KPCC Election 2008
How is your Election Day going?
We’re well into it now. Have you voted? What was your experience like? What’s your mood about this election in general? Talk to us!
Here are a couple polling place photos taken by KPCC’s John Rabe:
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- November 4, 2008 12:48 PM
- Comments (69)
- Categories: 2008 Elections
69 Comments
Good afternoon, I voted today at 7AM in Rialto Ca at the Light House Church on Catus and Bloomington Ave. The lines were long however seemed to be moving quickly. As I left the polls the line seemed to have grow by 50%. No matter who wins I would think that We the people WON with the amount that voted!
Thank you
Felipe
I voted in Altadena, waiting for 90 minutes. Saw many of my neighbors and all were smiling.
I met two folks, one in her 30's and one in his 40's who had never voted before and were sooo excited to vote today.
It was magic.
Today my 16 year old son will work at a polling station. He wants to be part of history.
Hello everyone! I voted this morning in Bell. I was there at 6:45 am and there were about 15 people ahead of me in line; it took 45 minutes to get in to vote. It went smooth and I had a normal voting experience... no overwhelming lines. I'm glad to be done with it. BTW, my husband went about 10 minutes after I got out at about 8:00 am and he was in and out in 20 minutes! Good luck to everyone that hasn't voted yet.. hope you all have my same experience! :)
Voted at the elementary school on Peter's Canyon, in Tustin, this morning around 9.30 or so. In and Out in 5 minutes, no glitches, everything went smooth.
First time voter, naturalized citizen, pretty exciting...
Michael
Hello.
I voted with two kids in tow at noon today in Pasadena. There were no lines but it was a bit annoying that a No on 8 representative was passing out fliers in the parking lot as we walked in to vote. I am against Prop. 8 but it seemed that the No on 8 campaign was crossing a line with this one. I was very irked that I was approached so close to the polling place and that somehow that woman believed (not knowing my stance) that she could influence my vote this late in the game.
Thanks.
talin
Voted this morning in west covina before going to work. Was in and out within 20 mins. This is my 3rd time voting for the presidential election and I must admitt that I felt proud to make my vote for change! Left the polling cite feeling very happy and optomistic. I hope everyone has a great voting experience. ;)
Hi, Pat! I voted in Pasadena and it was interesting that all the poll workers were African American. (Our neighborhood is predominantly white.) Wondering if there was more ethnic diversity in poll workers who perhaps wanted to be part of something historic.
I voted in east Long Beach this morning, arriving at the polls at 7:30. I had finished within 30 minutes and everything went smoothly.
Perhaps it is my imagination, but I sensed a feeling of purpose and excitement in the line of people waiting to vote. For myself, it was the first time I've felt that the choice of candidates for President represented such stark differences in direction for this country.
My wife and I voted this morning at 10:00 a.m. in Glendora. No line at all. I had already filled in my voter booklet which saved much time. In and out in five minutes. (At 7:50 a.m. the same polling place had about fifteen people in line).
When can we start voting on-line?
I took my 5 kids and walked to the polling place around 11am. Since they're homeschooled I wanted them to experience this historic election, at least indirectly. It wasn't very crowded so after I voted I asked the poll workers if my kids could take a look at the polling booth. The workers not only said yes, they provided my kids with a demonstration ballot and let them cast a vote. They voted for Abe Lincoln and have proudly been wearing their 'I Voted' stickers all day!
I am so privileged to live where I had NO LINE at 1:00 PM (Fullerton) and was givien the option of electronic or paper ballot. I choose the paper ballot after being assured that it was not a 'provisional ballot.' I have voted at this location for 7 years but this was the FIRST time I was given a paper ballot option. There were 8 electronic stations and 2 paper ballot stations. I asked if the paper ballots had been 'popular' and the poll workers said YES.
Evidence that change does happen... albeit slowly some time.
NOW...if only the democratic communities can have the same resources as the republican county I happen to vote in.
I voted at my local elementary school in Costa Mesa. The voting machines were out of order, so they were using paper ballots. This did not seem to cause any major disruptions. At 10:00 a.m. there was no line. There were about 20 other voters there. I saw more 20 - 30 year olds than previously.
