I was #38 at my polling location at around 7:30 this morning, and I am feeling very good about the outcome of this election. Now if we can only translate the outcome of the election into some action in DC, then I will feel even better.

I'm so glad that it's almost over I almost don't care who wins! (well, I did say almost). No more ads, no more junk mail & no more phone calls. I can't wait!

This year I haven't really been bothered by it all. I am rarely watching TV, and I have only a cell phone for calls. I gave up my house phone.

I voted by mail, and I feel a calming effect coming over me. I too will be glad when it is all over. I feel this is the best way to let my voice be heard and affect change.

I voted by mail, as did most of the citizens of this County, which had very limited funds to place the required new voting machines in each precinct, so they had already a 70% return of registered votes.
It was pretty good, because the poltical calls practically ceased when that fact became public knowledge.

I rarely watch TV so i'm not caught up in the negative ads.
I got enough of it years ago and decided not to join in.
The only thing it did was raise my blood pressure and
make me sick to read and hear it.

Neil and I will go in a little while to cast our votes.
Too many people worked long and hard to hammer out our
constitution and too many lives were lost to give me the freedom to do this for me to
sit at home and complain and not go out and vote. It is a
privilege, and I don't take it lightly.

I am having a hard time caring about many of the candidates, but I care very deeply about one of the issues on the ballot and I look forward to casting my vote for that.

Not only were we innundated with junk mail from WI candidates, but we got lots of junk mail from several GA candidates as well! To the correct WI address, no less! You'd think they'd cull out of state addys from their mailing list (I know I would). Were it not a serious (probably federal... probably felony) offense, I'd have been tempted to request a GA absentee ballot just to see if they'd have sent one, seeing as how they're apparently still selling our names after we've been gone for 3.5 years...

I look forward to the competing election signs in my neighborhood coming down. I've said it before... the placement and frequency of them seems particularly acrimonious... I feel assaulted after driving home through my neighborhood... as though I have to run the gauntlet of "F-you" every night... >:o(

We just got back from voting. In spite of rain, there was a steady line of voters. No long lines but no empty machines either. Maybe this is a good sign. Usually early in the morning, there little action. We had a huge number of people that voted early. This just might turn out to be interesting.

We had two dirty races, one for governor and one for a congressional seat. I think one of the dirt bags will win and one will lose.

I voted on my way home from town this morning. Even at nine something a.m., there was a heavy turnout. God, that gives me hope that the populace isn't in total apathy. We had a lot of state and local issues and I would've cast my vote if I had to crawl the miles in to the polls to do it. When I got home, my dh is sitting there sniffling and miserable from coming down with some sort of bug, and said he didn't think he'd go in. I gave him a pep talk and sent him and told him to be brave. LOL.

To NOT vote when you have any opinion whatsoever, is to hand your franchise to the opposing side on a silver platter. Special interest groups spend a lot of time and effort on every single vote........and that is how the typical person finds wierd laws biting him/her in the butt. All from apathy.

A little bit of nostalgia hit me, however, as last year our old voting site was consolidated and moved from the township salt garage to a church. I am a fogey, I don't like change. LOL.

As for the propaganda this year, it bordered on harassment and sleeze. I made a mental note of every candidate using the recorded message on the phones and cast a no vote against them. Period.

I just got back. I always feel good after I've voted and probably more patriotic than at any other time. Our candidates all mattered so it took a little time to separate what was important and what wasn't. Sometimes it seems you have to choose between your county and your country.

My polling place was very well organized. Voted without a hitch. But I must admit a shameful fact. Between 1968 and 1978 I did not vote. Wow! what a jerk. Steve in Baltimore County

If it makes you feel any better, Steve, I didn't vote those years either... In fact I didn't vote at all until the '88 election! ;o)

I voted. I didn't mention it at the time, but I became a naturalised citizen this summer, so I now have dual nationality.

The first thing I did after my swearing-in ceremony was to stop at my town hall to register to vote.

As you may have heard, CT is having some interesting battles this year, and it looks like turnout is high.

Oh, and the visiting nurse association was giving flu shots at the polling station, so I had one.

New citizen votes!

I just got back and it was very, very quiet *except* in my district! There was a line of about 8 people waiting for that one machine and the other two districts were totally empty. It seems like that every year, maybe some weird Murphy's Law of voting :)

We both did early voting - hubby did mail-in from VA and mine was local. The line was long for the early voting, so I can only imagine what it is today. Our governor's race has really become sleazy and slimy. Local issues are hot, especially the one to freeze the property taxes for the senior citizens and those who are disabled. I'll be glad when the votes are tallied and all the ads and calls STOP!

