Jackson Free Press

Use this blog to discuss your voting experience rather than posting on off-topic blogs. Feel free to share your stories here regarding election day!

Previous Commentsshow

I was at St James in Fondren (off Old Canton) at 6:45. About 15 people were already in line. Somehow, I was not on the roster but was allowed to vote via affidavit ballot (hoping it will count). By the time I had completed the affidavit and cast my votes, the line extended well past the doors of the building. I did see quite a few Kerry stickers in the parking lot so I'm hoping that's a good sign for liberals like me. ;-)

kaust

Nov 2 2004

Here's an interactive map highlighting calls to 1-866-MYVOTE1. At 10:55am, there have already been 38,248 calls made with Florida having some of the highest number of callers. View the map here.

kaust

Nov 2 2004

Excellent, Knol. BTW, all, Todd is working on a special format for tonight. We'll be posting more open threads as we go. So keep an eye out. And please, please post any poll problems you observe here, so we can make sure someone is on the case. This is 1964, not 2004. ANYBODY who tries to keep a voter from voting is lower than pond scum and need to be outed. Help us do that.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

I assume you meant "This is 2004, not 1964" right? ;-)

kaust

Nov 2 2004

Yeah, yeah. OK, I left here at 3:30 a.m., and I'm on fire about this election. Between coffee, adrenaline and trying to register voters for two years, I am about to come apart at the seams. Thanks for getting my back, as always. Ommmmmm.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

I'm with you on the fire! This is exciting to the point of hysteria... The C-L (booo! hissss!) has this to say about this morning: There were also early complaints of voting problems, including scattered reports of voting machine problems in Hinds County. In one case, Hinds County election officials were sent to a heavily black precinct to check reports that voting machines were separated for Democrats and Republicans, with more machines on the GOP side. The situation was corrected by mid-morning. Of course, there's much more on the site but this specific paragraph I found disturbing.

kaust

Nov 2 2004

millsaps fire station, 9:45am: i was #184 on the a-l list and 83 had signed the m-z one. go go go!

Jay

Nov 2 2004

When we passed the fire station just now there (across from Millsaps), there weren't too many people in line. Would be a good time to go if you're in this district.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

I voted at about 8 am this morning, in Fondren at Duling. Long lines for one of the precincts, no line for my precinct. The poll workers there are always friendly, and I love going there to vote. No problems for me, but I've been at the same address for 4 years, and have voted each time there's been an election, so I really wasn't expecting any problems. Eveyone's on fire about this election, from my yoga class last night, to all my co-workers in CA (and Vancouver), and my insurance rep who called earlier today. Even my brother, who's a republican in Florida, said he'll be so happy to have the election over that he won't even be upset if Kerry wins. He said something to the effect of "I don't like him, but it's not like he's the devil or anyting." I can't wait for the returns.

kate

Nov 2 2004

I know you guys, I may just have a breakdown before this day is over with... I can't wait to get to the big screen tonight. I think by now most people know of the 1.866.MYVOTE1 hotline. According to MOVEON.org "Another hotline has been set up by a coalition of nonpartisan groups to deal with the most serious problems on Election Day. 1-866-OUR-VOTE is the "911" of voter suppression hotlines. Please don't call unless your problem is serious enough that you have to talk to a lawyer immediately."

Jen

Nov 2 2004

Here's another interesting twist that could take us all for a twirl.... If there's a tie, it is possible that Bush could be president and Edwards VP... Talk about chaos! Full details here... And you thought the 2000 presidential election was wild. How about this for 2004: George Bush is re-elected president, and your new vice president is ... John Edwards. Yes, it could happen. If the right states favor Republican incumbents Bush and Dick Cheney on Election Day and the rest go for Democrats John Kerry and Edwards, the result could be a 269-269 tie in the Electoral College, which chooses the president and vice president. Under the Constitution, the new House of Representatives would then elect the president by majority vote, with each state's House delegation getting one vote.

