Comments on: Three Hours to get my Peach http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm Going where no blog has gone before. Fri, 21 May 2010 00:53:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: patrick http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12635 patrick Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:53:25 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-12635 i can't help thinking it's awesome that there has been such long lines all over... people taking a greater interest in public issues is always a good thing i can’t help thinking it’s awesome that there has been such long lines all over… people taking a greater interest in public issues is always a good thing

]]> By: Zoe Brain http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11922 Zoe Brain Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:27:11 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11922 In Australia, voting happens on a Saturday. And it's compulsory, you get fined if you don't appear at a polling booth. You can write "None of the above" or whatever, you don't have to cast a valid vote, but you do have to turn up. One of the requirements most difficult to implement on the e-Voting machines was allow voters to "vote informal", and cast a deliberately spoilt ballot. The e-voting machines are open a month early in most places, and anyone can request a postal vote as soon as the electoral rolls are closed. In Australia, voting happens on a Saturday. And it’s compulsory, you get fined if you don’t appear at a polling booth. You can write “None of the above” or whatever, you don’t have to cast a valid vote, but you do have to turn up.

One of the requirements most difficult to implement on the e-Voting machines was allow voters to “vote informal”, and cast a deliberately spoilt ballot.

The e-voting machines are open a month early in most places, and anyone can request a postal vote as soon as the electoral rolls are closed.

]]> By: Polar http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11859 Polar Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:10:27 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11859 Kentucky doesn't allow early voting, except in case of "family emergency or out of state travel", but even that has been way up over past history. I exploded my right knee and had surgery on it on Halloween; doctors orders are to stay off it and not work or drive. However, I'm not worried. I live in a very Republican precinct, vote at a small church with no stairs about 2 blocks from home. There's never a wait there during the midday hours, and I can drive the riding mower there just like Adam Sandler in "The Waterboy." I will get to the polls on Election Day to cast my vote for Barack Obama, as well as for the many fine candidates we have running for local and judicial offices, and that's that. I've never missed an election since 1976, and damn sure won't miss this one. I will also point out the importance of local and state races. Never overlook the extreme importance of electing good judges, school board, city councilmen, and state legislature members. Inside tip for one and all: watch Kentucky for an early sign of how this election night will go. The polls close in Kentucky at 6PM. The state is split by the Eastern/Central time zone, but the large majority of state voters are in the Eastern. Kentucky is often the first state to be declared on election night. McCain is favored here, but that lead has shrunk to about 6 points. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader (and a truly evil SOB) is in a dead heat with Bruce Lunsford. Watch those two races for an early sign. If Obama and Lunsford win here, it will be a Democratic landslide nationally. Kentucky doesn’t allow early voting, except in case of “family emergency or out of state travel”, but even that has been way up over past history. I exploded my right knee and had surgery on it on Halloween; doctors orders are to stay off it and not work or drive. However, I’m not worried. I live in a very Republican precinct, vote at a small church with no stairs about 2 blocks from home. There’s never a wait there during the midday hours, and I can drive the riding mower there just like Adam Sandler in “The Waterboy.” I will get to the polls on Election Day to cast my vote for Barack Obama, as well as for the many fine candidates we have running for local and judicial offices, and that’s that. I’ve never missed an election since 1976, and damn sure won’t miss this one.

I will also point out the importance of local and state races. Never overlook the extreme importance of electing good judges, school board, city councilmen, and state legislature members.

Inside tip for one and all: watch Kentucky for an early sign of how this election night will go. The polls close in Kentucky at 6PM. The state is split by the Eastern/Central time zone, but the large majority of state voters are in the Eastern. Kentucky is often the first state to be declared on election night. McCain is favored here, but that lead has shrunk to about 6 points. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader (and a truly evil SOB) is in a dead heat with Bruce Lunsford. Watch those two races for an early sign. If Obama and Lunsford win here, it will be a Democratic landslide nationally.

]]> By: Denny Meyer http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11782 Denny Meyer Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:44:52 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11782 Today, November 1, 2008, I hereby announce my candidacy for President of the United States. I herewith have the honor to CONCEED to Barack Obama. I am proud to say that throughout my campaign no tax dollars have been spent and not one single donation has been accepted. My Platform... shoes, memorializing Joan Blondell, have been donated to my Presidential Library. In NYC, where I vote in the 'urban burbs' there is usually No Waiting at all. This coming tuesday, I hope to have the thrill of actually having to wait to vote., surrounded by a sea of Democrats. Sometime Tuesday night, I hope to hear a chorus at first barely audible and rising to a thunderous rendition: free at last, free at last, Thank God Almighty, free at last....... Today, November 1, 2008, I hereby announce my candidacy for President of the United States. I herewith have the honor to CONCEED to Barack Obama. I am proud to say that throughout my campaign no tax dollars have been spent and not one single donation has been accepted. My Platform… shoes, memorializing Joan Blondell, have been donated to my Presidential Library.

