Maxima

Well, K and M, did you ever think your dad would be voting in an American election?  No, neither did he.  In fact, he still finds it frustrating that we (in America) cannot send a politician home if they are doing a bad job.  If only we could combine our systems

Our polling place(voting place) is at the High School.  First person is at the door of the gym and she asks your name.  Your name is on her list if you have voted in this precinct before.  If not, she checks your address by the proof you bring and then sends you to a table to register.  In Minnesota, you can register the same day you vote.  Many states you cannot and if you are not registered say by October 15th, then you cannot vote on November 7th.  Blips’ name is on her chart, so go on in to table #1.  This is where the election judge looks up your name and has you sign your signature under it when she gives you a slip of paper.  She cannot spell S-N and says it is not there.  They could not find Maxima’s earlier in the day either.  Maxima was able to find it upside down.  Spelling is not a requirement to be an election judge I guess.  Maxima finds it for her.  Ohhhhhhhhhh she says, she was trying to find it under S-M-N….duh.  Blips signs by his name and gets the little slip.  Go to table #3.

He takes the little slip to another election judge at table #3 and she starts to give him the ballot. She stops and asks me if I have permission to take pictures.  Huh?  She tells me I have to have permission from the head election judge and his name is John at the registration table.  Blips gets his ballot while John explains to me that I can only take a pic of Blips if I have his permission and no one elses picture.  So, I don’t get a picture of Blips turning in his slip and getting his ballot.  The ballot judge will also walk you through the ballot if you have any questions.

Blips goes over to the voting booths.  There are 15 of them lined up.  I get a picture of him and an empty booth.  Lady at the final stop where you turn in your completed ballot has a hissy fit.  NO PICTURES.  I told her John the head judge said I could take a picture of just my husband.  hissy fit continues.  I offer to show her the picture according to John’s guidelines.  hissy fit continues and she marches…..and I mean *marches* off in John’s direction. I have no desire to fight with her so I leave the gym and go stand in the hall.  Two people tease me as they leave…….”don’t take any pictures”!!!  So, I don’t get a picture of Blips putting his ballot in a box that sucks his ballot in. 

But here is a picture of the front door marking the polling place and the time 7am to 8pm.  And the red dot on his jacket is a sticker that says….I voted.