I voted in Trabuco Canyon and enjoyed the soft hellos to neighbors while waiting in a fast-moving line. One would have thought the fire station where we voted was a church; everyone spoke in hushed tones and with reverence, which I think is appropriate. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, the respect I saw for the place where we were voting and for those in the booths, demonstrates our commitment to representative democracy!
I didn't vote today because I cast a mail-in ballot last week. My wife is choosing to vote in person because she feels more confident that her vote will be counted if she does it at a polling place instead of mailing it in. I have to say her paranoia has got me a little nervous. This is the best chance for change since JFK. I'm praying that my mail-in ballot will be properly processed and counted. I'm hoping for a landslide, but you never know....
I vote at the Nat. Guard in West LA. The only line was a couple of people getting ballots ahead of me. The good part was about 6-7 people being wheeled up a hill in wheelchairs from a convalescent hospital at one time all to vote including at least one lady on oxygen. Fantastic to see so much involvement.
24 years old. I voted but I had to do a provisional ballot because when I re-registered in Long Beach (i moved here since the last election), I wasn't on the list. I re-registered at the LB Pride parade so that all seems pointless. Hopefully my vote still counts. I am still registered in LA county from my last address, but not LB city. I only had to wait about 15 minutes, not bad. Went around 11am.
I voted today in Westlake. Waited in line for about 40 minutes. I was frustrated to find that my name was not on the list and I had to cast a provisional ballot despite the fact that lavote.net showed me as registered. Not sure where the problem came up, but I hope that my vote counts.
It was nice waiting in line with everyone. I got a feeling of community that I don't usually have in this neighborhood. Everyone seemed determined to cast their vote.
I voted today in Westlake. Waited in line for about 40 minutes. I was frustrated to find that my name was not on the list and I had to cast a provisional ballot despite the fact that lavote.net showed me as registered. Not sure where the problem came up, but I hope that my vote counts.
It was nice waiting in line with everyone. I got a feeling of community that I don't usually have in this neighborhood. Everyone seemed determined to cast their vote.
Voted this morning at an elementary school in Calabasas. Was there before the polls opened. Was out by 7:20 and no problems - but a question about the discussion going on right now - some poll watcher was lamenting over the fact that in a precinct with 1500 voters the poll only had 800 ballots. Is it possible that a large number of the 700 voted absentee? voted early? Died? Moved? If you are suspicious, you will find whatever you want to support you suspicions. Every election is not 2000 or 2004!
I registered to vote in Los Angeles back in September, but today when I went to vote, I was told that my name was not on the list, nor was it on the supplementary list either. I was told to fill out a provisional vote, but I'm not sure if my vote will ever count.
This same thing happened to my girlfriend, and a couple other friends of mine who had also registered in the last few months. Seems really odd.
Hoping that someone will comment on this...
Driving my wife to work this morning we passed two polling places, both with 'No on 8' electioneers present right at the end of the line. The second observation was too much for me, so I confront the young people, asking if they had been coached on the law, they responded, "yes, and that the law was 100 feet from the polling place." It would seem that the spirit of the law would be 100' from the line, rather than the physical polling place. Can anyone shed any light on this?
My husband and I voted at about 11 am in Rolling Hills, a gated city on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. We are -- you should excuse the expression -- "mavericks" (that is to say staunch Democrats in a largely Republican stronghold!!) There was almost no wait to vote. I was told the only wait had been at 7 am when polls first opened. Everyone is very friendly and civil, but then they always are. There was plenty of hot coffee and cookies to add to the thoroughly convivial atmosphere. A pleasure all round.....
I just voted in Huntington Beach, CA and I was upset to see several people reading the election ballot while they voted and taking over 20 minutes at each machine to make up their minds and vote. People need to read the ballot and have some idea before they get to the polling site where they are going to cast their ballots. Several people decided to cast paper ballots because it was taking too long to cast their votes at a touch-screen machine.
