Events Calendar
In This Section
Famous hobby rocket begins new voyage at museum
UA stadium crews driving toward opening goal
10 runs barely enough in Tribe's win
Patrick McManamon: Varejao's $50 million deal isn't really $50 million
Hospital connects to patients online
Cavs, Varejao agree on six-year deal
YRC, Teamsters reach tentative deal on concessions
Most Read Stories
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Woman, 75, charged with beating fawn to death
Akron woman found dead at Brimfield Township store
Man shot in back near Akron park
Man shot outside his Akron home during robbery attempt
Man admits repeatedly biting 2-year-old
Tragic day puts man on path to be Pinnacle owner
Blogs:
Pets:
Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous
The Heldenfiles:
Who Will Get the Michael Media Treatment Next?
Patrick McManamon:
More on Varejao
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Tribe Matters:
Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Andy’s Signed According to ESPN
All Da King's Men:
Does Medicare Have Lower Administrative Costs ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
CIA Did Mislead Congress
Akron Law Café:
Breaking Story: CIA Lied to Congress about Secret Program
Varsity Letters:
East basketball update
See Jane Style:
Oh Baby!
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Closings….Not the Good Kind!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
Casting ballots early an ambitious but imperfect experiment
By David Giffels
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 01, 2008
If democracy looks like anything, it looks like this: imperfect, communal, orderly and unadorned.
It looks like the Job Center on Tallmadge Avenue on a weekday afternoon, where the mundane revolution of early voting fills a white warehouse, citizens in dense lines, each waiting for his own name to crest the endless cadence of voter rolls cattle-called from the loudspeaker.
It looks like folding tables and bold signs pointing where to stand and wait — and stand and wait and stand and wait: the American Way — ever-growing hundreds of people rotating through those booths far in the back, the mass of the public funnelled down, one after another, to the individual: one citizen and one ballot, back facing the crowd, choosing.
It looks like a confessional in Grand Central Station.
It looks and feels and sounds like an ambitious experiment. And if there's any phrase
that describes the American experience, it's that: an ambitious experiment.
So this revolution is, almost by definition, an imperfect improvement.
Early voting makes casting a ballot more convenient and more available than ever before, yet on this afternoon most people have waited longer than they've ever waited at their home precinct.
So democracy looks like this: It looks like Mick Hartlaub and Jenna Christie arriving five days before the election because they thought they'd beat the crowds, only to turn back after learning the wait could be an hour, which would make Jenna late for class at the University of Akron.
It looks like Donna Kundtz and her friend Alberta Biegelman, who drove in together from Twinsburg, got in and out in 30 minutes, and avoided the conflict of a busy Tuesday.
It looks like Rich Ferris of Ellet, who arrived with his wife Emily, got out in 15 minutes, then waited outside for half an hour until Emily's name was called.
By week's end, more than 15 million people had already voted in the 30-plus states that allow early ballots. Summit County expects to collect as many as 100,000 early and absentee ballots before Election Day.
When we were farmers
It's a long-needed update to an almost comically archaic system of rules that date back to the mid-19th century. The reason we vote in November is because we used to be a nation of farmers, and elections had to wait until the harvesting was done. The reason we vote on a Tuesday is because people had to travel to the county seat — a day's journey by horseback for most citizens — and few would consider setting off on a Sunday, thus breaking the Sabbath.
And so it has taken until the 21st century for the democratic process to catch up with the 20th century, which to most of us sounds like a good metaphor for American government.
A slow deliberation of revolutions.
Most of the people I talked to outside the cavernous voting warehouse were there because it made the process more convenient, and most recognized that convenience is relative.
An Akron man, Eugene Young, said he works out of town and couldn't have made it on Tuesday.
A Cuyahoga Falls man, Joe Kassuba, just started a new job and is scheduled to work on Election Day.
A Hudson woman, Sue Larson, was with her husband visiting a nearby nursing home and they decided to take care of voting on the way home. An extended errand.
