Hello everyone...

Well, as we U.S. folks are well aware, today is a big voting day for us.
It's even being considered an 'historical' election.

This being said, I still rather long for voting the 'old fashioned' way -- using the former method of actually going down to the voting booth to select candidates, punch holes, and write in names of our own selection, if desired.

In our state the mail-in ballot is the only system available.

Yet, for decades it was such a treat to drive over to the church, stand in line, sign-in and chit-chat politics with friends and neighbors over coffee and donuts.

Oh, trust me, discussions could get quite heated and even some shirt sleeves could get rolled up.

Yet, all in all, if nothing else, it brought our community together and everyone left feeling a little less ruffled and a bit more hopeful of better days ahead.

(Some of us would even be wearing smiles while pulling out of the parking lot....!)

^^Ah, the good old days! LOL

Unfortunately, for us in New York City, voting has never been a pleasure. It's always been stressful. Last year, I was actually accosted by politicians running for local office while on my way to the voting place. Ugh! We used to have this huge voting booths with huge levers that were a pain in the a$$ to use. Now we have forms to fill in the bubbles and then run through a scanner. I hope this new system is better.

I'm going to vote when I get home from work with my husband. This year we get to vote for the Governor of NY state as well as some other key people. I think it's important to vote, I just hate the whole tedious process. I'd love to have a mail-in ballot.

I voted early and we just have electronic touch screens where you just touch the name of the candidate.

^^I would kill for touch screen voting. It's simple!

I live within walking distance of my polling place, which is pretty cool considering I'm in the suburbs. It's on my bus route too, so I figure I'll just stay put on the bus till it reaches the office, hop out, select my preferred knuckleheads and then walk home.

Velvet Spider, I remember the sense of camaraderie in line at the presidential elections in the past. In '04, I remember seeing someone with whom I rode the bus -- an older lady who brought a folding chair to wait in line.

And Diva, I also understand re: obnoxious campaigning nearly up to the poll doors.

At the polling place I go to, there are signs that strictly state that all discussions on politics must take place within so many feet of the building; all political campaign stickers or buttons must be removed before entering the building.

Heh, so many leaflets were handed to me on the way into the polling place...