I went to vote in Burbank, and was surprised by the massive amounts of electioneering going on around the polling place. At the end of the line they were trying to hand out no on 8 flyers, and the flyers for other issues were taped up throughout the area, within the 100 feet zone. I've never encountered this in any other election and was pretty disgusted by their activities. I think we should respect everyones right to vote wether or not we agree with them.
Good Afternoon,
My wife and I finally got the chance to cast our ballots this morning at 7:00 a.m. We usually vote by mail because we like to sit down and debate over the propositions and make informed decisions before we vote. This year we did have our ballots filled out early but we did not mail them. We took our twin sons with us and each of them cast a ballot. Now they can say that they too participated in this historic election.
Now one other thing. When in came to voting on Prop. 8 there was no confusion as it specifically said and I loosely quote. "Eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry."
I am not revealing my vote but if anyone was unclear as to what the vote meant whether it was "Yes" or "No" the ballot relinquished all ambiguity.
Hello... just wanted to comment on the TV coverage - been watching since 7:15 this morning - CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, etc. - and it seems all are VERY squeamish about making any bold proclamations about poll results - even in the east coast... I recall this time of day in 04 and 00 results were flying all over the place... guess the 24 hours have learned their lesson...
I voted in the Sunset Park area of Santa Monica this morning. The line was 50 minutes long, from 8:45 to 9:35, longer than I've ever seen it. Then I worked the phone banks for an hour or so to get out the vote. My sense is that people have finally figured out they need to vote - at least to earn the right to complain. Cynicism and apathy are out of style and hope is in. Yeah!
I just came from my polling place where I saw something to really warm the cockles of my heart and seemed so representative of this election period.
I was dropping off my ballot and the poll-worker who took it was a young man. I'm sure he had to be 18 to work the polls, but he could not have been over 20.
It was a thrill for this old woman.
I registered to vote at my new address a couple of months ago. It's a new apartment on a street that has never had anything residential in the past. There are new houses in the neighborhood on a street that has never had anyone living on it until this year as well.
The registrar says I am registered to vote at my new place, and my neighbors told me that they were registered as well.
When I went to my polling place, my name was not on the main roster, and only a few people were on the blue supplemental roster, possibly 15 tops.
There are hundreds of apartments in my complex alone, and none of them seemingly were found. The poll workers told me that everyone in that neighborhood that came in to vote was not listed on the roster and had to do a provisional ballot. I find that to be disturbing.
I should have added that there was no line, but my husband had said there was one earlier. I'm in Long Beach.
I just voted in North Hollywood. I had been so excited all day. Imagine my dismay when I was told my name was not on the list of registered voters - even though I had re-registered well before the deadline AND had called weeks ago to double check that I was registered. I was forced to cast a provisional ballot and was told it would "most likely be counted." I told the poll worker that "most likely" was not good enough for me. I wanted my vote to count definitively. The last time I registered was when I was 18 (I'm now 24), so I know my signature has most definitely changed.
This was the first time I was really excited and involved about the political process. What a horrible experience this turned out to be. Not only was it disappointing and frustrating, but incredibly disheartening.
I ordered a mail-in ballot but knew I wanted to wait to actually vote today to hear everything that was presented. I sailed through the voting process with a mail-in at my voting-location. Having a mail-in is sort of like making an appointment at the DMV, you bypass the sign-in line altogether and just drop your ballot right in the ballot box.
To those who do not want to stand in line but do want to vote on voting day, order a mail-in, fill it in the night before, and take it to where you vote or where you work for that matter as you can place a mail-in ballot at any voting location on vote-day.
I am a fill-in pollworker at the Mar Vista Family Center in Del Rey. The que formed at 6:20 AM and, when I left at 9 AM, about 200 people had already voted. The supervisor was prepared to call for more ballots as they anticipated they would need them. The voting group was diverse with many young voters and those just recently naturalized. Many voters brought their kids to experience the process and the kids were excited that they got "I Voted" stickers. Many also thanked us for our service. I am returning at 5 for the evening shift and will definitely sign up again for this rewarding experience.
At 11 am in Arcadia, there not only was no line, but no other voters present when I walked in. All six machines were empty. While I voted, a few others came in, but at the moment of my arrival, it was just a bunch of bored poll workers and me.