Mix 'n' mingle
I met people from all over Summit County at the Job Center, from inner-city Akron to the far northern suburbs, from Ellet to Cuyahoga Falls, people who'd never have commingled in the traditional ward-and-precinct system.
I met a man who at 44 was voting for the first time, and a couple in their 70s, apprehensively breaking tradition.
I watched a couple arrive at the glass entrance doors, lose momentum as they entered the packed room, tap a stranger on the shoulder, and turn back around.
An hour? An hour wait?
Many said they were thankful to be able to choose a crisp, sunny autumn afternoon for this act of democracy, not knowing what Tuesday will bring.
Some wondered aloud if this convenience was worth the inconvenience.
One said he doesn't understand why we can't do this online.
And yet all of them gave it a try, and all seemed to agree on at least one thing: that it's not perfection we want so much as an equal chance to be counted.
David Giffels is a Beacon Journal columnist. He can be reached at 330-996-3572 or at dgiffels@thebeaconjournal.com.
If democracy looks like anything, it looks like this: imperfect, communal, orderly and unadorned.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 08:56 AM, 11/01/2008
This was a terrible time to experiment with voting. It has without a doubt led to wide spread voter fraud and has put the results of a presidential election into question. There will be numerous investigations after the election, and i would hope that many politicians like Brunner will see jail time.
No to socialism, no to obama, yes to the American Dream, yes to freedom
http://palestra.net/news/ohio-voting
Posted 09:46 AM, 11/01/2008
Seeing is believing about obama. pass this on
http://www.4warned.info
Posted 10:16 AM, 11/01/2008
Senator McCain stands up in front of veterans groups wherever he goes and pulls out his quote from George Washington on the need to take care of returning veterans. Meanwhile, McCain has one of the very worst voting records when it comes to veterans issues of any legislator past or present.
But you don't have to believe me - many non-partisan stats are out there for you to find out what a FRAUD McCain is on your own. At the following link you can see just what the DAV thinks of him:http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3483.
At this next link - you can see how the IAVA feels about him:http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=4227&rtype=R
In both cases above- you will see that Obama (and every other Democrat) scores MUCH, MUCH better than McCain.
No Fraud can be greater than the fraud the Republicans on the aggregate have pulled when sending troops into hell and bringing them back to no support. Only TWO Republicans above 66?
Using non-sequitor sort of argument McCain has tried to foist in so many ways - if McCain has been lying to veterans all along - his brothers in arms - why then, should he hesitate to lie to you?
Posted 10:31 AM, 11/01/2008
I was apprehensive about early voting, thinking I'd miss the excitement of my local polls and the sense of community that voting together brings. Was I wrong! Early voting at the Job Center was a terrific experience. Like David, I met folks from other parts of town - people with whom I seemingly share little - except a sense of community and the willingness to wait an hour to vote. It's indoors, it's warm, there are seats. You simply sit and chat until your name is called. Voting couldn't be easier.
Giving an hour to the political process is a very small price to pay to be an American. And in this election, I'd have happily waited eight hours to cast my vote for Barack Obama, to control payday lenders, and to keep casinos out of Ohio. Good writing David.
Stow, OH
Posted 11:06 AM, 11/01/2008
We live in the USA not Kenya, Romania, or Yougolavia and what the libs are doing to the voting system is making a mockery of it.
Flooding the system with invalid registrations and ballots only reduces validity of our elections and creates uncertainty. These far left community organizing and Chicago style tactics will come back to bite those that initiated them eventually.
Posted 11:17 AM, 11/01/2008
PALIN VIDEOS ARE SCARY! PLEASE VIEW ALL 3 AND PASS TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS! HAS ANYONE VIEWED THESE VIDEOS? IF YOU WATCH THIS AND STILL VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND PALIN, YOU SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR MENTAL PROBLEMS!
www.barackforus.com/?p=354
Posted 11:17 AM, 11/01/2008
WHO IS JOHN McCAIN? Read below.
