You know, come to think of it, I've never even SEEN an "I Voted" sticker, let alone gotten one.

[xiphias]

Lis and I often vote on the way to Lis's work, so we usually vote around 8:15, 8:30 or so. And the ballot box has a little counter on it when we slide our ballots in, so we know how many people have voted before us at that time.

In the primaries this year, at 8:15, we were numbers 84 and 85. In the 2006 mid-term elections, at about that time, Lis was #111.

This year, we were #233 and #234. Again, this is a Presidential election and not a mid-term, so turnout WILL be higher, but the election workers were saying that this has been about the busiest they've ever seen Ward 1, Precinct 2. There was, like, a one minute wait for us, which isn't THAT unusual, but the precinct workers were saying that it's been constant throughput like that, since the polls opened, and, yes, there were people waiting when they opened the doors. So, at least by 8:30, our polling place wasn't backing up or anything, but it had been steady all morning.

Our polling place does not have "I Voted" stickers, but does have a bake sale, so Lis got a brownie, and I got some pumpkin bread. Does Massachusetts even typically DO stickers? I've never gotten one. I've gotten "Be Nice To Me, I Gave Blood" stickers occasionally.

Hm, Does anyone do blood drives outside of polling places? I think that'd be a good idea -- you could let people get double civic-duty points in one trip.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Somerville is giving free flu shots to voters at the high school polling station from 5 to 7 today.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

But I'm not eligible to give blood again until tomorrow!

(I give blood above a book store. And after giving blood, I deserve abook ;-) )

[gilana]

I got a sticker!

[ckd]

Cambridge gives stickers.

Our polling place (Cambridge, W2P1) was into the 430s at about 1020. Not bad at all. Plenty of lines, but they were all moving fairly quickly. This was far busier than I've ever seen that polling place.

Lines: (1) Sign in at the check-in desk, which split based on address (but not until you got closer to the desk). (2) Wait for an open booth. (3) Cast ballot/check out (also split by address near the end). Total time ~20m. When we left, the lines had shortened up a fair bit; I think we hit the tail end of a big batch of voters. People coming in at that point were probably waiting only a couple of minutes.

[theclamsman.livejournal.com]

...Massachusetts doesn't have "I Voted" stickers? Weird.

Then again, it's been so long that I don't remember if I got one in my last election (1996, Clinton). Hm.

[bluerosesgirl.livejournal.com]

JP doesn't give out stickers either. So no free Starbucks for me. Northampton MA gave out "I Voted" stickers, and so did Tampa FL. I like them.

I was #45 at 7:15 this morning -- and the line stretched wayyyy out behind. Hurrah!

[arib.livejournal.com]

Brookline and Cambridge have stickers.

[ckd]

I thought Starbucks just made you tell them you'd voted (no sticker requirement).

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

My polling place in Union Square does have 'I Voted' stickers, but you had to stand in a separate line to get them after you'd done your vote, so I didn't bother.

[smacaski.livejournal.com]

I got a sticker in Somerville. There was no bake sale or anything really cool like that, though--a shame, a brownie after voting would have been just about the best sequence of events ever.

[madcaptenor.livejournal.com]

That's what I heard. I hope so, because I didn't get a sticker. I did get a lollipop, though.

[unquietsoul5.livejournal.com]

Cambridge certainly does 'I Voted' stickers and has for at least the last 4 years that I remember.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Thank you for voting!

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

At least some towns have them -- I posted about one of the students at my school, who came in wearing her parents'.

If I get one I'll give it to Eva, in honor of the future.

[amberdine.livejournal.com]

Actually, they are now officially just giving coffee to anyone who asks, after they found out it's illegal to compensate people for voting. Woops!

[redbird]

Starbucks is giving the free coffee for the asking, rather than argue with Washington state (and possibly others) over whether giving coffee only to voters constitutes an illegal incentive to vote. [The purpose of that rule is to stop people from giving you money, or whiskey, to vote for a specific candidate or proposition, but in at least some places is phrased so it could include any incentive to vote.]

Also, if there's a Ben and Jerry's near you, free ice cream for everyone from 5-8 this evening. (I think this is a US-only offer, but you not only don't have to have voted, you don't have to be eligible.)

[anavolena.livejournal.com]

I would hope that they'd have you vote BEFORE giving the blood, that's for sure!

[ron_newman]

I got a sticker in Somerville.

[cheshyre]

Saw a coworker wearing a sticker just now; I believe he lives in Danvers.

[ron_newman]

My voting place is the Dilboy Post VFW in Davis Square, which shares a building lobby with Winter Hill Bank. The bank put out a table with free coffee and cookies. I don't know if they'll keep restocking the table after the bank closes, though.

[madcaptenor.livejournal.com]

Well, "Real Americans" wouldn't want Starbucks anyway, so the offer of free Starbucks would do more to get Democrats to vote.

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

Until this year, I didn't even know that "I Voted" stickers existed. I looked for one this year, but didn't actually ask because the place was so busy. If Arlington has them, they're well hidden at the polling places I've used. Too bad, because those stickers from this year's election have a decent chance of becoming a popular political collectible.

[ckd]

It was definitely for everyone, judging by the humongous line for the Ben and Jerry's in Harvard Square earlier tonight. Yow. (Not as long as my voting line, though.)

[ckd]

Unfortunately, they're boring and generic, so I don't see them becoming collectible. (I still have mine from the primary in September, but only because I stuck it to the back of a bookmark. It's the same exact design as the one I got today.)