What was your voting experience? (Bessemer, Arab: sales, college, living in)

[33458]

Yes - that was my first method, the flip switch..1980's flashback.

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by mm42

The system here is pretty backwards compared to what we did in Georgia. There, we had several weeks of advance voting where you drop by and vote whenever you like with no line, and also the ballot is an easy touch screen thing with a magnetic credit card ballot.

Filling in the arrows with the felt tip pen was kind of cute. It's really not a secret ballot, even, since people can (AND DO) peek at your ballot while you wait in line to run it through the machine.

Took me about 30 minutes around 10AM.

I like the system here, I've voted in three states and this seems to be the most straightforward to me. Easy, fast and simple. It is kind of weird that there really isn't any privacy, but I don't really care.

Took me about 15 minutes.

[33458]

Originally Posted by Charles

I'd be interested in how much time a person spent researching their decision on who/what to vote for/against in addition to how much time they spent in line.

Too uninformed to vote? - Los Angeles Times

The Myth of the Rational Voter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Weekend America: Ignorant Voters

I am not voting on 'local issues' (except the funding amendment) because of this - I simply do not yet know enough about the politicians and policies to make an educated choice...once I see who really stands for what, then I can feel comfortable with Alabama-specific elections...
It helps to have a sample ballot, which I do not...I guess AL doesn't do that? My normal routine is to research (in advance) the history of each politician, both voting record and controversy, make notes and then prepare my vote so that the actual process is already thought out.

I am not a straight party voter, so it takes a concerted effort to mull through the muck...and I'm not very well represented in this election.

P.S.
Echoing Southlander, will be glad when this day is over, no matter the outcome. I think the media reporting and online spewing has sunk to a new low and I have not been amused by the behavior.

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by 33458

I am not voting on 'local issues' (except the funding amendment) because of this - I simply do not yet know enough about the politicians and policies to make an educated choice...once I see who really stands for what, then I can feel comfortable with Alabama-specific elections...
It helps to have a sample ballot, which I do not...I guess AL doesn't do that? My normal routine is to research (in advance) the history of each politician, both voting record and controversy, make notes and then prepare my vote so that the actual process is already thought out.

I am not a straight party voter, so it takes a concerted effort to mull through the muck...and I'm not very well represented in this election.

P.S.
Echoing Southlander, will be glad when this day is over, no matter the outcome. I think the media reporting and online spewing has sunk to a new low and I have not been amused by the behavior.

http://blog.al.com/ht/2008/10/SampleBallot2008_09.pdf

[33458]

Originally Posted by rnc76

http://blog.al.com/ht/2008/10/SampleBallot2008_09.pdf

Printer lost in move, which is why it would have been helpful to have a postal version...(I'd already scoured the Alabama voting sites.) Not to sound spoiled, but I scribble right on the provided sample ballot (keeps me organized) as well as several note pad pages during internet foraging. I meant a sample ballot mailed to each registered voter, not the PDF.

I really need a new printer.

[FCEddie]

Creekside Elementary in East Limestone

Name starts with:

A-F - wait 2 hours

G- L - 25 minutes

M- R - 8 minutes

S-Z - walk up

I've voted in three states and this was the first time I waited more than 10 minutes.

I think I want to run for public office for the first time in my life.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by mm42

Filling in the arrows with the felt tip pen was kind of cute. It's really not a secret ballot, even, since people can (AND DO) peek at your ballot while you wait in line to run it through the machine.

When they first switched to this method, they would hand you a sort of sleeve to hide your ballot in. I guess hardly anybody used it so they quit doing it. You might ask for one next time.
Normally there might be 1 or 2 people there when I go to vote, so it's usually not an issue!

[james_hsv]

I got to the voting place (the Madison County Teachers Resource Center) right before 11, and the line was wrapped around the parking lot. Obviously somebody thought it would be smart to have one line for last names A-F and another line for everyone else. So, while the A-F people got through in 20 minutes, I had to wait for more than an hour... took the time to figure out who the heck all those judges were. And this is one of the smaller precincts, so hopefully they had better organizational skills at bigger places like A&M and Hampton Cove.

Originally Posted by Southlander

When they first switched to this method, they would hand you a sort of sleeve to hide your ballot in. I guess hardly anybody used it so they quit doing it. You might ask for one next time.

They still have those, at least at my voting place they did.

[mm42]

Originally Posted by Southlander

When they first switched to this method, they would hand you a sort of sleeve to hide your ballot in. I guess hardly anybody used it so they quit doing it. You might ask for one next time.

I don't really care whether it's secret or not for me - I would gladly share my votes with anyone and explain why I voted that way.

However, "secret ballot" is supposed to be part of our process, and I'm sure there are people who may feel intimidated or otherwise uncomfortable if their choices are visible to anyone who wants to look.

[Reactionary]

33458 - the Madison County Probate Judge runs elections here, sample ballot at the link:

Probate Judge's Office - Elections

Election results will be available at the link soon after polls close:

These are accurate numbers but considered unofficial results until Madison County Probate Judge certifies the election. As of October 31, 2008 there are 212,574 Madison County registered voters.

Madison County Election Results