Arcadia is a very Republican town, so perhaps the GOP turnout isn't keeping pace in an election that will probably not go well for conservatives.
I went and voted at my little LaManda library in Pasadena around 1:15 - maybe 10 people when I got there, and probably 40 by the time I'd left. Everyone was chatting & excited, very upbeat feel. There was a young hispanic mother there who showed up with her one-month old triplets to vote! very cool
I voted provisional and went in and out in less than 10 minutes. Believe it or Not! Ontario, CA
I voted about noon today at my regular polling place in Highland Park - no line at all when I arrived, but 6 or 8 people came in as I was leaving. There were a couple of veteran poll workers and a couple of high school students helping out. It was wonderful to see a significantly younger average poll worker age than usual!
No problems at all - no electioneering, no trouble parking - certainly best to vote at off hours if possible. The poll workers said it had been busy earlier and they expect many people to show up after work.
I delivered doorhangers this morning (5 a.m.!!) for the Democratic Action Committee, Torrance office. Part of our job was to visit the local polling place, at the Wilmington YMCA on Avalon Blvd. We arrived there two minutes before the polls opened. They were fully staffed, completely organized and ready to rock and roll! AND there was a long line waiting for opening time. Thank you to them and the thousands of people across the country who are staffing the polls today! And to all the voters, too. This is our nation at its best.
Later I visited my own polling place in Hermosa Beach, to drop off my mail-in ballot. They said it was wildly busy in the morning. At 12:30 pm or so, there was lots of parking, and no line. There was a "No on 8" guy in the parking lot. He was farther than 100 ft, but I would hate to have electioneers outside the polls become the trend. It feels too pushy, to me.
I'm going back to the DAC office later to help make some calls.
I voted in Mar Vista a little after 10 AM this morning. Was delighted to see the huge turnout! There was definitely an air of excitement that I have never before experienced on Election Day.
Four precincts use the community room of the church, and it was very well-organized, with workers herding us toward the appropriate precinct table. The whole process took perhaps 20-25 minutes. I was glad I had filled out my sample ballot so I didn't hold up the line!
My voting experience was alright overall. My voting site was a residential home in Buena Park - in the garage. I arrived at 10:30am and waited behind 2 people to get my ballot card. I found it a bit noisy, however, as a couple of volunteers were high school students handing out the ballot cards and they were chit chatting amongst themselves, and even the young man (I'm assuming is a classmate) standing in line in front of me. They were so distracted by the young man that one of the girls didn't realize that she had already handed me my ballot card, and when they were done with their conversation, she had to ask me if I had already received mine. I was hoping they would learn from that very minor mistake, but even as I was voting, they were still chattering away. I wish the older polling volunteers could have said something to them to keep it down. Other than the noise, it was a breeze. No lines, nothing crazy.
I voted this morning at Cheremoya Elementary School on the corner of Franklin and Beachwood. There were 4 precincts voting at this single polling place so the line(s) were a bit long at 8:45 this morning. Once you were able to determine your precinct color and its corresponding line, the process was quite smooth. The optical scan reader was inoperable and a polling worker was offering the option of leaving our ballot in his hand and trusting him to scan it once the machine was up and running, or returning later in the day to cast it ourselves. Everyone I saw left their ballot in the pollworkers hands. It was a great atmosphere at the polling location.
Just voted at Barbara Benson (Tustin)- no line at all- done in less than 10 minutes. This is my first time voting- ever!- I'm a brand new american citizen & excited to exercise my voting right. I grew up in Nigeria, where new presidents were ushered in by military coups and later in India, where polling booths near my home were barricaded by local goons who knew "where you lived" in case you were thinking of voting against their party!
Voted at an Armenian church in Pasadena today. Everything was calm, quiet, and friendly around 12 noon. No chaos, no lines. Easy in, easy out!
Yay!
Just voted at Barbara Benson (Tustin)- no line at all- done in less than 10 minutes. This is my first time voting- ever!- I'm a brand new american citizen & excited to exercise my voting right. I grew up in Nigeria, where new presidents were ushered in by military coups and later in India, where polling booths near my home were barricaded by local goons who knew "where you lived" in case you were thinking of voting against their party!
