Inlandia writes in from Riverside, California:
Two precincts at our station, with about 7 booths each. Four extra workers above and beyond the usual were there, directing people. We used to have the electronic machines, but now have HUGE paper ballots, given out in a folder to shield the votes. We use a pen to connect the space between the tip of the arrow with its feathered end. It doesn't feel like a substantial effort to vote, not like some who have described great clanking machines.Since I blog, I tried to take a photo, but was asked to put the camera away--checked on that later and CA has a strict no-photo policy (intimidation reasons).We were in and out in 20 minutes.I don't remember too many days in my life--maybe Kennedy's death or 9/11--where I felt the whole country focusing in on one thing, one objective. These days of contributing to a greater good are as hard to describe as water, but just as necessary. The internet has helped to rekindle some of that, I suppose. Maybe it's also that we are all doing the same thing--albeit in different ways--each of going into a booth with their ballot and thoughts and convictions. Maybe it's that we are hopefully putting the past 8 diasatrous years behind us.But I also think the incandescent campaigning of Obama and his team have transformed this day. Hope does matter.
