Early voting is well underway in John McCain's home state, which some polls are now calling a toss-up. Tucson early voting sites report unprecedented turnout. Some voting sites are struggling to keep up: Joy in Tucson reported waiting in line for thirty minutes without moving an inch, only to learn that a printer had broken and they were nearly out of paper ballots. As she was deciding whether to leave and come back she overheard two people in their twenties behind her say: "What are we going to do? We won't have any time for studying.' When one expressed her discouragement and talked about not voting at all, Joy felt compelled to turn to them. "I urged them not to leave," said Joy. "I told them - we need the youth vote!"
Peggy Hazard called to report an even longer wait. "The line is moving, but I've been here for 50 minutes and I'm only halfway to the voting booth." The long lines and an unseasonably warm day caught the long-time Tucsonan by surprise: "I had to call my dad and ask him to bring me some water!" Hazard was estimating she would be in line a total of 2 hours before finally casting her ballot. "But," she added defiantly, "I'm not leaving until I cast my vote."
Independent voter Jill Schneider reported what she called 'unbelievably insulting" robocalls she received from the Republican party. "In the last two days," Schneider says, "I've gotten at least two, and they always start the same: 'I'm calling for John McCain, and I'm calling to let you know that Barack Obama is dangerous.' I don't know what else they say, because that's when I hang up. They're disgusting. McCain should be ashamed." Hazard, too, has been targeted by Republican robocalls: "I don't answer the phone when I don't know who it is, and they're actually leaving these things on my answering service. It's disturbing."
Meanwhile at the Northwest Democratic Headquarters, to say things are busy would be a gross understatement. When state senate candidate Cheryl Cage and former Arizona State Representative Lena Seradnik walked in at 1 pm, they stood in the doorway with their mouths agape. The small office was filled to capacity; volunteers were on every phone, in every chair, at every table and every computer, over thirty volunteers laughing, talking, sharing stories and working hard to get out the vote. The kitchen was piled high with food and drinks, almost all donated by (and much of it home-made by) volunteers. When informed that the office had been humming like this since 10 a.m., Seradnik got tears in her eyes. "This does my heart good," she said as her voice choked with emotion. "I am so delighted!" added Cage, pumping her fists above her in the air. Much of the conversation in the crowded office centered around the latest polls showing Barack Obama and John McCain in a virtual tie in McCain's home state. "If Barack Obama wins Arizona," one volunteer said with a giant laugh, "that would be the ultimate icing on the proverbial cake!"
Early voters throughout the West were anxious to share their experiences, and excitement. Mattie voted early in Espanola, New Mexico and took photos for her baby book. "I wanted to record my baby's 'first vote," the expectant mom said. When she received her "I voted today" sticker, she promptly put it as close to the baby as she could...right on her belly. Jane in La Quinta, California didn't waste a moment before casting her vote. "My husband and I received our absentee ballots in the mail, filled them out and brought them back to the post office within 30 minutes. I am not joking. I wanted my vote IN AND NOW!"
A voter in Arizona who did not wanted to be named recounted why voting was a very special experience this year. "My father was very active in the civil rights movement. I wish he had lived long enough to see this day. But when I filled in my ballot and cast my vote for Barack Obama, I felt like he was there, right beside me."