Well that's over with...and would I put up with it again??

Wow. I have been voting in elections since 1984 and I have never been involved with anything like I experienced today. I recently heard that this is only the third time in the past 100 years that no standing president or vice president has taken part in an election cycle. And it shows.

For those of you who might not know, and I don't trumpet it too loudly, I live in the state of New Hampshire. I'm a Democrat in New Hampshire and after looking at the results tonight, I'm definitely NOT an endangered species.

But that's not the experience that is the focus of this post. The turnout today is the focus. I noted that in the little town that I work in had 4 (!) volunteers at the polling station. Rudi, Mitt, Obama and John E. had organized enough to send someone to one of the smallest town in southern New Hampshire. The other thing I noticed is that there was a steady stream of people entering the school gym. At 7 am. And they had to wait in line.

Now fast forward a few hours. Reports on the radio that some towns were running low, if not running OUT of ballots! The Secretary of State and the Governor saying turnout is going to be historic. And still lines at the school gym, never letting off from the morning rush.

Now it's my turn. My wife, daughter and I climb in the van at 4:45 for the trip to our town's field house to vote. It's 2.09 miles from my house (according to mapquest.com). About a mile into the trip we hit stopped traffic. Bumper to bumper stuff. I've been driving this road almost daily for the past 5 years and NEVER have seen this, even on parade days (this is the town's main street for that sort of thing). We make it to the parking lot at 5:42. Average speed was 1 m.p.h.

Well the slow traffic had the beneficial effect of keeping the parking lot somewhat empty and not too crazy. The line at the "M" table was short and my wife and I were able to vote in about 2 minutes. Job number 1 in a democracy done until the town elections in March.

But I am left with a profound impression of the crush of people trying to do what we should all be doing. And I would do it again, even if I had to go 2 hours per mile! It's a right and a privilege to live and vote in this great country, and I haven't missed a vote yet!