I wish I could say I was surprised by this, but let face it: there were signs. There was John McCain’s long opposition to a national holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr., his use of racial epithets, his love of racist jokes, and the increasingly racist tone of his campaign.
It seems that John McCain was a member and sat on the board of the US Council for World Freedom (”USCWF”), an organization noted for its extreme ideology, racism, and anti-semitism. This organization has been described as “largely a collection of Nazis, fascists, anti-Semites, sellers of forgeries, vicious racialists, and corrupt self seekers.” Why on earth would John McCain associate himself with such a group? Why would he take a leadership position with it?
John McCain’s membership in this group goes a long way towards explaining why his brother Joe McCain goes around referring to everything he doesn’t agree with as “communist.” In the eyes of this group Jews, Blacks and Communists are all pretty much the same thing.
I don’t see how anyone who calls themself a friend of Israel could be involved in any way with such an organization, let alone sit on its board and coordinate its activities. When it comes to racism and anti-semitism, John McCain has a lot of explaining to do.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:07 PM, 11/01/2008
"Early voting makes casting a ballot more convenient and more available than ever before, yet on this afternoon most people have waited longer than they've ever waited at their home precinct."
Isn't the reason for having PRECINCTS to distribute the population into polling places with limited and even numbers of people to process, as they vote?? Why go to a place with unlimited numbers of people lining up?
Also, precincts are there to have the appropriate ballots for local issues, school levies, etc. At a place like the Job Center voting station, it would take longer to get everyone started with the right, customized ballot for where they actually live! It makes no sense to set up the early voting THIS way.
And, all this early voting makes the handling of the ballots and boxes more open to fraud and manipulation. One reason for having "Election Day" is so that everyone does it at once and there's less time to mess around with the completed ballots.
Early voting in person should be held starting Saturday morning and going thru Monday night at about 9:00. The numbers of people assigned to each precinct should be balanced and evened out to reduce wait times. Maybe the more dense population areas need more precincts for Election Day(s) . . . that don't go on for a whole month but rather, for just 3 days.
Posted 12:56 PM, 11/01/2008
Went to Medina Co. Board of Elections Thursday am, around 8:45am. Very efficient, in and out within 10 minutes!
Posted 01:14 PM, 11/01/2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/11/ap-reports-that.html
AP Reports - Obama's Aunt is in the U.S. Illegally
November 01, 2008 3:19 AM And, she is living in publci housing.
Zeituni Onyango, Sen. Barack Obama's long-lost half-aunt who was discovered living in public housing in Boston earlier this week, is in the U.S. illegally, the Associated Press reported Friday.
Posted 01:14 PM, 11/01/2008
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR VOTE???
Which video attitudes & political message best promotes a better America?
- Nov 4th the choice is yours.
“God Bless America?” -
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-kD0QdRJk
“God Hate America?”
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8&feature=rec-fresh
“Tested and Ready?”
3. http://www.johnmccain.com/splash32615.htm
BEFORE YOU VOTE - Please take an opportuniy to cut throught the “exciting” campaign retorick and media bias to make sure you are clear on the differences of these two great people? à http://www.johnmccain.com/Undecided/WhyMcCain.htm
If you wish to have a rational discution about the issues involved in this years election… feel free to e-mail me and I will provide you with my research on why John McCain is best suited to lead American and the Free World at this time in History. All irrational hate mail will be sent to trash the folder.
God Bless The World!!!