kaust

Nov 2 2004

Did anyone see Jackson on the front page of CNN.com today? "Voters wait outside in rain to vote in Jackson, Miss." was the headline, but the story was mostly about Ohio- and not at all about Jackson. Surprise, surprise! Over here in Madison at Gluckstadt Catholic Church (my polling place) rural black voters and voters from Lake Caroline, etc. are mingling, staring at each other, and having no problems at all! I've been really impressed by the poll workers; they seem to represent the actual voters well and aren't asking for ID from new voters. I just showed them my new voter card and that was that.

griff

Nov 2 2004

Interesting experience at the polls this morning. I had to vote using an affidavit ballot, but I don't understand why. I moved to Jackson in the summer of 2003, registered, voted in the 2003 gubernatorial election, and did not vote in the 2004 presidential primaries. My wife voted in both. She's on the rolls, and I appear to have been purged. We have not changed our address since registering. Do you have to vote in every election to remain on the rolls here in Mississippi, or is this just a fluke?

Dave

Nov 2 2004

What poll, Dave?

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

Donna, I was not on the roster as well... Should I be concerned? I received a voter card and was instructed to go to St. James in Fondren... The worker even confirmed I should be at that polling place.

kaust

Nov 2 2004

Griffith Memorial Baptist on Terry Road (45 min. wait at 10:30 am).

Dave

Nov 2 2004

Davis Magnet School at 10:45 this morning, number 193...no lines, no wait, smiling faces and friendly poll workers...those new touch screen voting machines actually made voting fun, and terribly easy...nice millsaps student giving a well-designed exit poll also...all in all, the best voting experience i've ever had; hopefully i'll feel the same about the results!

Amelia

Nov 2 2004

I voted at Davis Magnet school as well, with a similarly pleasant experience. The exit poll made me feel rather dumb though: is the MS legislature controlled by the democrats or the republicans? I should know this.

Justin

Nov 2 2004

I voted at the YMCA on Manhattan this morning. Arrived at 7:15 walked up to the booth at 8:20. The wait in the rain was a bit frustrating but it was obvious that everyone there waiting was on a mission. It did my heart good to see the turn out. And the line was getting worse ass the time went by. I think that Mississippians are doing it for the record books this time around. Only one issue and that was that I think more measures could have been taken for the elderly. I don't see why people with canes and walkers should have to stand in line in the rain with the rest of us. They should be allowed to go straight in and vote. You hear that Sean Perkins!

Queen601

Nov 2 2004

Sorry about that spelling (ass) but yall know what I mean. And Donna I see that there will be a gathering at Soulshine tonight. I just want to commend JFP on their active role in getting young people registered this year. You guys have been RIGHT THERE and it's good to see. I think making voting into a celebration and an experience instead of the chore we grew up thinking it was and teaching that we all have to make a stand in order to be heard, will bring about a change. Again thanx and this time I will introduce myself to you.

Queen601

Nov 2 2004

i was riding into jackson (from richland) with my 81 year old grandfather yesterday after work, and one of the NO-AL ads came on the radio in the background. i asked him if he was voting, even though i knew the answer. "HECK YEAH!" he replied, and then began explaining that his precinct was new this time around, and he'd been voting at the same place for as long as he could remember, and told me (again) how he used to try his hardest to cancel out my late grandmother's votes every time, just for fun, and how a friend of his who had worked the same precinct for years and years had passed away a few months ago and so she wouldn't be there... it's encouraging that after so many years of passivity and just plain "i don't care" attitudes, it seems my generation is adopting it's own version of the excitement that my grandfather feels come election day. i'm looking at it from now on as a time to party - no matter what side of the aisle you happen to be on... oh, and papaw is voting YES on the rankin liquor amendment. he doesn't drink, but he laughs when he recalls the 'gold coast' days across the pearl river - and thinks that most of the issue is plain ol' hypocrisy.

