minxy: Teal'c raises a hand to say "hey". (Default)
minxy ([personal profile] minxy) wrote2008-02-05 12:08 pm

probably the only political post I'll ever make

This morning, ladies and gents, was the first time that I have ever voted at a polling station.* I've been voting for a dozen years, but Oregon votes by mail and before it did that, I voted by absentee ballot (when I was in college or living abroad).

It was kind of cool, actually, more community that your standard vote-by-mail solitary event. I think the election volunteers were entertained when I announced that the ballot machine was groovy.

The morning was also notable for no less that three unusual bird events. Firstly, a fluffy dark bird with a white breast decided to take shelter from the cold by perching on our year-round strand of lights where it passes under the covering. It was maybe a yard away from where I was sitting and having breakfast inside the window. It was fluffing and puffing up it's feathers in a determined way, but I'm still not sure if it was to impress the bird in the glass, impress me, or improve the warmth factor.

Second birding event: spotted a hummingbird flirting with a flowering bush on the way in to the voting center. (Yes, this is California, we have flowering bushes year-round.)

Third birding event: half a dozen small bushtit-like fluttery things nearly dive-bombed me on my way back to the car as if to say 'OMG, WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR???'

I didn't tell them. It's supposed to be secret, or so the secrecy folder told me. I suppose that's so that I don't get jumped on my way out of the community center for voting against party lines, but clearly, no one told the birds.


*unless you count those times I walked into the booth with my Mom or Dad when I was little and scampering about in green kilts and sneakers (I was helping!) Those booths were neat and loud with distinct switches to vote on... why don't we kick it old-school like that anymore? None of this hanging-chad business.

[identity profile] live-momma.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
How do you know whom _minxy_ voted for?
A little bird told me.

[identity profile] katie-m.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww, I miss the old booths too. My parents used to let me pull the lever, which made a very satisfying ka-chunk. I think they still use those in NY, but here in MA it's all optical scan equipment.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_minxy_/ 2008-02-05 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! The levers! My folks were voting in Ohio when levers were in action; I have no idea if they're still using them or not. Those were fun, though.

I went to Vegas a couple of months ago, and we specifically sought out the old-town for our gambling hour (we are theater people first, why else would you go to Vegas?) just to have some proper levers.

...and even then, they were *optional*. What is the world coming to?

[identity profile] green-grrl.livejournal.com 2008-02-06 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, yes, voting in person is so much more ... participatory. I usually order a mail-in ballot ahead of time, fill it out at my leisure, and then bring it in to my polling place on election day so I get the best of both worlds. :-)