There are going to be an uncountable amount of diaries about the Potomac primaries today, but I thought I’d make mine more fun by adding some pictures.
Following is my experience voting today in Severna Park, MD
I rolled out of bed at 1pm today, I love telecommuting. I started to head to the primary in my old college attire; flannel PJ bottoms, a t-shirt, worn out running shoes. But as I headed out the door I realized what a slob I looked like. I want to make a good impression on Obama, I thought to myself. I headed back inside and changed.
I put on some makeup, nice jeans, a new shirt, and my less-worn tennis shoes. I fixed my bed hair and then headed out the door. This time my cats wanted desperately to follow. They stood blocking the door. I thought about how cute they looked and decided to grab my camera. As I took several pictures of them meowing and staring out the glass door, I decided I would take a photo diary. I headed out the door this time with my camera, but was immediately pushed back by really cold air. It was about 28 degrees out and I headed back indoors to grab my gloves and scarf.
Then, as I headed out the door again I was accosted by my dog. "Please take me vote, please, pretty please. I don't know what an election is and I am only 11 years old, but I KNOW I want to go with you." She begged and pleaded. I decided instead to head back inside and put her out of the cold air. She would follow me to the ends of the earth but the poor thing just doesn't know what is good for her. As I headed out the door once again, I realized I'd forgotten by voter registration card. I know I don't need it, but it's much easier for these elderly folk who generally run the polls then trying to look up your name off a license. And for some reason my name which is as common and as anglo as "Smith" seems to always trip them up. Maybe there are just too many people with my name out there. I grabbed my card and this time got all the way out to my driveway.
The day was terribly gray and cold. Most people in my area work, I didn't expect there to be a good turnout in the middle of the day. In fact, in my area, I imagined a lot of people to be Republicans, it is a quite wealthy area, and somehow Wayne Gilchrist always gets elected as my rep, but maybe that is because of the Eastern Shore. Perhaps people on this side of the bay know what's good for them.
I took a look at the Chesapeake Bay from my backyard. I could see the area where my voting station is, just across the water. But damn, no way to get over there without driving a couple miles around the Magothy.
Of course a lot of my neighbors have big boats in their backyards, but I'm just a poor renter. I don't even have a water-facing lot. Hey I'm only 26, I still have college debt to worry about.
I admired a few of the boats and then got back in my car and headed to the polls.
I cranked up my Sirius Satellite Radio. Linkin Park "Shadow of the Day," came on and I thought to myself how appropriate of a song to come on during such a miserable day. I turned it up and sang along as loud as I could. I probably looked and sounded ridiculous to people when I pulled up next to them at a light, but who cares, I'm happy, I get to be an American today.
I turned onto my road and the DJ Human Numan came on to the radio. "A 20,000 year old tooth was discovered by researchers in Greece, what do you call a toothless neanderthal?"
I wondered where the heck he was going with this stupid line. He is generally a crappy DJ and frequently says incredibly ignorant things.
"A Huckabee Voter"
I chuckled.
As I drove up to the school where I vote, I checked out the signs in front of the parking lot. A few signs for Wayne Gilchrest, McCain, and some other lesser known people. But ahh, the holy grail, a sign for Obama. Hillary had no signs visible.
I parked my card near the entrance and as I walked toward the school the only person holding a candidate sign outside of the school spoke to me.
"Are you voting in the Republican primary?" He asked me. I glanced at his sign. Wayne Gilchrest it read in white letters on a blue background. He was bundled up in gloves, hat, and heavy winter coat, but still looked cold.
"Nope, absolutely not. And I won't vote for that cocksucker in the general election either." I couldn't believe I said that to the guy, but it was out before I could do anything.
"Oh ok, you have a nice day then." He was as polite as could be.
As I walked into the school, I located my precinct (10). I headed up to the registration tables and presented my card. "Is this your first time voting sweetie?" an old lady asked me.
"Ahh, no, this is my first time voting in this district. I am 26."
"Really? You don't look a day older than 18?" the old man sitting next to her smiled.
After they struggled to find my name in the computer, I was finally presented with a diebold card. They had me sign a piece of paper saying I received the card and that I was indeed voting in the democratic primary. Another old man walked me to my voting machine. After I picked Obama and other various democrats, I got my "I voted" Sticker and headed out of the gym. I took one last look. There were 6 or 7 poll workers, all well over the age of 60, all white, men and women about equal in numbers. I did not see a single other voter. Of course it was 2 in the afternoon at this point. The precinct where I live is filled with relatively affluent families. There are not many elderly, most kids are under the voting age. I guess most of the voters must have been at work. But I did see a sign for Obama, and that's the only democratic sign I saw at all. I couldn't call where this precinct might go, but I'd say an event split would not surprise me.
Below are a few more pictures of an inlet of the Chesapeake on this gray day. I will be working for the next 8 hours, as I started my workday quite late today.