The only voter in our 4-voter household who hasn't yet voted is our daughter, who has this 'thing' about voting on official election day. Here at the west end of our western NC county, I do not anticipate any problems with that, given that by the number of ballots already in the precinct boxes when hubby, grandson and I voted two weeks ago, there's probably not more than a couple of dozen voters still left at either of our precincts for Tuesday.
I personally love NC's new Early Voting system. As well as the paper, optical scan ballots that can be counted and re-counted hundreds of times if they have to be! What I'm a little concerned about are possible long lines in our neighboring county, in the city of Asheville. I've heard that tens of thousands of voters cast their ballots early there, too, but there's always the possibility that someone will end up not voting if they have to work until 5 or later, and the lines look to be hours long.
Asheville's got a lot of energetic, enthusiastic Democratic volunteers this year. Way more than in our little neighboring county. Hubby spent time this weekend at the headquarters in the County Seat making calls, but they had a serious shortage of canvassers yesterday (Sunday). So the chair made a quick call to Asheville, and before the hour was out we had a dozen volunteer canvassers from the city eager to get started! So I've a little idea about how to pay them back for their help...
I plan to be monitoring the on-the-ground situation in A-ville all day, but closer after 4pm. If I hear about long lines at any polling places in the city that look to last past 7, we'll make the trip immediately, with clipboards.
I'll hang a sign around my neck that says "Line Surrogate," bring a lawn chair and set myself in the between-sidewalk-and-street grass, just in case anyone in line has to leave for awhile to attend to some issue, I'll be available to hold their place. They can give me their name for my clipboard, and I'll give it to the poll worker who gathers them at poll close so they can still vote. I am hoping to save a vote or two for someone who just can't stay in line for more than 2 hours straight, but really wants to vote. I don't even care what party, I won't ask because I don't really care. We're winning this one, we can be gracious.
UPDATE (Pre-Publish!): Ah, well. It might have been a good idea. But hubby who just came home says we have to go be "Poll Ninjas" in THIS county tomorrow afternoon/evening (he volunteered me... AGAIN!!!). That's us with our cell phones and clipboards full of numbers, non-chelantly hanging around in case anybody gets challenged or turned away. There to call in the cavalry if need be...
So We're sending daughter and grandson to A-ville instead, that's where their Election Party is happening anyway (hubby and I are doing DKos instead of television). If any of you aren't Poll Ninjas, you might consider being Poll Line-Holders! Just drop out if your person doesn't come back by the time you reach the door, it's a short-service. But dropping out is not terribly likely to happen if those little 'emergencies' are taken care of for people who have worked all day and willing to stand as long as it takes (except for junior's hissy fit and/or I Really Gotta Pee!).
Yes We Can!!!