Bfth Does Something New!

 It's a new month, but I'm going to talk about something new that I did LAST month.  It's something I hope you will do this month (if you haven't already).  Can you guess what it is?

VOTE!  

Last month (specifically Saturday, October 26 through Sunday, Nov 3rd), I was able to vote EARLY and IN PERSON.  I have voted "early" by mail, but this is the first time I've been able to do it IN PERSON before the actual election date.  I'm really glad I did.  If you have time and the ability (I know it's not available in all states), I'd highly recommend it.

I always highly recommend voting, no matter what your stance on the candidates might be.  In this country we have the right and the ability to chose our leaders, whether it be for the local school board or the President of the United States.  We should  never take that ability for granted.  We should always make our voices heard and vote whenever we are eligible to do so.  (I say that because as a voter who is unaffiliated with any party, I am NOT eligible to vote in primaries.)  And please do not say that your vote doesn't matter, as I know of one case where a local seat came down to one vote.  (Local is just as important as national.)

But back to my experience in October.  This year in my county, there were 10 locations open for early in person voting and one just so happened to be in my town.  (In previous elections there had been one in the next town over and I did not take advantage of that.)  This made it very attractive to me.

I usually like to go into my polling place early on election day.  I've been the first and only voter at my location a couple of times.  The polls in NJ open at 6 and in the past that's when I've been there.  Then when I was done, I'd head home and get ready for work.  However, I've been trying to get into work earlier and the time the bus takes depends on traffic.  Most mornings I catch the 6:33.  To vote and then catch the bus at that time would be unlikely.  More likely would be the 6:47 or even a 6:56.  Before I considered early in person voting, this was the track I would have taken.  Sure, I could have gone AFTER work (and I have done that before), but there are usually lines.  At the end of the day, I'm not one who wants to wait on a line.  And I'm guessing that this year the lines are going to be longer than ever as more and more people are expected to exercise their right to vote.  (Which is a good thing.)

When early voting began on Saturday, I heard through the (social media) grapevine that the lines were long, but manageable.  The location was well staffed and even though there was a wait, the process was well run.  I figured most people would do their voting on the weekend, which is why I decided that my husband and I should go on Monday evening.

My mistake was going too early in the evening.  The community center is also home to several ball fields, so in addition to voting traffic (and there was traffic), finding a place to park was a challenge as people were pulling in and out for practices and/or games.

Once we were parked, we followed people down to room where voting was taking place. It was pretty crowded; obviously when people have the option to vote when they would like/are able (as opposed to being confined to 12-14 hours in one day).  While the room was crowded (remember it was not just people from my town who could vote at this location; anyone eligible to vote in the county could come to this or several other locations), it was well organized.  NO CHAOS!  (What a relief!)

We waited in a "pseudo" line as the woman who had greeted us and asked us to wait, checked out various lines.  She then directed us to go to a specific one.  I believe there were at least 4 lines (maybe  more, I didn't pay close attention) where you would "check in".  I don't think we waited for more than 10 minutes before we got to the front of the line. My biggest complaint?  As there were multiple lines going, once a person was finished, they had to go to the next "station" to pick up their ballot and they would cut across the lines to do so.  (Not a very big complaint is it?)

My husband went first and then headed to the table he was assigned (again there were several to keep the process flowing) to pick up his ballot.  I was SUPPOSED to be next, but a woman who had already been "processed" had made an error on her ballot and had to come back to the registration table.  So she was able to "cut" in front of me.  (Minor annoyance; wouldn't even register it as a complaint.)  By the time I got up to the table and confirmed who I was, signed, etc., my husband was done voting!  From there on it only took a few quick minutes to go to my assigned area to pick up my ballot, fill it out in the "privacy area" and then take it over to be scanned into the machine.  Done!

Early voting was (relatively) quick, easy and secure.  It probably would have been even quicker if I had gone when there wasn't a game/practice at the community center playing fields.  I'm guessing it would have gone even faster if I was at home during the day and went on a lunch break.

In any event, I'm all for early voting.  And I don't think I'm the only one who feel that way.  According to a local news source within the first three days of voting (I would have gone on day 3),   4,553 voters cast their ballots at my community center location.  Considering how many people voted in our last election, which was a special election where turn out was incredibly poor, this is pretty amazing.

Eligible voters, if early voting is available to you, take advantage of it.  And if it isn't, be sure to get out there on Tuesday and vote.  Make your voice heard.  VOTE!