Margaret writes in from Staten Island's 13th District:
Got to the polls at 5:40 AM (having been up and dancing/getting teary in the apartment since 3 AM). It was dark; on the way I ran into the woman down the street whom I'd met when she'd hosted a 1st debate-watching party that I'd found on Obama's website (which I also used to canvass PA - go blue Lehigh Valley!); she was one her way to vote at a different polling place. We hugged before parting ways. Still dark at my polling place. I was about the 20th person in line, and the only white-looking person (I'm biracial). The line went out the door not long after I got there. While we waited for the polls to open, it was a chatty but serene atmosphere. Lots of smiles, laughs and meaningful glances. Chat about the Virgina speech. The most moving thing was seeing about a half dozen people making multiple cellphone wake-up calls for friends and family. One guy had gotten there at 5 AM, and was asked if he was a poll worker. Nope, just eager to vote. Finally, at 6:02 AM (very high energy during those two minutes), the polls are open. Myself and a few others had momentary confusion regarding which line to stand in for what district, but it was quickly resolved. The girl who took down my signature had to ask twice for what letter my name started with, and confessed to being nervous. I told her it was OK and offered to get her coffee, but she'd already had one. I stole one quick second to gaze at the X next to Obama/Biden before finishing up quickly, since I knew there was a huge line behind me. I love the old switch/big red crank machine and hope that wasn't my last chance to use them. As I left there were about 100 people voting/waiting in line (and a white girl at the end!), and a poll worker at the back of the line telling people their election district (there was one machine per district). When I walked out of the building, the world had switched from night to a breathtaking, new, lavender morning light hitting the Verrazano.
