I have been saying all day that it didn’t seem like the voter turnout in California was all that exceptional. Then I stopped into my local polling place and asked a few questions - boy was I wrong. They were amazed at the turnout, and said that at this point over 50% of those registered had actually turned up to vote. Now, granted, my neighborhood is a high turnout one in the first place, but the same poll workers have been maning our polling station for a decade, so they would now how this year compares to previous ones.

When I first went in and explained that I was blogging for command post, I was received with some concern by a couple of the poll workers. One of them asked me, “What authority do you have to cover this election?” Another piped up to my defense and said, “The first amendment.”

Generally, they were helpful and informative, though.

Two of the poll workers were going over their lists to ensure that no-one had voted twice. They had heard about the party at The Abbey and the free martinis when you have an “I voted” sticker. Since they had boxes of stickers… hmmmm… ;-)

They did ask me to leave my name, number and the address of the web site (I think as temporary workers they didn’t know exactly how to handle someone taking pictures and asking questions). I did that - so we’ll see if I get arrested tomorrow… :-)

When I first showed up at the polling station, this car was parked at the end of the driveway. I thought at first I might have uncovered a case of electioneering at the polling place, but the car was gone after I went inside to take some pictures and ask some questions. I guess it just belonged to a voter.

I did notice a certain change in tone, however. Since we have the same poll workers every election, and the polling station is literally in a neighbor’s garage, there is a certain joviality and comradeship that has permiated the air at our polling place (the fact that I think of it as “our” polling place is an example of what I mean). But this year it seemed as if everyone voting at least (and most of the poll workers) were very serious. There were no conversations or joking around as there usually is. I don’t want to make too much of this — it’s not as if the atmosphere was deadly serious — but it did feel different.

That being said, everyone seemed open enough, and I was told that I could even examine the records of who voted, as that was public information (I didn’t know that).

There was also this sheet telling us who we could use as a write-in candidate. Why exactly I need the state to tell me who I can write in I am unclear on - in a Democracy, shouldn’t I be able to write in whomever I want? But then I’m just a lowly voter, and who am I to question what the aristocracy has decided I can and cannot do[officially getting off my high horse now].

One of the presidential write-ins was Nader; which I am sure many people will be angry about. I don’t know why so many in California are angry about being able to vote for Nader - Kerry will win no matter what.

Stay Free