Over at last, over at last, thank God almighty, it's over at last

[Miss Cellane]

Got to the polls at 4:15, right after work. The polling place is a large assisted living facility. The police had placed optimistic signs: "Voter Parking/15 minute limit." It took me 45 minutes from the time I got in line until I left the building. The line was 3 times as long when I left and the cars did not stop coming.

About 10 people holding signs for candidates of different offices--Republicans to the left and Democrats to the right. It was cold out there, but they were stalwart.

Not only could you vote, you could also get a flu shot, shop at a book sale (proceeds to the facility's library) and buy something at the bake sale (proceeds to the new skateboard park in town). While I was in line to vote, a gentleman made a deal to sell his old generator, and a guy in military uniform was made to go to the front of the line by everyone else in line, so he could get back to work as he was on his dinner break. Small town living at its best.

[Float On]

At 9 a.m. I was number 119 (my husband 121 because he let me off at the door and had to go park). Stepped right up to the table and done within minutes.

[SimplyL]

Miss Cellane - love that small town one stop shopping! That's great!

[Rogar]

I think the election and campaigning system has several broken parts that most Americans would like to see fixed. But it is the only game in town and I still consider voting a privilege. The controversial issues and candidates have involved maybe a record number of citizens in an education and selection process, which I think is basically good. Yes, I'll be glad the hub-bub over, but have some regrets over campaign ads being replaced with Christmas marketing. I don't know which I like the least.

[The Storyteller]

I know! I saw people standing on the corners of the streets today waving political signs. Enough already! And there was someone outside the polling place marching up and down with a sign. Do they really think anyone is going to see that sign and change their mind?

Yes, active, direct participation in the democratic process. What a colossal waste of time. Much more effective to argue and snipe at one another on an anonymous online forum.

[The Storyteller]

Yes, I'll be glad the hub-bub over, but have some regrets over campaign ads being replaced with Christmas marketing. I don't know which I like the least.

Good point. All of the whining about the political ads makes me wonder what ads people want to see them replaced with.

Seems to me life is better with no ads at all, and that is generally a personal choice.

[Gregg]

I don't like campaigning any more than anyone else, but I do like voting. The only signs in front of the school where I vote were welcoming a teacher back after having a baby and advertising the bake sale. I bought a plate of brownies and took them to the check in table. Nobody in line or coming in so I had a cup of coffee, shared the brownies, voted and was still all done in 20 minutes. They didn't even ask me for ID!

[Gregg]

Yes, I'll be glad the hub-bub over, but have some regrets over campaign ads being replaced with Christmas marketing. I don't know which I like the least.

There's no doubt for me. At least Christmas ads have catchy jingles and smiling faces. Haven't seen much of either of those on TV lately.

[The Storyteller]

They didn't even ask me for ID!

Oklahoma has a voter id law this time around. Yes, lot of voter fraud going on around these here parts. Must be why it is so consistently red. Can't be that many conservatives in one place.

I think even the Republicans here think it is stupid.

I don't know if folks don't know the law yet, or if our election official is playing fast and loose, but the law says you can bring a picture ID issued by the government or tribal entity, or your voter registration card which does not have a picture. At my daughter's polling place, there was a sign that said one form of id was not acceptable, you had to produce both a picture ID and your voter registration. Fortunately, she just happened to have both, but still...

She just happens to live in a predominately African American neighborhood. I'm sure that was just a coincidence.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Yes, I'll be glad the hub-bub over, but have some regrets over campaign ads being replaced with Christmas marketing. I don't know which I like the least.

True I've had that thought, when is a better time to retreat to a hermitage? But since it's a yearly thing, I know the holidays will be an emotional whirlwind and can plan around it (to be out of town for some of it, to not shop for anything but food for part of Nov and Dec), the campaign season I didn't prepare for well.