Will voting facilities likely be swamped with people at 6 a.m.? (Fairfax: house, restaurants)

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by Neen22

My guess? Everyone else showed a driver's license. I observe at the polls and 99.99% of voters show their driver's license. Some also show their voter card but virtually EVERYONE shows a driver's license when asked for an ID, just like they would if a store clerk asked for an ID, or the guy at Blockbusters, or anywhere else.

Why would the election officials be walking up and down a line of voters? Don't they sit at a table and ask for an ID so they can check in the voter list book? Do they carry those books up and down the line of voters at your polling place? Why would they do that?

Your story is rather strange.

At the end of the line (outside the polling room itself), the polling volunteer in Herndon came out every 15 minutes to ask people to form the line to the right. On one of these occurrences it happened I was singled out (as I got closer to the room) for what was not legally correct in 2008. I did not have to show any Photo ID then, and I do not have to today either.

BTW, I am happy to report, that there were absolutely 0 issues for me today in Tysons, though just as my anecdotal evidence from 2008 may not be indicative of systematic issues so too would this personal relatively uneventful election day.

[dtt99]

@ Hayfield HS, I circled the parking for 10 minutes until I found a space at 8:25. Got out at 9:50. A much longer than usual voting. For the last 2 elections, I was done in 30 minutes arriving around 8am.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Sounds like Tysons should move to MD. When I went to vote, I thought showing my license would save time (I'm deaf) but they wouldn't even look at it. That's the place for him.

I've lived in Virginia (Fairfax specifically) my entire life. I think I am going to go ahead and stay here and be damn proud of being a virginian and continue to hold my state to higher standards than the current overlording occurring from an administration in Richmond.

[Caladium]

I think I agree with the person who said the people showing up to support Tim Kaine will end up voting for Obama while they're there, which may end up tipping the balance. My neighbor just came back from Lowes Island Elementary. George Allen was out front and people were ignoring him and walking right by, just like they ignore all the other people passing out flyers. She said people in line were talking about Kaine/Allen, not so much the presidential race.

There were 8-10 people out front campaigning and trying to pass out flyers. Why do those people even bother--do they really think someone is waiting to decide until the moment they walk into the front door?

The wait to vote there was about 40 minutes, she said.

[scottfs]

Originally Posted by Caladium

There were 8-10 people out front campaigning and trying to pass out flyers. Why do those people even bother--do they really think someone is waiting to decide until the moment they walk into the front door?

Do you mean Obama/Romney/whoever flyers, or the sample ballot flyers? Because I think a lot of people come uninformed about the state/local ballot questions and they want to influence those. I never take a flyer from anyone since I review all the questions/issues in advance.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by scottfs

Do you mean Obama/Romney/whoever flyers, or the sample ballot flyers? Because I think a lot of people come uninformed about the state/local ballot questions and they want to influence those. I never take a flyer from anyone since I review all the questions/issues in advance.

I don't know, I'm relating a story second hand. I voted absentee because I had to go help out a family member and I wasn't sure if I'd be back in time. When I voted absentee the wait was also about 40-45 minutes, so maybe it would have been quicker to vote today (if I'd been sure I'd be able to).

BTW, I hope Virginia adopts early voting. If such a high percentage of people are voting absentee they might as well just go ahead and do early voting.

[springfieldva]

I went in a little after 10AM and was done in under an hour.

[Jayess1]

Why the continued comments that there's no early voting in VA? Here's the where, when, & how for Fairfax county: Absentee Voting*- Fairfax County, Virginia
FWIW, anyone who can vote on the appointed day should do so then - not before.

[oneasterisk]

Not sure if you've heard, but you can get free stuff for voting. I stopped by Chick-Fil-A and you can get a chicken biscuit if you show your "I voted" sticker. I hear Starbucks is also giving free coffee.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

Not sure if you've heard, but you can get free stuff for voting. I stopped by Chick-Fil-A and you can get a chicken biscuit if you show your "I voted" sticker. I hear Starbucks is also giving free coffee.

If Chick Fil A is doing that, it is illegal.

Getting Free Stuff For Voting Is Against The Law

PS: anyone doing it from a non-religious group would also be illegal as was seen in many bars in DC. However Bars dont have the multi-hundred person legal teams that Chick Fil A does, leading me to believe if they are doing that they know full and well they are committing a federal crime and will play the "oops I didnt know" card.

Chick Fil A, a class act company

Correction:

Found the real deal, they are skirting the issue with "Chick-fil-A is celebrating what they’re calling “Cow Appreciation Day” today. While it’s not a national holiday and we don’t get off from work, to celebrate the “event” Chick-Fil-A is awarding free meals (lunch or dinner) to customers who come into one of Chick-fil-A’s participating restaurants dressed like a cow. If you wear a partial costume, they’ll give you a free entree."

Thats fine if they are doing that.