| Yesterday afternoon I was running some errands for work and decided to try to vote. I didn't know how crowded the polling places would be, or how long it might take. I usually like to vote on Election Day. There's something exciting about voting on that day, with millions of other people, that really makes you feel like you're part of the democratic process. This time for some reason, I wasn't going to take any chances. I wanted to take care of it early. I drove by the Carver Library on Rosewood Avenue in East Austin. There was a parking place right out front, so I pulled in. I wasn't sure whether I went into the library or the museum, and there was a sign right there saying "vote in the library" so I walked into the library building. Right inside a lady asked me if I was here to vote, and I said yes, and she guided me to the right room. There was no line. There were about 5 other people voting right then, but no one was waiting in line. I asked if there had been a lot of people voting today, and was told that many people were but that I just happened to be there during a lull. "Come back at 4:00 and we'll be packed," someone said. The poll workers checked my registration card, confirmed my address, got me to sign on the dotted line and gave me the little slip that tells you what code to punch into the voting machine. I wasn't asked to show my driver's license. About two minutes after I pulled up in my car, I was voting. No angst-ridden hand wringing at the voting machine for me - I knew how to operate the e-slate machine, and I knew who and what I was voting for (and against). I completed my ballot, cast it, affixed my "I voted" sticker to my chest and, with a warm 'goodbye' from the polling place staffers and a 'thanks for what y'all do' from me to the poll workers, I was out the door and on my way to another errand. It couldn't have been easier, friendlier or more satisfying. You can find your early voting location here: https://voterinfo.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/SearchSelectionPolling.jsp |
