Just got back from voting in my little corn town on the prairie

[The Polack MSgt]

Last edited Tue Nov 3, 2020, 09:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Here are my impressions.

Got there 20 minutes after the polls opened and there were already 50-60 folks lined up to vote

The only time I'd ever waited in line before was 08. Usually there's only 4 or 5 people voting at any given time out here.

I was not one of the young voters this time - I'm almost 60 BTW , but 2 years ago I was easily the youngest face in the room. Today I saw a guy that (to my eyes) looked about 12 and at least half the crowed was young adults.

My town is rural and predominately white, but we're close to a major Air Force base so it's more diverse than most towns farther east (30 miles west of us is St Louis - going east is going into the country here) and I saw several AA and Asian voters in the crowd.

It was my wife's 1st election, she became a citizen last February in part so she could vote against Trump.

And as usual I grabbed 2 "I Voted" stickers for my "Illinois Democrats Vote Twice" joke selfie that I've taken every 2 years since 98

[ret5hd]

1. I HATE those 12 yr olds...

that are voting, have college degrees, driving cars, etc. I didn't get to do all that when I was 12!!!

[The Polack MSgt]

3. I know right? The longer I stick around, the younger everybody else gets

When did 20 year olds turn into babies?

I'm sure I never looked that young.

Harrumph

[sarge43]

19. Remember when some of those kids weren't even born when you first enlisted?

That's when it's time to roll out the gate for the last time.

[The Polack MSgt]

24. A few years ago I was invited to the retirement ceremony

Of a Senior Master Sergeant who had served for 26 years. Not unusual.

Except...

I was her 1st supervisor when she came out of tech school. Wrote her 1st performance report, recommended her for Airman of the Quarter, sent her to formal training courses, you know - the whole 9 yards.

I considered myself officially old that day - I met a 18 year old kid & in what felt like month later I watched her sign out with a sleeve full of stripes and a chest full of medals.

[sarge43]

30. That's impressive ... and unsettling.

Well, you raised her right. That's the award worth having.

Back in the neolithic when I was recruit wrangling and running the gang thru The Green Monster (ate civilians, barfed out airmen) processing complex, heard one of the ancient of days civilian lady clerks say, "That's an interesting name, airman. I do believe I in-processed your father."

"....what felt like month later..." The days drag; the years fly by. *Sigh.

[ProfessorGAC]

40. My First Experience With Tjat

I was in my early 50s, so at least 10 years ago.
I'm watching the NCAA tournament, & they did a close up on two cheerleaders. They looked like little girls to me! They had to be at least 18, and up to 21.
That's when I was sure I was getting old! The 18-21 year olds look like kids!

[madaboutharry]

6. It's especially disturbing when they are your new doctor!

They walk into the room and say “Hi, I’m Dr. so and so....” and they look like they’re still in middle school.

[ret5hd]

7. It's so obvious their training was probably the game "Operation"!

[Wounded Bear]

11. "Sure Doogie. Now send in the real doctor!"

[Mad_Dem_X]

28. Yes! The first time I met my new doctor,

the first thing I said to her was: "You're so YOUNG!"

[Laha]

37. I lost out on a couple good jobs because of this

Not a doctor, just lab assistant. And I was warned in school - nobody wants someone who looks like they're 14 to stick a needle in their arm. Hard to blame them really.

[Lifelong Protester]

48. Agree!

They are too young to get the Doogie Howser reference.

[redstatebluegirl]

12. My Mom always said the older you get the younger they look :-).

[sarge43]

20. My Mom said

"It's not my grey hair that bothers me; it's my children's."

[redstatebluegirl]

25. That too!

[spooky3]

38. My late mother: "You know you're really old when your daughters have gone through menopause!" nt

[cab67]

13. I realized I'd become mature

when I caught myself referring to the college students in my classes as "kids."

[livetohike]

2. Congratulations to your wife! Thanks for the positive

report .

[beachbumbob]

4. younger voters tend to break democratic and always a good sign to see them voting

[lagomorph777]

5. How many masked vs maskholes?

That's a quick way to assess party affiliation.

[The Polack MSgt]

8. No mask no vote. I saw some red masks that I assume mean Trump support

But the mask compliance was 100% while I was there. Social distancing was pretty good too.

TBH i was pleasantly surprised - I had expected at least some "Murica is FREE!" types but I missed 'em today

There was a box of disposable masks at the entrance too.

