Did you feel the excitement in the air

LuAnnH

I woke up today feeling awful.  Too tired to move my weary body and figured I better get dressed and vote if I want my opinion to count. 

I encountered such life and excitement I have never seen over voting in a very long time!  I can't tell you the last time I saw people waiting to voting, excitement around voiting.  People understanding everything they were voting on.  The best part was, while my DIL voted I sat at a table with her youngest and watched him so she could vote.  I heard so many people asking questions about what do you need to see (id wise) or what do I do?  Because this was the FIRST time in their lives they ever voted!

If nothing else comes out of this election, I think with the collapse of our econmy and people expecting things to work they might start to care about what is happening.  Will make the effort to get to the polling place to vote.  Not because they are supposed to but because they WANT to!

I know it has been stressful and a very emotional few months but I am happy to say I VOTED TODAY!  (even though  I still feel like crap)  But I am united with so many in making history this year no matter what happens.  We will either have the first woman voted into the white house team or the first black man voted into the white house.  Either way I helped make history and couldn't feel better about it.

NoH8

I'm excited, only because I know Obama will win and the excitement I feel is coming from Obama voters. Under normal circumstances, I would bve thrilled to have a woman on a presidential ticket, but I can't be excited about a token woman when there are so many who are infinitesimally more qualified in the republican party. Even though I supported Obama over Hillary, to speak of Palin as if she is in the same company as Hillary is a joke.

badboob67

Heading out to vote now...

I'm really glad so many people are getting out there to vote, but am really hoping there aren't long lines for me. I don't want to poop out before I get to the front of the line! LOL

((((HUGS)))
Diane

cmb35

LuAnn - I understand what you're saying, it's a sad - but true - statement that historically (or at least in my experience) many people in the US don't exercise their right to vote. It is uplifting to see people excited to vote. I agree that it's too bad that it's taken some hard times to motivate folks, but I guess that's just human nature.

It reminds me of how I once decribed the atmosphere at Dana Farber in Boston:

"Remember what it was like right after Sept 11th, remember how kind people were to each other, and just that feeling of pulling together? Well, that's what it's like at Dana Farber every day..."

Adversity can bring out the best in people, and while I'd prefer it didn't take tough times to get people to vote, I'm still glad they are voting.

(Then again, I've always been a glass is half-full kind of gal  )

lvtwoqlt

I actually voted with my husband on Saturday Oct 18 in the early voting in NC. There were over 2.6 mil votes placed in NC during the early voting in October, compared to the 3 mil votes placed during the entire election in 2004, we are expecting record turn-out. Saturday was the last day for early voting and some people waited in line 5 hours to vote in Charlotte. My son just got out of the Navy and he said I am waiting until the actual day to vote, he didn't want the absentee vote today.

ADK

I haven't voted yet, I will on the way home from work tonight.  I also know that since I live in MA, my vote for Obama for the presidency won't count all that much because I fully expect this state to go for him.  I will vote though because I do not see voting as a "right" and a "privilege".  It is our responsibility to vote.  I just read a really interesting fact - in Australia, voting is compulsory.  The turnout had been 26% or so before they made it compulsory and now it hovers around 96%.  Food for thought.

gsg

I have always felt good when I vote and have voted in every election since I was 18, including primaries, but today it felt extra special because of the historical aspects to this race.  I think I enjoyed today more than the first time I voted.  On election day, I always think of my grandparents who, against many odds, immigrated to this country in order that their children and grandchildren could have a better life and am grateful for their sacrifices made so I could exercise this right and enjoy the life I have here in this country.  My grandmother attended school only one day in her life, never learned to read, and came from a country that is under a dictatorship, Syria.  She would never let anyone say a bad word about the USA in her presence.  Eventually she learned to slowly scratch out her name, but for many years signed an X.  It would have been a dishonor to both my grandparents if anyone in our family didn't show up to vote.  I felt her with me today.

Member_of_the_Club

I am grateful to be alive on such a historic day.

Anonymous

it is a wonderful thing, that regardless of how we feel personally, we can all go and vote.

as a breast cancer survivor, i think we all feel honored to be a part of this historic day.

this is a watershed moment for everyone.

history in the making, a time to remember our sisters lost, the battles they have fought and a time for all sistersto carry the torch and make their case for the better of our country.

only three words to close here...

god bless america.

roseg

I waited in line an hour and a half.

I just hope I don't go to hell because I voted "yes" to allow slot machine gambling in my state.

I don't think gambling is a great idea, but it seems like all the states around us have it and why shouldn't my state be getting some of the money? If people have a gambling problem they'd have it anyway because the other states are pretty close.  

CherrylH

gsg,

I loved what you said about your grandmother. My grandparents set a great example for us as well. They worked hard, paid their bills and taxex, every thing good citizens did,except they were not allowed to vote. They voted for the first time in the 1968 election and there were National Guards outside the polling places to make sure they were allowed in. You see, they were black citizens, and therefore not able to take part in the election process. Because of what so many people have been through and sacrificed for equal rights, I am morally obligated to vote in every election.

Cherryl

magsandmattsmom

I love the excitment!  Kinda like Christmas   Voting took place the middle school where I teach.  What a great thing for the students to see everyone there voting!  We did a mock election with electoral votes and everything.  we'll find out tomorrow who won at our school.