Rock-a-Bye The Vote

on October 18, 2012
in All Posts

North Carolina early voting began today, and while I had always crinkled my nose up at early voting (“But I want to vote on the real Election Day!”), this time around, it seemed like a very good idea.  I could just imagine an epic voting fail in which I never made it to the booth because of nap wars, poopy diaper explosions, or whatnot. 

photo 4

So DadHTP, my brother-in-law Nick, Henry, and I all piled into one car and drove to the polling place to get our vote on.  Yay, democracy.

vote

We were hoping for a short wait time (tip:  the slowest time at a polling place is usually 3 – 7 PM, according to DadHTP [who is a poll worker]), but unfortunately, the lines were long, long, long.

 

We waited…

photo 1

And waited…

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And waited…  And then I was finally able to cast my ballot.  Henry’s maximum awake time is two hours, but by the time I stepped into the booth, he had been up for about two hours and ten minutes and was starting to melt down.  What great timing, right?  Just when I needed to use my brain.  But then he got to press a bright green and blinking VOTE button and all was right in the world.  Scary thought:  his first real opportunity to vote will be the mid-term elections in 2030. 

henry

(Sticker promptly removed to prevent Henry from eating it.)

 

Speaking of eating…

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I came home and made this tasty dish.

 

Quinoa and almonds

Broccoli, mushrooms, and tomatoes stir-fried in coconut oil

Scrambled egg

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A filling and delicious dinner – something we can all agree on. Winking smile

{ 43 comments }

 

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats October 18, 2012, 8:09 pm

    I always find the polls best to go to mid-morning when people are at work. 3-7 sounds like when teachers and people getting off work would go!

  • Bizzle October 18, 2012, 8:24 pm

    OMG! I’ll be 52 when he starts voting! Gah.

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More October 18, 2012, 8:33 pm

    Wow! I can’t believe those lines for early voting! I’m thankful the few times I’ve had the opportunity to vote the lines haven’t been too bad. I wouldn’t mind early voting just to get it done and out of the way.

  • Lee October 18, 2012, 8:41 pm

    This sounds so silly but I love voting! And I really love it that they give you a sticker after.

    • Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) October 19, 2012, 12:15 pm

      You have no idea how excited I get about the sticker afterwards. Makes me feel all patriotic 😉

      • Kristy October 20, 2012, 2:19 am

        I love the sticker too. And I want people l to see me wearing it later LOL

  • Carin October 18, 2012, 9:40 pm

    Nick makes a blog appearance! Yay!

    Hahaha – love the sticker on the Hster – I’d have written on the bottom “18 years early”…

    Please explain the green button. Do you have electronic voting? I’ve only ever done the paper version. When I moved to NZ I couldn’t vote in the first election after I arrived (insufficient length odf residency) and it was AWFUL to be disenfranchised. PLEASE vote, Americans (especially Americans who are interested in the greater good 🙂 )

    • Caitlin October 18, 2012, 9:46 pm

      Yes you vote on a machine and then press the button to finalize it. 🙂

      • Carin October 18, 2012, 10:48 pm

        Blimey – hope US voters can cope with the technology! (No disrespect to Americans – I know it’s hard enough getting people to put a cross on a piece of paper!)

        Is there an option with this to return a blank/ spoiled vote as a protest against the system – or to show that you turned out but weren’t turned on by any of the options?

        • Vikki October 19, 2012, 10:37 am

          We’ve been doing it for a couple of elections here. My dad is a pollworker and he helps the little old people if necessary, but most people are fine with it.

  • Beks October 18, 2012, 10:02 pm

    My first time voting was 2004, and I was a freshman in college, so I did absentee ballot. I was sad that they didn’t send an “I voted” sticker with my ballot, so I asked for one (My school’s common building was a local voting area) when I got lunch. They were kind enough to let me have one. It’s a pretty exciting feeling, casting that first ballot. School elections have NOTHING on that stuff. 🙂

  • Aja October 18, 2012, 10:21 pm

    Your dinner looks amazing!

    Hooray for voting early. I have no idea where to go for that, and I don’t even know if we can in my state since they just send out absentee ballots here but I wish I could go vote now.

  • Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction October 18, 2012, 10:37 pm

    A vote is a vote no matter when it is! I was actually not aware of early voting…interesting.

  • Emma October 18, 2012, 10:55 pm

    Yay for voting. Democracy rules.

  • Rachel October 18, 2012, 11:14 pm

    The state of Washington only does mail in ballots. I’ve only ever cast a vote at a polling place once, when I was in college. What’s nice here, is the Sec. of State sends out a voters guide w/ every issue & person on the ballot for you county along w/ state stuff. My husband & I will go through our ballot along w/ the guide & decide on our votes. Once it’s done you just drop it in your local drop box, usually at the public library. No muss, no fuss & NO LINES 😀

    You’ve talked about voting a couple times now, on the blog & every time I wonder: Is your husband eligible to vote in the U.S.?

    • Caitlin October 19, 2012, 8:45 am

      Nope 🙂 not a citizen.

      • Katherina October 19, 2012, 8:48 am

        why is Nick then? your huz isn’t a citizen? waaaaaaaaaaaht?

        • Caitlin October 19, 2012, 10:01 am

          Nick is his stepbrother and is American.