I voted during my conference period around 10:00 AM and waited about 20 minutes in line. I've voted at the same site for the last 12 years and this was the longest I've ever had to wait. It excites me to see the level of excitement this election has generated.
What an exciting day~ I voted on my lunch hour at Dahlia Heights Elementary School in Eagle Rock, the school my kids attend. There were no lines and the workers were swift and efficient. There was a person handing out "No on 8" postcards on the corner, and I passed on that. Too late in the game to make a difference. I was surprised to see how many kids were wearing the Obama '08 t-shirts to school. My daughters 2nd grade class cast their own ballots and I was informed by my daughter that there was only one vote cast for McCain! Eagle Rock is for Obama!
I voted around 9:30 am in Anaheim at the Horace Mann School. First I will say that this is a very nice new school. Parking was not an issue but I could see that it very well could be later in the day (especially when school lets out). I had a little trouble finding the poling place but a quick walk up a flight of stairs and I was there. No lines, no registration issues (which has been the case for me in the past). I never stopped moving until I got my paper ballot. I had trouble with some of the original electronic voting machines so I try to use paper when I can. I would say there were about 6-7 electronic machines and 4 of the little cardboard stalls that you fill out your ballot in. They were all in use but there was no real waiting seemed like as soon as some one was leaving some one was arriving. There were some younger poll workers there as well and that seems like a good omen for our future. Total time maybe 25 minutes. I had planed for 2-3 hours of waiting so I was pretty happy. During the recall of Grey Davis I voted in the bowels of a church and the line snaked around in the basement into and out of various rooms that took 2 and a half hours. So 25 minutes today on a day like today, a really important moment in history I am stoked.
My polling place is inside a senior center in Hermon, near South Pasadena and Highland Park. The parking lot was jammed, but the line of voters snaking out the door wasn't there.
Turned out to be dozens of seniors playing bingo. One woman had plastered her "I Voted" sticker to her forehead.
My voting was quick and smooth. Same for a friend in Pasadena whose daughter voted for the first time. She was extremely excited to take part. Her comment on the way out? "I feel so empowered!"
i voted this morning in my neighborhood, HIFI (historic filipino town). when i removed the ballot after voting i noticed that many of my black circles were only half circles. i put the ballot back in and revoted. when i removed the ballot for the second time i saw that i had not made a difference. some of the circles were literally 50% filled in. i took the pen/marker thing and completed all of the circles by hand before i turned in my ballot. am i paranoid or could incomplete circles be the new hanging chads????
Good day, everyone,
there was early voting available at UC Irvine; and yet, another long line today. This time for Ben and Jerry's really generously packed ice cream cones. In true civic spirit, B&J's sign dedicated the treat to those who voted, but postscripted it with a note that those who did not vote would get one as well.
I am a vegetarian and already voted by mail, but just walking by there truly enjoyed the refreshing sight.
Greetings,
Olga C.
I voted at 7:30 am in Pasadena. Athough I was in line for over an hour, it was well worth it. There was a lot of excitement and people seemed honored to place their ballot for this "historical election". As people left the church, most had a huge smile on their face and some honked their car horn and cheered for Obama as they drove away. I was also struck by how it was a time for the neighborhood to gather and reconnect. I knew several people in line as did the woman behind me. It was a wonderful feeling to be reminded of the opportunity to take an active role in my community and country
I got into about the 25th position in a line at the Arcadia Community Center at about 6:40 am. By 7:00 am, the line was just around 60 people and queued underneath the large sheltered canopy of the building entrance. Once the doors opened, we were in for a nice surprise - 3 different voting areas depending on location in the city, so I left around 7:10 am, with few people in line behind me and nobody outside.
I voted around 2:30pm today in Costa Mesa and I was disappointed to find it empty! I was looking forward to experiencing the buzz of excitement of my fellow voters while I waited in line. As it was, it only took me about 5 or 10 minutes to get in and out of my polling place.
I did, however, enjoy seeing the diversity of the poll volunteers. Typically, my particular polling place is staffed almost exclusively by seniors; today, it had people young and old, a few of whom remarked that it was their first time volunteering at the polls ever! That was nice to see, too.
