2010 Midterm Elections Thread

[agzg]

Hi everyone! I hope you had a lovely day voting, if you chose to do so.

In this thread, we talk about the midterm elections. Who won in your state? Were the precincts busy? Did you have any troubles at the polls?

[Kappamd]

I voted early (on Saturday) and it wasn't nearly as bad as it was when I did it in 2008.

So far, in Ohio, Rob Portman (Republican) is assuming a seat vacated by a Republican, so no shocker there. No other official results as of yet.

[SMTTT]

I voted for the first time today! I was a little upset because when I left class I heard people saying "Vote for what?", "Who's he?", "Do we have to?". Apparently people don't watch the news these days...

The polls were pretty busy( I went during everyones lunch break) I did just here on the news though that some churches didn't have enough booths for people. The results will be up in a few hours but I'm sure that we've stayed Republican, most states in the South haven't changed in years.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by agzg

Hi everyone! I hope you had a lovely day voting, if you chose to do so today, voted early, or voted absentee ballot. If you did not vote at all, please don't come in this thread and you really shouldn't be allowed to go near a keyboard.

Fixed that for you.

The polls were peaceful (with exception for some people's registrations not being in the system. But that is easily addressed by patient and peaceful voters and poll volunteers) because the news told people when the busiest times would be. Therefore, if you didn't want a line don't go first thing in the morning or after you get off of work.

[knight_shadow]

I voted last Friday. There was a ~15 minute wait when I went.

It's storming here now, so I've been hearing that precincts are either packed wall-to-wall or completely empty.

[aephi alum]

They're not calling anything in Connecticut just yet.

I work from home, so I went to my polling place (an elementary school) mid-afternoon. The only other voters I saw were a couple of senior citizens. I was in and out in less than five minutes. I also got a nice walk out of it - the school is less than half a mile from my house.

DH voted in the morning on his way to work, and didn't have to wait long. He drives past the school anyway on his commute. He tells me that, as he drove past the school on his way home, he noticed that the line was out the door, and there was a police car and an ambulance outside (!).

Edit: While I was typing this, the NY Times called the Senate race for Blumenthal.

[agzg]

Fair enough, I will take that correction.

One observation: Chicago has polling locations in random places. I've heard of churches, schools, community centers, and auditoriums before, but they had polling locations in funeral homes and nursing homes as well.

That might get a little uncomfortable.

I voted on my way into work today, prior to 7am so there wasn't a line but it was marginally busy in the sense that there were at least 2-4 people voting at one time.

Live-in voted about half an hour before me, and said it was empty.

As I walked past the community center tonight (2 blocks away right on the way to and from work FTW!) it was definitely hopping.

We used the "fill in the arrow" ballots in my precinct, but many precincts got the electronic touchscreens, especially in the suburbs.

Any concerns about the security of those machines?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Our state joined Oregon this year in going all-absentee. Most people in this state already voted that way anyway, but some people are determined to still try to go to one of the three polling locations in King County (Seattle area) to vote in-person. Turnout is expected to be more than 60% in our state, but we'll see. I will say that when I dropped our ballots off today at one of the many free drop boxes around town, there was a line just to drop the ballots off in the box.

[Kappamd]

Brian Williams is projecting a Republican House 237-198.

[agzg]

Rand Paul won.

[Kappamd]

Governor race in OH is tight. 49% for Strickland (Democratic incumbent) v. 47% for Kasich. 25% precincts reporting.

[DaemonSeid]

GOP has the House

[lovespink88]

I voted! No wait for me--I live across the street from the school, so I voted before I left for work around 7am.

[agzg]

Christine O'Donnell is giving her concession speech. She creeped me out (along with pleeeeeenty of candidates that I was able to actually vote on).

[joliebelle]

I voted after internship today, and it was less than a 10 minute wait. I would've gone before internship (the school is on my street), but I didn't know that the polls opened at 6 am.
agzg, we used the fill the arrow ballots at my precinct...and yes I filled out all 230+ arrows