2008 Letters from Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Florida
posted by on November 4 at 14:08 PM
I’m getting more and more excited as I read about the great voter turnout across the country and our international support.At my polling place in Harrisburg, PA, there were 100 people in line ahead of me when I arrived just as the doors opened this morning. It was awesome to see the numbers and the diversity that came out to vote in my mixed-race neighborhood, and many first time voters too.
There was applause as many first-timers placed their votes. I sensed in the crowd a feeling of optimism, and also of sheer determination. It was a beautiful morning outside and I felt a level of purpose and hope as I waited to vote that I haven’t felt in many years. Let this be only the beginning.
Amy
Send me a letter about your voting experience here.
Hi Eli-I moved to Las Vegas three years ago from Seattle. When I moved here, Nevada was most definitely a Red State. I am cautiously confident in saying I am more than certain Nevada will go to Obama this year. In fact, most of my republican co-workers have voted for Obama.
When I got to the polls this morning, it was cold and busy. After I touched the screen to vote for “Obama/Biden” I stared for at least 30 seconds to make sure it was correct before hitting next. When I was done I put my “I Voted” sticker on my pregnant belly in hopes that my unborn child will one day appreciate my vote. I know I will cry after the results are in either way. If McCain miraculously wins I will cry tears of anger and defeat. If Obama wins, I will cry tears of joy. Here’s to voting for change.
-Clarity
Greetings from the geographic opposite of Seattle!I live in Tampa, Florida, and my boyfriend and I early voted last Friday. Even considering that early voting ended the next day, the line at the library was insane. It stretched the better part of three blocks, and we waited for almost three hours to vote. A volunteer told us that the lines had been absurd just about every day, and that they were expecting even more on Saturday. Despite the wait, everyone in line seemed upbeat and generally hopeful about the voting process. There were two veterans in line near me (one was in the Korean war, one was in Vietnam) and both of them saw my Obama pin and told me that they would be voting for Obama as well…
The actual voting went off without a hitch for both myself and my boyfriend, and we walked away feeling good about participating in the democratic process.
Cheers from (at the moment) rainy and coolish Tampa!
Roxie
So happy to come on here and read a story from harrisburg, as it's the area I'm from too... my last two elections were in downtown hbg, but this year I've moved still nearby, but not in the city, and voting was not nearly as fun in my new neighborhood... there is something special about voting in a city (especially as there were only 20 people ahead of me where I was at about 8 in the morning... the voting turnover was MUCH SLOWER than in harrisburg, I have no idea why) but it was more unsettling too, as they were the touch screen electronic ones, which make it much less personable to vote. I HATE the electronic ones.
OK, I'm very much pro voting-by-mail, but I have to say these polling station tales are making me a little sad to have missed that this year (and, I guess, forever now . . .).
ditto @2
Oprah is doing something similar to this. New Americans voting for the first time.
Oprah is doing something similar to this. New Americans voting for the first time.
word is massive Blue turnout.
Color Comrade McCain burnt toast.