Ohioans Vote Early in Large Numbers

An off-week for the Ohio State football team possibly swelled the number of Franklin County Ohio voters that stood outside of Veterans Memorial to vote.

The convention hall in downtown Columbus opened at 8:00am on the Saturday before the historic election and those on line that early in the morning cast their vote between four to five hours later.

The line outside of Veterans Memorial wrapped around the building and continued its winding path inside.

According to an Obama organizer no one from the McCain camp appeared to have stopped by the site where dozens of voters waited in line. From the look of things, the McCain camp continued to focus on the undecided voters and on this line all had their minds made up -- to vote for Obama.

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"I voted for Obama. We 'Baracked the Vote,'" a voter said.

As people exited the polling site, they cheered and encouraged those still on line to "stick with it" and that "it was worth it." Many needed the motivation as news spread that the one hour line outside the building was followed by at least two to three more hours of waiting inside.

Some first time voters felt the weight of this election because the outcome affected their futures and they wanted to decide for themselves what that future would look like

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But in true Saturday Buckeye tradition, Ohioans came prepared to "tailgate," this time without football.

"The Obama team bought a bunch of refreshments for folks on line," said Dan O'Connor, a New Yorker who came this weekend to Ohio to help turnout the vote. "Anybody like a cup of coffee?"

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Comments

[Tim303]

The coffee and doughnuts thing is so righteous. Just perfect.

[LemonMeringue]

Take election day off, and volunteer, or just show up at polls and pass out treats and encourage people, and bring a video camera and a cell phone in case there is trouble.

You know you won't be able to concentrate on work anyway, and neither will anyone else! Plus you'll be able to make that 7 p.m. party you know your local Democratic headquarters has scheduled.

[AbstractImp]

The election should be a two day holiday for everyone, all using the same ballot format, machines and a paper trail.

[MathTeach]

In a recent interview by CNN's Blitzer, I noticed Barack Obama and his tall, lankiness, and large ears...reminding me of another President. Abraham Lincoln...anyone else see resemblences, physical, stature, calmness, and decisiveness in a divided US of A?

[Omidal]

True about the resemblance, but no one can outdo or out think the great Genius of American politics.
Lincoln is the epitome of this country.

[smbs]

It is the same soul back to finish what he couldn't before!

[Archivist1000]

WTG OHIO

To everyone else:

GO VOTE PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE COUNTING ON EACH OTHER!

Lines are long .......... take a cooler full of snacks and drinks!

YOU CAN THEN SIT ON THE COOLER WHILE IN LINE!

HAVE A PARTY!

[BGDiNLV]

Tailgating.Great IDEA!!!!!!

[sonson]

"The Obama team bought a bunch of refreshments for folks on line," said Dan O'Connor, a New Yorker who came this weekend to Ohio to help turnout the vote. "Anybody like a cup of coffee?"

I THINK THAT'S WHAT OBAMA WORKERS SHOULD DO ALL DAY LONG ON ELECTION DAY -- BRING COFFEE, DONUTS, PIZZA, WHATEVER!!! JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE -- NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE VOTING FOR -- JUST VOTE! PERSEVERE; STAY IN LINE, AND BE HEARD -- DON'T GET DISCOURAGED -- WE ARE PULLING FOR YOU!!

[george venny]

Absolutely amazing that it takes that long to vote in America, we can put a man on the moon but cannot get a voting system down.

A) Standardized ballots for National and State elections. Local ballots can be formed anyway jurisdictions see fit.

B) EVERYONE over 18 is registered to vote automatically. You go to a polling station and give your social and driver license/I.D. card and vote. One social, one vote.

C) Mandate certain number of polling machines per capita. (ex. 10 per 100,000 people).

D) Move election day to first weekend in November, polls open Friday through Sunday night.

E) Either use paper ballots or electronic machines with a papertrail (democracy worth the expense)

[SueMVetforObama]

We can actually do this. As the American people, we can amend the Constitution. Consider, once Barack is in, emailing your Reps to start the process of a Constitutional Convention.

[lisakaz2]

Great scenes. It matters! Keep it up everyone.

[hogoza]

I can tell you one thing, USA has got so many people desperate for HOPE. If it continues like this on Tuesday, McCain supporters won't vote at all. They can't stand on the same line.

[Tunghoy]

It's outrageous that in the world's richest country, supposedly the greatest beacon of freedom, liberty and democracy, citizens of many states have to endure multiple-hour waits in line just to vote. These people were waiting 3 hours; CNN reported areas in Florida where early voting was taking 8 hours.

One of the first tasks of the new administration and Congress must be to ensure that people in all states and all districts can vote quickly and easily. If it means spending millions of dollars on voting equipment, so be it. As the cliche goes, Freedom isn't free.

These long waits are probably unconstitutional, anyway. If you have to give up a day's wages just to vote, that's a poll tax.

[payos]

The voting process is truly all messed up. This illustrates how our elections have degenerated into a travesty of one of the most basic principles of democracy.

[BGDiNLV]

What I love about this.Is now our white brothers and sisters get to see what the A.A communities have been putting up with for years.This election is opening alot of people's eye in this Great country that we live in.Republicans do not care WHO YOU ARE.If you are not with them then Fu&* you.Black or white!!!! Well it looks like it to me that WE THE PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT AGENDA!!!!

[sonson]

I AGREE!!

[Emlyn]

In my home state, we can vote by mail. It's the only way to go.

[LemonMeringue]

It is so SANE that it is insane not to have implemented it all over the country.

I guess certain people cannot get rich off paper mail-in ballots, and the potential for cheating is just not enough to satisfy the Republicans.