supplies, cooler and crockpot that have been sitting out since he grilled Fri night. Now he's huffing and puffing that he should have just gone into work today. Good grief!

That's a bunch of crap. I'm sorry you have to hear it.

[weltz]

Nov 5, 2024 9:38:25 GMT -5 greenthumb59 said:

We early voted at our courthouse.  Candidates have to stay 50 ft away from the entrance.  So they are in the parking lot - all standing next to each other.  I wonder if they talk amongst themselves??  I'm sure it can get awkward.

My DH is currently hiding from me.  He is in the garage.  I had an appointment and errands yesterday afternoon - before these storms hit - and when I got home he was off his ass drunk.  He was supposed to work the polls today too.  I don't even want to look at him today.

I'm so sorry, green. I've been there.

[jerseygirl]

Here in north jersey I’ve never seen posters or candidates near any polling places
In our town polling is in firehouses with the trucks pulled out and senior center

ODS visiting for a week from California. He’s wearing a t shirt
Springfield Meats with cartoons of cats and rabbits
One year at thanksgiving for a joke YDS and DIL brought over plastic containers with names on lids
Mabel, Ruby and other old fashioned names. No one else knew so wondering did someone visit a nursing home and steal plastic containers?

[azucena]

My cat is also annoyed that everyone else is home. She just came into my office, meowed pitifully and climbed into my work backpack to hide for nap time.