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I write this at 8:40 a.m., Central. I arrived at my polling place, Firehouse #12 in Birmingham, at 6:50 a.m. I was about number 200 or so in line.
Fire Station 12 is behind me and to my right. It's difficult to see the end of the line.
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People were in a very good mood, and, yet, there was an air of solemnity that enveloped those standing in line. I'll grant that it was early morning, so some of that solemnity may have been mere sleepiness. But several times I overheard the word "history", or "making history" amongst the people standing around me.
See below the fold: passing Division Avenue.
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The line moved on.
In not too many minutes we came up to, along side, and then passed Division Avenue. The romantic in me would like to believe that this was prescient:
My part of the line passes by Division Avenue on the way to cast our votes at Fire Station 12.
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One fellow instigated laughter as he walked along side and towards the back of the line: he was saying, "Baby, just get down here an vote! I know you need your breakfast and I'll get it for you after we vote."
An American hero, in my book: Vote First, Then Eat!
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Two very nice people ahead of me in line:
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My wait ended up being just about an hour. One of the Opti-scan machines (Alabama does it right, by the way: none of that Touch-screen crap) had broken down, but another was delivered from somewhere Downtown, so no great delay. But, after voting, "Roger" was set up with his truck and a cooler of bottled water in the bed of it for anyone who got thirsty waiting. He was duly beyond the actual polling place (in Ala., it's only a 30 foot rule, actually) and didn't campaign for any candidate: he was just being a good citizen.
Roger, the Water Man.
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Getting close to Fire Station 12.
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About to enter Fire Station 12.
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The poll workers were polite an efficient and obviously well-trained. When there was that one glitch with one of the machine's going-down, a poll worker came out of the station, walked up and down the line apologizing to everyone, and said that another machine was on its way. It ended up creating very little delay.