In NYC, where I vote in the ‘urban burbs’ there is usually No Waiting at all. This coming tuesday, I hope to have the thrill of actually having to wait to vote., surrounded by a sea of Democrats. Sometime Tuesday night, I hope to hear a chorus at first barely audible and rising to a thunderous rendition: free at last, free at last, Thank God Almighty, free at last…….

]]> By: Deacon Bob http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11769 Deacon Bob Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:36:10 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11769 Great post Monica! I'm in Cobb County Georgia too; but my experience was MUCH better than yours. Like Shari, I put in my request for an absentee ballot and within a week I had my ballot in my hand to fill out at my leisure. I had to make sure to get it mailed back so they receive it prior to election day. Georgia, like Colorado, allows you to do early voting this way. It's not advertised much though. After reading your experience I'm especially glad that I voted this way. In 2004 I had to wait an hour and a half and everyone knows the lines are going to be worse this time around. On another note - Christopher wants to know if there was a video made of you aerobicizing in line with that fancy phone of yours! Great post Monica! I’m in Cobb County Georgia too; but my experience was MUCH better than yours. Like Shari, I put in my request for an absentee ballot and within a week I had my ballot in my hand to fill out at my leisure. I had to make sure to get it mailed back so they receive it prior to election day. Georgia, like Colorado, allows you to do early voting this way. It’s not advertised much though. After reading your experience I’m especially glad that I voted this way. In 2004 I had to wait an hour and a half and everyone knows the lines are going to be worse this time around. On another note – Christopher wants to know if there was a video made of you aerobicizing in line with that fancy phone of yours!

]]> By: Shari M. http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11737 Shari M. Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:16:33 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11737 Out in Colorado where I live, there is a wonderful way to vote, and that is to vote by mail. There are no special requitements to be able to do that. All one has to do is to request a mail ballot, and one can even get on a list to have ballots sent for every election. This year I was able to vote sitting at a kitchen table while in North Carolina, and even then it took almost half an hour to vote because of all the referenda on the ballots. Watch for news from Colorado about the extremely long lines and wait times come Election Day. The word is getting out there about the ease of voting by mail, but many people insist on going to the polls. People with health issues and the elderly will in many cases be disenfranchised by the long waits. Others will simply be put off by the long waits. This will be a problem in other states as well, not because of the long ballots, but because of a shortage of polling places. I really think wait times for voting is a national disgrace, and needs to be a part of a general overhaul of the complete election process. Elections cost too much and are carried on way too long. I also support the idea to do away with the electoral college and the person who gets the most votes wins the election. That way one state can't determine the winner with unethical and criminal election practices. I would also suggest the polling takes at the same fifteen or twenty hours with polling places across the country opening simultaneously. That could mean open for 24 hours, but this process is too important to be at the mercy of television. Out in Colorado where I live, there is a wonderful way to vote, and that is to vote by mail. There are no special requitements to be able to do that. All one has to do is to request a mail ballot, and one can even get on a list to have ballots sent for every election. This year I was able to vote sitting at a kitchen table while in North Carolina, and even then it took almost half an hour to vote because of all the referenda on the ballots. Watch for news from Colorado about the extremely long lines and wait times come Election Day. The word is getting out there about the ease of voting by mail, but many people insist on going to the polls. People with health issues and the elderly will in many cases be disenfranchised by the long waits. Others will simply be put off by the long waits. This will be a problem in other states as well, not because of the long ballots, but because of a shortage of polling places. I really think wait times for voting is a national disgrace, and needs to be a part of a general overhaul of the complete election process. Elections cost too much and are carried on way too long. I also support the idea to do away with the electoral college and the person who gets the most votes wins the election. That way one state can’t determine the winner with unethical and criminal election practices. I would also suggest the polling takes at the same fifteen or twenty hours with polling places across the country opening simultaneously. That could mean open for 24 hours, but this process is too important to be at the mercy of television.

]]> By: helen http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11710 helen Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:13:05 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11710 & Happy Halloween! & Happy Halloween!

]]> By: helen http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/obama/three-hours-to-get-my-peach.htm/comment-page-1#comment-11707 helen Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:12:43 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=355#comment-11707 way to go, Monica. we don't have early voting here in NY, so i'm really wondering what it's going to be like on Tuesday. but either way, we'll vote. i'll finish decorating Betty's foot cast while we wait, I guess! way to go, Monica. we don’t have early voting here in NY, so i’m really wondering what it’s going to be like on Tuesday.

but either way, we’ll vote. i’ll finish decorating Betty’s foot cast while we wait, I guess!

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