Sara,congratulations. You have to be feeling pretty darn good about now. Your first election and like you said...very interesting. I'm anxious to see if your Independent candidate wins. Now we can say Sara the Brit/Yank

Thank you Marda - I thought of you during the campaign, especially when the references to 'growing up in the State, and attending Stamford High School' came up.
It's certainly been interesting - the lines at the polls were very long this morning, and the local paper's website expects it to continue that way, since apart from the obvious Senate race, we have a fairly unpleasant race for the congressional seat too, not to mention Governor and state appointments, and 8 proposed charter amendments for the town.

A great introduction for a new voter, to see all the different campaigns (and to have to read up on them all in order to make a sensible decision).

Congratulations, Sara! And voting right off, as well.

The U.S. is funny about duality. My Son-in-law can have it, but my daughter can't. The U.S. pretty much only recognises duality if you're foreign born.

It has been interesting here and the slime runs deep. Our US Congressman finally quit after being indited. I feel bad for his staff that I have worked with, local folks, all good folks. But the ones running to take his place.... more of a vote against the one than a vote for the other.

Congratulations, Sara!

We sent ours in the other day. Just got a call from the movie star gov. Harumph. The local stuff is more interesting here. One running for city council gave out potted plants with his name tag in them, twice. Cant wait till the sign litter is gone.

This year I haven't really been bothered by it all. I am rarely watching TV, and I have only a cell phone for calls. I gave up my house phone.

I voted by mail, and I feel a calming effect coming over me. I too will be glad when it is all over. I feel this is the best way to let my voice be heard and affect change.

Sorry! I have no idea how that happened since I posted it this morning, but it wasn't interesting enough to read twice, that's for sure!

Can you believe I am still getting the recorded phone calls from a certain party even though the polls are closed?

Freakin' Hillary just "called" me, so yeah, I believe it!

Sara, I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!
my Italian SIL shares this voting day with you as a new American citizen, also.

I have NEVER seen the lines so long---all over town!
At our polling place, usually there are mostly well-dressed folks, very few ever smile and only give quiet recognition of others in their own cliques.
Today, the church was a rumble-tumble of people, some surely having shown up only after getting off from working the night-shift at local plants. There were folks dressed in sloppy sweat suits with lottery tickets sticking out of pockets.
It was a colorful Norman Rockwell of the common man, in the truest sense.
When I finally got inside the door, I looked at the crowd and said, "This is WONDERFUL!"
I was bursting with pride as an American, and felt such gratitude to all of those who fought so hard to allow us to have this PRIVILEGE.
PRIVILEGE.color=blue>

I was so hoping Virginia was ready for something different;
Guess it ain't gonna happen.

When I voted there were a few people voting and no line. By the time I finished the 13 page ballot the place was crowded. It was nice to see.

Congratulations, Sara.

Jan

We voted by absentee ballot and mercifully got to miss out on all the ads/news/calls.

Felt it was very important to get our votes in!

Congrats Sara!

Now, the problem will be to get rid of all those yard signs that seem to be breeding all over the place.

I have a plan. For the next election of any sort, for each sign implanted anywhere, one vote will be deducted that person's vote on election day and given to his/her opponent. Therefore, if you plant 1000 signs, you will automatically lose 1000 votes and your opponent will gain 1000. Only those signs ordered from an official distribution center could be posted. All would be the same size, but you could get to choose the color and lettering.

Now, if I can just figure out something to stop those dang phone calls.

I stopped by to vote on the way home, instead of waiting for the 6a opening. The afternoon timing didn't have much difference in the lines of people (there are usually a dozen people in front of me). In, vote, and out within 10 minutes. We use machines (4), but these are a different version, so I hope all is counted with efficiency of the prior machines. The registrars are still the same, but I have to admit, they are getting older.

Sara, I'm so glad you joined us, Americans need all the good people they can get! But, I do think you should make a minor change to your GW moniker -- maybe Sara_the British Yankee :)

Sara, I am so glad you were able to vote. You must live close to me. I live in Old Greenwich.

Sara, I want to add my delight that you are now making a difference in American politics. More important, it's good to welcome you as a fellow citizen.

Sara, I well remember your tales of the long and difficult process to become a citizen. Welcome! and thanks for sticking it out.

I'm posting late 'cause I stayed up all Tuesday night until 5:30 a.m. Yeah, I agree tv coverage is aggravating but I could not turn it off. So I slept all day today. And slept well. grin. josh

Was fun reading everyones thoughts on Election Day, Im just a political animal and a government worker so it is second nature. I've made the phone calls, pounded the signs, handed out literature at the polls, organized fundraisers etc etc etc. The "experts" always have a plan as to what works to get out the vote. I hate most of the above also but it seems to be the trend or the only way to run a campaign. I've voted in every primary and general election since I was 18, think it was the thrill of meeting Bobby Kennedy when i was a senior in high school that started it all. Still feel it is a wonderful right that we have to cast our ballot for the candidate of our choice. Congratulations Sara on your citizenship and your right to vote.