Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The numbers.













Quick! ...before the pundits start hitting us over the head with the numbers for this election, let me tell you about MY numbers....

1 hr 45 mins - length of time I waited in line to vote

5 mins - length of time it took me to fill out ballot (I get nervous and always triple check my ballots!)

1 - complaint heard about long lines (and to be fair she was just complaining that she hadn't brought something to read to help pass the time)

12 - number of propositions on California ballot

3 - number of measures on LA County ballot

21 - number of measures on San Francisco ballot (doesn't really have anything to do w/ me now but I still love the voting process in SF!)

67 - approx. number of calls The Esquire took on his volunteer shift for Election Protection, a nonpartisan coalition that provides legal guidance and information to help ensure all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process.

6 - number of friends I saw also waiting to vote

4 - number of new friends I made while waiting to vote (3 of which live on my block!)

.39 miles or 4 blocks - distance from my house to polling place (I love walking to vote...feels so American!)

6 - number of languages spoken at polling place (English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog/Filipino and Vietnamese)

4 and 8 - propositions I voted wholeheartedly NO on because I don't think anyone -especially the government- has the right to tell me what to do with my body or who I can or can not marry.


No matter where you stand on the issues, you can't deny this has been the most exciting, energizing, election in years. Yes, I have HUGE HOPES for what the outcome will be but no matter what happens, I am just so thankful we have the right to make all these choices and am so excited that so many people are using that right. The polls had been open for one hour in California and already the voter turnout was 4 points higher than the last Presidential election.

"A sense of history" is what the LA Times is calling the atmosphere today. I like that.



5 comments:

  1. Awesome post. Now, I must go back to almost throwing up because I cannot stand anymore of this waiting thing.

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  2. Loved the #'s!! Now the only # I am interested in is 270:-)

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  3. 1 hour 45 minutes! WOW! I feel guilty - I waited less then 2 minutes.
    A big NO on 8 & 4 from us too!!

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  4. Your writing is good. I just found your blog and bookmarked it. I am also with Gladney. A little ahead of you and actually 0-9 month old twin girls or one daughter for me! The wait has been interesting.


    Keep blogging

    Robbin

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