I voted in Simi Valley at 2:30pm and there was really no one else there except the polling place workers and a couple voters who were leaving as I walked in. I was surprised by the lack of people there. Even though my polling place has never been crowded in the past, I thought maybe there'd be at least a few other people there. But no, it was quick, easy and painless. It might be that around 2:30pm people were avoiding the polling place since it's at an elementary school and the kids had just been dismissed. I brought my PSP just in case there was a line but I never got a chance to play any video games!
You need to let people know not to wear T-shirts, buttons, etc. with a candidate's name to the poll. This could be considered electioneering and get them turned away from the poll. In theory they could even go to jail since this is a misdemeanor.
I mention this because a young lady wearing such a T-shirt was approaching the poll as I left. Fortunately it was far enough outside the poll (i.e., over 100') that no harm was done. She was wearing a tank top underneath the offending garment and, once I explained the situation, she simply removed the T until after she voted.
I understand and appreciate her enthusiasm for her candidate, but the law says you cannot share it within 100' of the polling place.
I voted this morning in Redondo Beach. It normally takes me no more than ten or fifteen minutes to vote, even during Presidential elections. Today, I waited for an hour and ten minutes. I would love to know where all these people have been. It is really great that they decided to come out and join us this year! Most people were in good moods and I didn't hear anyone complaining about the wait, which is unusual. I know I am someone who normally gets annoyed by long lines, but it didn't bother me a bit this morning. I was excited and I'm guessing others felt the same way.
I would like to remind everyone that the "fear" regarding provisional ballots. Your vote will count. If you profess that LA County Registrar/Recorder says that indeed you are registered, then rest assured. As to why you may not have seen your name in the roster of voters, typically, the rosters (more than 4,000 of them in LA County) are printed 3-4 months ahead of time. The county makes a fair effort to update supplemental roster pages, but the system typically cannot be fast enough to update every name.
I have been an Inspector (today at the War Memorial Building in South Pasadena) for 10 years. I was encouraged to see the turnout. We processed over 200 voters in the first two hours. I know I will run out of ballots. LA County is rushing ballots to my precinct as we speak.
Please let listeners know that if they registered late in Orange County and their name does not show up on the list to have the poll workers check the roster too. My name wasn't on the "first" list but it was on the "second" supplemental list (where you sign your name). I would have had to fill out a provisional ballot had I not insisted they check the other list. -- Luckily, I worked the primary election and knew what to ask for.
The poll workers at my precinct weren't very experienced, but were doing their best and were friendly. The line wasn't too long. After they found my name, I waited about five minutes. Not too bad!!
Ivoted this morning in Whittier. I arrived at 8:10 am and there was a line of about 25 people! I've voted for many years and the number of people voting at the same time never exceeded 3. It was so exciting to see so many people getting involved. I had my Obama buttons on my purse as I did not know that it was prohibited. One man was shooting daggers at me and I seriously did not know why. I apologize. The poll workers were the same ones I've seen for about 20 years. The two that take names are easily over 80 years old and took a long time to find the names. But it was a great experience.
I voted in Bell Gardens. I'm sure glad I turned 18 right on time. The experience was great i was in and out in 10 minutes.
-Belenova
I voted today at a South Los Angeles/Ladera Park station. I arrived at 9:30 and it took almost two hours to get to vote. The line had been almost twice as long two hours earlier.
The station handles two precincts. Although the "orange table" voters outnumbered the "green table" voters 80 to 1, the orange section had only two more booths. The was no line for the green section while the line for orange wrapped around a courtyard and ran up to the sidewalk.
People were pleasant and patient although there was very poor planning to accomodate the number of voters in the mostly African-American precinct.
I have a friend working the polls in Nevada who is saying that two machines there are recording Republican and 3rd Party voters twice. Machines numbered 6210 & 6202 in Washoe County, NV are experiencing 'computer malfuctions' whereby single voters are being counted multiple times. What can we do about it?
