Kids' Vote

[janradder]

Our polling site has a couple of booths set up for kids to vote so we brought Arie and Éiden down after dinner (results will be posted here). Arie carefully read through his ballot (as well as an exit poll that the workers kindly gave him as we left), thinking out each of his decisions before filling in his vote (unless I'm wrong, he wound up voting Dems across the board). Éiden, on the other hand, was a strong proponent of the silly vote. He voted for "Barack Obrama!" and then Al Franken ("Because he's silly!"). Then he voted for Republican Barb White for U. S. Representative I think because he liked her picture.

After the boys voted, we filled out some exit polls (the first I've ever done that) though haddayr and I both voted earlier in the day. After filling out mine, I watched Éiden run from tree to tree yeling "Barack Obrama!" and waited for Arie to finish filling out his (he read through each question and very seriously filled in each answer which was absolutely adorable) and I watched people walking around the park and walking in and out of the building to vote and I was struck by how different this was from 2004 and 2000. In those years there was a tension in the air that you could almost see. Today, and it might have something to do with the wonderful weather we've had in Minnesota, there was a party atmosphere. Everyone was smiling and relaxed, like we were all just waiting to break out in celebration for what we all hoped would happen tonight rather than dreading what we hoped wouldn't. It's kind of a nice feeling.

Comments

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

We are biting our nails in NC. We have watched the polls come as close so far as McCain leading with a margin of 5,000 votes. He was the leader here until yesterday. I want to see blue so badly. You guys made us feel good. It is a bit of a tense night for us. When I cast my vote, it felt momentous. That was days ago now. I still feel a small bit of ownership in hearing ads for change. I have hope.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Even though the election was already decided, I saw that the AP declared Obama the winner in NC. That's pretty cool!

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I found out about 20 minutes ago. I am very happy. McCain lead our state until the day before the election. We are usually presidential red. We turned! We turned!

[sacwentie.livejournal.com]

GOd I have such cute nephews.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Even though I'm fairly biased, I must concur.