Lee (Eric) Newton - 牛立德
Princeton, NJ 08540
EM: chinabposales@comcast.net
牛【niú】 Ox (cow, male: bull); (Niu) a surname
立【lì】 Stand; erect; set up; upright; establish
德【dé】 Virtue; moral character; mind; kindness
Posted 03:47 PM, 11/01/2008
oh my, if mickey mouse gets registered then it will be an unfair election. News for you, mickey mouse needs to show up with some id to vote....Why are people afraid as more people get registered to vote? Don't you want everyone to vote? Not if he /she doesn't agree with you i guess...this country is in so much trouble because of the two parties....the parties need to be scrapped. Dems won't work with Repubs and vice versus. Now the American public hates each other because of the two parties. Sheer insanity. George Washington was against politcal parties because he said it would tear the country apart. Looks like it took awhile but he was right.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:14 PM, 11/01/2008
Read "Political Monopoly Power"
http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/32513
The Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, is the document most frequently referred to when trying to get a feel for the original intent of the framers of the Constitution. One such intention is found in Federalist 56 where Madison says, "...it seems to give the fullest assurance, that a representative for every thirty thousand inhabitants will render the (House of Representatives) both a safe and competent guardian of the interests which will be confided to it." . . .
. . . In addition to venality and corruption, restricting the number of representatives confers significant monopoly power that goes a long way toward explaining the stranglehold the two parties have and the high incumbent success rates. It might also explain the power of vested interest groups to influence congressional decisions. They only have to bribe, cajole or threaten a relatively small number of representatives. Imagine the challenge to a lobbyist, if there were 7,500 representatives, trying to get a majority of 3,813 to vote for this or that special privilege versus having to get only a 218 majority in today's Congress. . . .
Akron, OH
Posted 06:28 PM, 11/01/2008
I am enjoying the things that these socialist are making up about Mr. McCain. It shows that they are in trouble. Should obama succeed in buying this election, it will just be the beginning of the battle to win the countries freedom again. The freedom fighters will rise up and make sure it is a long four years for obama and that it ends with him boarding a plane in shame and heading back to Chicago. There is no doubt that the patriots will come together and will not allow obama to turn this into a socialist country. the experiment will end in 4 years.
That being said, the polls are turning and the upset seems to be on. Mr McCain is driving towards a victory for all of American.
no to socialism, no to obama, yes to the American Dream, yes to freedom
Posted 09:29 PM, 11/01/2008
Sam I sure hope you are right.
Posted 10:35 PM, 11/01/2008
Sam, what evidence do you actually have that illegal votes were cast? Registering Mickey Mouse is NOT the same thing as voter fraud. Voter fraud only happens when someone VOTES illegally, not because the registration was invalid.
There are NO allegations of actual votes being made by illegal voters, so the results of the election are not in question at all.
This is an insightful article that helps display part of what makes this election so historic-the overwhelming participation of the American people in the presidential voting process. Hopefully, this will be the first of many years where the number of active voters grows exponentially.
No matter who you vote for, just go vote-it's our right as Americans, and the most patriotic thing most of us can do for our country.
akron, oh
Posted 01:03 AM, 11/02/2008
voting at the jobcenter today (3hrs) i see there is absolutely no way for voter fraud
Posted 12:29 AM, 11/03/2008
OBAMA WANTS TO KILL COAL INDUSTRY
GASOLINE PRICES WOULD GO SKY HIGH
Obama says: “So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can . . . . It's just that it will bankrupt them"
. . . . . . . . . .. .
Obama Called Out for Comments about Bankrupting Coal Industry
http://www.wsaz.com/political/headlines/33726759.html
. . . . . . . .
Coal official calls Obama comments 'unbelievable'
http://www.wvrecord.com/news/215679-coal-official-calls-obama-comments-unbelievable
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Palin Unleashes New Attack Against Obama On Coal
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/11/02/politics/fromtheroad/entry4564043.shtml
akron, oh
Posted 06:28 PM, 11/03/2008
I think the early voting option is great! I was able to go vote when I had time, was able to sit down at a voting booth and take time to read the ballot carefully. No standing in a long line in an overheated building, no rushing to get to my polling place and stress about parking.
I hope it is an option that will continue.