Jay

Nov 2 2004

I just voted at the fire station in Belhaven. No problems whatsover, and not very crowded. I think we hit the lull between lunch and evening rush. It felt so good to touch that screen for Kerry, against the gay marriage amendment, for the Convention Center (and its coalition of positive folks), and to leave it blank in the 3rd Congressional District. I'm so glad I'm not an editor at The Clarion-Ledger, trying to uphold the status quo every chance I get, afraid to offend. I can't imagine selling out one's convictions in such a way. It felt GOOD. And I agree with Jay, Election Day should be the biggest party of the year. And it will be in Jackson from now on. ;-D Rock on, guys.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

We voted at the Millsaps fire station at 7:10 and it was packed. It took us about 40 minutes, only because we got to get in the much shorter M-Z line. We had no problems. However, I noticed our new neighbors, who moved to Jackson in August, were having to use affidaviate ballots. I haven't had a chance to ask them, but I am pretty sure they would have registered in time, and only should have had to shown ID. I was suprised and impressed by the large turnout. We moved here summer of 2003 and this is the 3rd time we have voted at this precinct. I usually go about the same time, and I would say this turnout was at least 5 times better than last November. I knew my mother, in Alabama, was voting on her way to work, so I called to see how their turnout was. When she voted at 7:15, as many people had already voted at her small precinct as voted the entire day in the last runoff election!

smstyles

Nov 2 2004

Justin, don't feel bad. ;-) Right answer: Republicans control the Senate, Democrats control the House. Barbour thinks he controls the free world.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

and don't forget that Bush controls the minds of the sheeple. ;-)

kaust

Nov 2 2004

My partner, Duane, had to vote affidavit as well. We both registered at the same time and both had registration cards. He said everyone was nice but he wasn't on the roster. WE WANT OUR VOTES COUNTED!

kaust

Nov 2 2004

From CNN--on Provisional Ballots--be wary--- "Other major concerns were over provisional ballots, new this presidential election and a potential source of delayed counts, and whether poll workers were adequate and sufficiently trained." "To a certain extent, provisional ballots are second-class votes," said Spencer Overton, a law professor at George Washington University. "You can cast a provisional ballot but we don't know if officials will count it."

MrBill

Nov 2 2004

From the CL.. The heavy turnout produced some problems, from some disabled voters in Jackson facing precincts without wheelchair ramps to residents at one Hattiesburg precinct being wrongly told they couldn't vote because they were wearing University of Southern Mississippi logos on their clothing. They were telling people wearing USM shirts that they couldn't vote because it's campaigning. But it's not," said David Blount, a spokesman in the secretary of state's office. Hattiesburg voters today are considering a $12 million bond issue to fund athletic improvements at USM. Lou Ellen Adams, circuit clerk for Forrest County, said the problem was quickly corrected. But I did get some angry calls," she said. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041102/SPECIAL02/41102012

Jo-D

Nov 2 2004

Donna, why did you leave congressional district 3 blank? You like Pickering? I voted for the Reform Party candidate, as was the Equality Mississippi endorsement. IT's not the same Reform Party that Ross Perot founded and not the same Reform Party that Pat Buchanan tried to hijack. Most reformers are in favor of LGBT civil rights, whether it be for all out marriage or just civil unions only or hate crimes or workplace non-discrimination... Ralph Nader is, contrary to everyone's belief, not an independent but instead running as the Reform Party candidate. While the Reform Party is on the verge of becoming defunct, while they are still on the ballot and the only decent option versus the likes of Pickering, they have my vote. Me personally? I'm Libertarian. Isn't that weird?

Jo-D

Nov 2 2004

No, I wouldn't vote for Pickering. He just shills corporate Republicanism. But I've been completely unimpressed with Mississippi Reform Party candidates so far. We can't even get them to return out calls, and we're media. I don't vote for someone just because. It's not weird at all that you're Libertarian. I might be if I thought it was a realistic ideology i.e. if there was evidence that companies will actually self-regulate if left to their druthers.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

At the TE precinct in Terry, there were ballots which were supposed to be locked which were in plain view. I understand that at Precinct 49 in Battlefield Park, there were voting machines without the name of John Kerry and John Edwards. I visited eight different precincts yesterday, and I did not see problems at any other precincts.

danfling

Nov 3 2004