South Illinois is red, but our County supervisor and Clerk of Courts are Democrats and so is our Governor.

So at least the process is designed to make voting easy.

[lagomorph777]

9. Glad to hear that!!

[jayschool2013]

31. I can't wait for the color red to no longer be toxic

And we can get back to rooting for our favorite red sports teams without fear of being misunderstood. For me, that's the University of Nebraska. Go Big Red! (Starting tomorrow, of course.)

[The Polack MSgt]

42. Cardinal Fan here, and I agree. nt

[Hortensis]

10. Wow! Thanks for the report from your world that caused

me to take a deep, hopeful breath.

And congrats to MsMSgt.

[KS Toronado]

14. Yea, wear 2 "I Voted" stickers and say "My president encourages it"

[dchill]

15. K&R!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

16. Your story is what makes DU such a wonderful place.

I love feeling connected to every corner of our country. I'm still lounging in bed because I voted weeks ago and here I can feel a part of the election day experience. Thanks for sharing yours.

[crickets]

21. I agree!

I love hearing everyone's stories about their voting experience. It's nice to get that vicarious thrill, especially since this is the first presidential election where I haven't voted on the day. It feels strange, but also oddly relaxing.

[jcgoldie]

17. That pisses me off!

You got two stickers and we didn't get none!

I am not far from you by your description just to the NW outside Alton.

[The Polack MSgt]

22. Alton is right up the road from me

Sucks they didn't have stickers though.

I never go too old for stickers they please my 7 year heart

[GoneOffShore]

32. Hey, one polling place in Philadelphia is next door to Philadelphia Distilling.

If you walked in today with an 'Yo, I Voted' sticker they gave you an little bottle of Blue Coat gin.

I didn't get one because I no longer live there.

[marlakay]

33. I think states that vote by mail

Should include a sticker inside the envelope, I know you could actually cheat but really how many would wear the sticker and throw away envelope?

Or they could have a volunteer by ballot boxes handing them out, just a thought...

[hunter]

39. I'm in California. We got stickers with ours.

It is a nice thing, especially for those accustomed to voting in person, as I am.

[marlakay]

41. I am in Oregon

Think I will write secretary of state and ask about it for next time.

I know they love to say how much money we save doing it by mail but maybe we could send donations for the stickers.

[Devilsun]

18. Blue Tsunami ✌

[calimary]

23. NICE!

We voted on October 15th the day our ballots arrived in the mail! Dropped ‘em in the City Hall ballot drop box that same late-afternoon.

Two more for Biden/Harris!

Felt good!!!

[world wide wally]

26. For you Sarge

Ooops... Wrong one....Sorry

Fixed

[The Polack MSgt]

44. Good song

M wife prefers the happy creatures to stay in the lawn.

Occasionally they get into the house and that's an issue

[questionseverything]

45. Creedence is never wrong

[elleng]

27. Vote Early and Often!!!

"Illinois Democrats Vote Twice"

[MustLoveBeagles]

29. Thanks for sharing

I'm to the north and east of you. And congratulations to Mrs.MSgt on her first election.

[The Polack MSgt]

47. Thank you for the kind thoughts and Mrs, MSgt appreciates the greeting

She thanks you for that.

[MustLoveBeagles]

49. Your welcome Mrs.MSgt

My maternal grandparents were immigrants. They cast their first presidential votes for JFK. They were staunch Democrats until their deaths. I forgot to thank you for your service in my first post, so I'll do it now. Thank you.

[BobTheSubgenius]

34. Definitely encouraging!

Thank you for the update...which I am taking as Good News.

[sleroy49]

35. You must be over by Scott AFB

I used to go to the airshow there every year.

[The Polack MSgt]

43. I'm hoping we can start having (at least) open houses again

if we can't get a demo team to perform.

I get that Air Shows are really expensive, but Military Bases belong to America.

We should be able to get on base now and again to look around have a burger and see what our tax money goes to

[BumRushDaShow]

36. Glad that you are seeing/experiencing a "2008"-style turnout

I am getting that feel a bit around here in Philly and it's immediate burbs too - at least somewhere like 2008 and 2018, although it's sometimes been difficult to assess due to the pandemic mess.

I know that thanks to our "no-excuse absentee ballot" option, it has definitely been a help with "turnout", particularly with those concerned with our COVID spike.

[Cha]

46. KR!!