  • Elisabeth October 18, 2012, 11:20 pm

    Cool – a Nick photo! 😉

  • Nicole October 18, 2012, 11:55 pm

    Yay long voting lines!!

    Henry is adorrrrable! He’s so grown up!

  • Carrie @ The Cook's Palette October 19, 2012, 1:32 am

    I’ve always done the absentee ballot with being at school and whatnot, but this inspires me to go to the polls this year. I sort of like that you’re a bit more connected to what you are offically doing. The sticker seems really cool too. 🙂

  • Sana October 19, 2012, 2:42 am

    My brother joked that when he runs for President (not happening) that he would appoint my mom to be The First Mother. Too funny.

  • Hattie October 19, 2012, 3:08 am

    Nothing to do with voting, but thought you might enjoy this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2218515/Think-ready-children-Hilarious-new-parent-test-taking-mummy-blogs-storm-MIGHT-just-off.html

  • Mel October 19, 2012, 4:22 am

    Since I’m in Morocco I mailed my ballot in a few weeks ago! It’ll make the trip to the Peace Corps office, the U.S. Embassy, and then hopefully my home state! I was a bit disgruntled when I found out that my vote likely won’t get counted until the end of November…but at least they sent me the ‘I voted’ sticker right? Hahaha…but yeah, like the commenter above said: Democracy rules. P.S.- I got a good laugh what you wrote the other day about your neighbors all hating you between your Miami flag and political sign. 🙂

  • Vivian October 19, 2012, 7:14 am

    2 things – 1) I turned in my absentee ballot already, do yay for voting! 2) I generally think mixed kids are always the cutest, but there’s something about that Henry. He is one major cutie.

  • Army Amy* October 19, 2012, 7:22 am

    I’m out of the country, so it’s absentee voting for me this year. I sent my stuff in about a week ago. I definitely missed the polling place experience. I love getting the sticker and waiting in line. But I’m even more bummed that I won’t get to watch election day coverage live! Where I’m living (Germany) the time here is 6 hours ahead of the east coast USA. I will long be in bed by the time the president is announced. Lame.*

  • Molly @ RDexposed October 19, 2012, 8:13 am

    I have to do early voting plus mail in! I am registered in a county that is 2 hours away and I fly out of state on election day at 6 am. I won’t be to a physical polling site until I’m 29!

  • Lindsay October 19, 2012, 8:22 am

    Nick is so cute!!!!! Finally we see him!

  • Jen October 19, 2012, 8:26 am

    Henry looks SO much like you there! Cutie patooty.

  • Samantha Angela October 19, 2012, 9:13 am

    Why were the lines so long? Because it was early voting? I don’t think I’ve ever had to wait in line to vote before. …then again, I’ve never voted early.

  • Karen @ Runner Girl Eats October 19, 2012, 9:23 am

    I feel the same way about early voting, it just doesn’t seem the same as the first Tues of November! But I’ll be voting early this year too since I’m taking the GRE on Election Day and that’s enough stress for one day 😉

  • Carrie @ Fitness and Frozen Grapes October 19, 2012, 10:18 am

    I mailed in my absentee ballot yesterday–great minds think alike. 🙂

  • CJ @ Fill the Well October 19, 2012, 10:57 am

    This is my first year of voting in person – I’ve been in college, traveling, or otherwise occupied away from my home voting district every year. I was very excited about it…until I saw those lines. At least I get a sticker!

  • deva at deva by definition October 19, 2012, 11:03 am

    i haven’t explored early voting in my current town, but I do plan to get in line and vote for sure on election day. My first experience voting was in 2004. I had moved across campus the day before election day and my living situation confused the poll workers a bit too much.

  • julia October 19, 2012, 11:36 am

    this should be posted on one of your birth control posts. i remember you asking about the male pill for BC–they are starting! http://www.sciencemag.org/content/338/6105/318.summary

    • Caitlin October 19, 2012, 11:53 am

      awesome

  • Allison October 19, 2012, 1:11 pm

    We vote entirely by mail in OR, and it is awesome. We have very long ballots with lots of initiatives, and getting to sit at home and read about each one while I decide how to vote is key for me. Since I voted in GA absentee while I was at college and then in OR by mail I have never been to a polling place.

  • Jasmine, bama + ry October 19, 2012, 2:05 pm

    Yaaaaaay! Go you!

    Here in Oregon, we vote by mail. BEST WAY EVER.

  • Natalie @ Free Range Human October 19, 2012, 2:48 pm

    So glad you exercised your rights today!

  • Amber K October 19, 2012, 3:10 pm

    I love that we vote by mail in Oregon. I have absolutely zero desire to stand in line! Also, my husband and I sit down and read all of the literature and vote on each thing together one by one. We don’t always agree, but it’s a fun discussion. It’d be such a bummer to lose that.

  • Cfayla Johnson October 19, 2012, 4:16 pm

    Happy to see you exercising your rights!

    I am doubly as happy to see you included almonds in your meal — raw nuts are high in raw fat which equals plenty of good brain energy!

    Just had to share that little comment. Thanks for sharing. already looking forward to your next post.

  • Ellen @ Wannabe Health Nut October 20, 2012, 7:43 am

    Way to get your vote on, Henry! He’s too cute.

  • Karen October 21, 2012, 12:25 pm

    Props to the DC United fan! They clinched a playoff berth last night.

    Hubby and I both absentee voted by mail as my due date is three days before elections.

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