Chicagoist: Get Your Vote On! Election Day 2008 Is Here

Shannon

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:38:43 -0600

6:15 am in the 47th ward, same as JD84. i was #84. didn't get out until 7:30. others in line said there were at least 25 people lined up before 6. our touchscreen and paper reader were both having problems, but a tech showed up right before i voted.

Scooter Libbby

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:13:51 -0600

10AM in Rogers Park, no wait at all. Three people in line when I left.

louweezy

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:08:34 -0600

640am Elston/Hamlin, voter#35- 30 second line. Still many clueless/disorganized officials/workers-I must volunteer, they are tedious year after year. In the last primary at around 7am, I was voter#2, so that's a fair jump. Even though I almost never ever miss a vote, I brought my passport along due to paranoia that they'd say I wasn't registered.

megrut

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:36:17 -0600

In line at 7:00 in Humboldt Park, done at 8:00. Long wait due mostly to inept workers. Had to explain alphabetization and ID laws to election judge. Due to slow sign in, typically only 4 out of 20 booths were being used, and they weren't even giving people the option of voting electronically.

ackack

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:31:52 -0600

Wilson & Damen was a nightmare. I was number 79 - our touchscreen was down and I had to wait over an hour. I got in line at 6:10 am.

Chuck Sudo

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:10:51 -0600

#17 at my polling place in the wunnerful Bridgeport area. In 2004 I was #31 at 11 a.m. The lines at 6:15 a.m. were small but "busy for this time of day," according to the election judges. Bodes well for turnout.

kaylee

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:56:16 -0600

I was number 85 when I made it to the front -- I got there at 6:30, and live in the southeastern corner of Rogers Park. Impressive turnout, I have to say...

ophmarketing

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:45:10 -0600

At a little before 7:00 am, I was voter number 32 at my polling place. That may not sound like much, but in years past, I've only been in the low 100s AFTER WORK at 6:00 pm.

JimTheBeerGuy

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:35:42 -0600

In true Chicago fashion, this poll encourages multiple votes. I arrived at the police station at 5400 N. Lincoln at a little after 7am and was in and out rather quickly. I was voter number 57. They told me in previous years they wouldn't see a number that high until 11am or so. Which means, in addition to the "record turnout" predictions being confirmed anecdotally, that I must vote at the least busy polling place in the city. There were a couple of problems with registrations that I experienced; I was listed as inactive so I had to show 2 forms of ID and sign an affidavit, and a friend of mine was off the rolls completely, though he was registered to vote, and he had to have 2 witnesses sign an affidavit stating he was known to still live at his current address. We both were able to vote but I encourage people to make sure you bring identification to the polls. I don't want to sound paranoid, but if you are eligible to vote, don't give anybody an excuse to not allow your vote.

JD84

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:09:18 -0600

My roommate and I left the house at about 5:55am to walk the 150 ft or so to our polling place in the 47th ward on Montrose. Right as we got there a line formed, I voted 16th. Problem was they had one compu-voter machine, which was down. I left there about 6:35ish perhaps. My only issue was with all those judges, eish.