Street Team '08: NathanLeigh
 
 
 
   
 
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Disorganized Voting Location (Ames, IA)
Posted November 04, 2008 at 1:24 PM

I just went to vote, and the experience was pretty intense. I had my Nick, my cameraman film me as I walked in and became part of what I thought was a long line/wait (it got way longer later). Immediately we were approached by the chairman of the polling place we were at, and told we weren't aloud to film, though I knew we were. He didn't believe us that we were media, so I sent Nick to get my credentials. Then I waited for good hour before I even got my ballot. Eventually we were aloud to film my voting experience, I did my things, and we made our way out to where the line was growing. All were college students from Iowa State University right across the street. Most looked bored, a few were excited, and none seemed to be turned away by the long line.

 

Interestingly enough, we found out that voters who had not yet registered were being directed to a separate [shorter] line, where they could register and vote in a fraction of the time it was taking everyone else; so basically they were being rewarded for registering the day of (why did I register 11 months ago???). Many people were noticably frustrated at the disorganization of the polling station, but as I mentioned before, it appeared that they were all staying in line.

 

Check out videos from my voting experience, and keep checking back throughout the day.

 

 


 
 
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Tags: election   vote   voting   Iowa
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sirdouglas 379 days ago

Yah that sucks.  Try voting from another country.  I'm a strong supporter in voting and see it as my duty as an American.  But as I've been in Brazil throughout the election process, it became a bit more complicated.  Of course, what can you expect being that far away, but it was enough to make me say, "***** this."  There were actually quite a few options available for allowing my absentee ballot to get there, but all of them involved me spending money with postage and waiting for a paper from the US to arrive here, which I would then have to sign and send back to them.  Eh.  I was undecided with the election anyways, so I'm over it.


By the way, the atmosphere was interesting to see down in Brazil.  It's amazing to see another country so fascinated by our election.  A lot of my friends from the university stayed up until 3 a.m. just to watch Obama give his speech.  Despite the fact that McCain would probably be more beneficial to the Brazilians, they were thrilled with the results.  I think the whole world was just ready for something different whether it was better or not... and come on, Obama's beautiful, so for a non-English-speaking Brazilian looks count most.


Another side-note, did you know McCain dated a Brazilian chick way back in the day?  I don't know if this was even news in the US, but the Brazilians just ate it up.  His Navy ship stopped here, and he became friends with this former-model.  That's right.  She used to call him Jon, darling, her sweet coconut, and said he was a great kisser.  Weird to imagine eh?


I'm out, tchau,


Doug

Re: NathanLeigh 379 days ago

Dougie, you have the best random information of anyone I know...I'm coming to Brazil, cool?