Hello -
I went to vote this morning at 4394 West Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA and the polling officers were informing voters that there would be a 50-50 chance you vote would not count because of the power outage. The power outage happened at 5am, but, generators or an alternate source of power was not provided. Channels, 2, 4, 7 and 9 were speaking to voters to get their views. DWP did not show up until 9am to address the power outage.
Frustrated, yes. They didn't offer provisional ballots until a voter complained.
I caste my vote using my voting card -democrat.
Throughout the day, I called the Governor's office, the Secretary of State's office, and the Registrar Recorders' Office.
This wasn't a malfunction, it was poor organization and planning.
Absolutely smooth! Voted this afternoon at the Banyan School in the city of Rancho Cucamonga. I arrived around 5:00 pm, and was out in about 10 minutes.
The people standing in line as well the poll workers seemed happy to be part of history. For instance, the lady at the front door received the voters with a big smile. Nonetheless, I do have to say they were not the best when it comes down to organization.
It was my first time voting, I went into the poll exciting and came out even better. Great experience!
Happy Election Day!
I voted shortly after 5:00pm at Glenoaks Elementary School in Glendale. They looked set up to handle a crowd of voters. My experience was quick, efficient and quite pleasant. On the way out I asked how voting was going and the poll workers said that they were well over 50% turnout, and they hadn't yet received the evening rush! They said they've had a lot of young voters that they've never had before. Exciting times!
Reading these comments is confirming what I was worried about this morning. I re-registered to vote at my new address well before the October 20 deadline, at least 1 and a half months ago. I called the county registrar's office about three weeks ago to confirm I was in fact registered (and it was confirmed, by a live person), and I received my voter registration card in the mail about 2 weeks ago.
Today I went to my polling place, and my name was on the blue supplemental sheet, but not in the second book, so I was given a provisional ballot. I was also given a sheet of paper that told me the reasons I was given a provisional ballot - 1.) not on the official roster of voters, 2.) requested an absentee ballot, 3.) you are first time voter without adequate identification. It says to call a phone number to be sure my vote was counted, no sooner than FORTY days after the election.
I am disappointed. I do not believe my vote will be counted. I am glad I live in a state that is likely to go for Obama, but I did a lot of research on all of the measures and propositions and was excited to cast my votes for measures I feel extremely passionately about. I did everything right, I registered on time and conscientiously, did all of my research and showed up at the polls the moment they opened.
I'm sorry to see others here reporting a similar experience.
I voted in Echo Park.
I had the same exact problem that Elena had
We move and re-registered to vote. We went to vote and were told we could vote provisionally because we were "technically" absentee votes (Yet NEITHER my husband nor I registered absentee!!!!)
I went to my party's campaign headquarters immediately and filed a complaint.
We got to our polling place at 10:00 AM and left at 10:45 AM. Everything went smoothly during the vote. We marked our ballots and put our ballots into a machine that we were informed only checked to see if it was filled out properly (i.e. no double voting), but it did not count the votes.
On our way back to the car, we saw a lady in a rental truck guarding those machines and a guy with "Yes on Prop 8" signs on both windows of his car pulled up to her and started giving her more of those machines. We both voted no on Prop 8, and we were disturbed by the idea that this guy had something to do with the election.
We stopped the man and asked him what his job is. He said he was a controller and he's in charge of supplying the back-up machines. We asked him if he does anything with the ballots. He said no. Then we asked him if he thought it was appropriate to have the "Yes" sign on his car considering the fact that he is involved with the facilitation of the election. He said he was careful to park more than 100 feet away from the polling place. He was right, of course, but still, we found it distasteful and disturbing.
I would like to remind everyone that the "fear" regarding provisional ballots. Your vote will count. If you profess that LA County Registrar/Recorder says that indeed you are registered, then rest assured. As to why you may not have seen your name in the roster of voters, typically, the rosters (more than 4,000 of them in LA County) are printed 3-4 months ahead of time. The county makes a fair effort to update supplemental roster pages, but the system typically cannot be fast enough to update every name.
I have been an Inspector (today at the War Memorial Building in South Pasadena) for 10 years. I was encouraged to see the turnout. We processed over 200 voters in the first two hours. I know I will run out of ballots. LA County is rushing ballots to my precinct as we speak.
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