I voted today. That's what the sticker they gave me at the polls says. I voted in the Republican presidential primary. The polling place was the gym in the local elementary school. In the hall outside the gym, there were three tables at which the school's PTA held a bake sale to raise funds for school events. Inside the gym, there were six people checking in the voters; three for the GOP primary and three for the Democrats. There were three additional people handing out the ballot cards and one who supervised voters who put their cards into the card reader so that the votes could be tallied. There were also two guards in the room. And there was me. I was the only voter. There was not a single person who was there for the Democrat primary and only me for the GOP. This was at roughly 8:05 AM, which is the time at which I have voted in many previous elections.
Today was the first time I ever was the only voter at the polling place. Usually, in the general election of a presidential year, there are ten or so people voting or standing in line to check in. In the congressional years, that number is slightly lower at the general election, maybe seven or eight. Even during the local elections for First Selectman (the Connecticut equivalent of mayor of a town) there are five or so voters on average. But today, there was no one there.
To make matters even stranger, there were no people outside campaigning. Normally, there are campaign workers outside the polls standing 51 feet away or sitting at tables handing out literature. (Under CT law, no one can campaign on election day within 50 feet of the polls.) All that was outside the polls were two forlorn signs that said "Bernie" and one that said "Trump". Not a single Clinton sign was evident.
There are more than 1000 people registered to vote at my polling place, but there was no campaign and no voters. It was a sad thing to behold.
Certainly, others have voted today. We will see tonight if I just hit a slow time at the polls or if the turnout is truly low in my area. In the interim, if you live in Connecticut or any of the states that vote today, there's plenty of time still to get out and vote. Go do it!
Today was the first time I ever was the only voter at the polling place. Usually, in the general election of a presidential year, there are ten or so people voting or standing in line to check in. In the congressional years, that number is slightly lower at the general election, maybe seven or eight. Even during the local elections for First Selectman (the Connecticut equivalent of mayor of a town) there are five or so voters on average. But today, there was no one there.
To make matters even stranger, there were no people outside campaigning. Normally, there are campaign workers outside the polls standing 51 feet away or sitting at tables handing out literature. (Under CT law, no one can campaign on election day within 50 feet of the polls.) All that was outside the polls were two forlorn signs that said "Bernie" and one that said "Trump". Not a single Clinton sign was evident.
There are more than 1000 people registered to vote at my polling place, but there was no campaign and no voters. It was a sad thing to behold.
Certainly, others have voted today. We will see tonight if I just hit a slow time at the polls or if the turnout is truly low in my area. In the interim, if you live in Connecticut or any of the states that vote today, there's plenty of time still to get out and vote. Go do it!
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