A co-worker of mine recently voted early in an effort to avoid the long lines on election day. As a result, he waited in line over 30 minutes to vote early — longer than he’s ever had to wait to vote in his life (and he’s been voting since the Nixon administration).
So now I’m curious. Those of you who voted early, what was your experience? Was it more convenient? Quicker? Why did you vote early? Did it meet your expectations?
My wife and I voted early at the Peoria Election Commission. Did so to avoid long waits at the polling place. We waited about five minutes only, a good experience.
My son came down from Chicago and voted last Saturday at Midstate. He said it was hilarious… none of the elderly people knew how to work the machine and they were yelling from the booth, “Hey, how do I go back? I voted for the wrong person!”
My sister voted early on Saturday. She said it took her nearly an hour to get through. Personally, I’m waiting until Tuesday.
I’m also waiting until Tuesday. As of right now, I’m still undecided.
Bwah..haha ha!
My husband and I voted early at the Peoria Election Commission and it took about 15 minutes — they had to register a new voter. It worked well and we are election judges so we had to vote early or by absentee ballot to have our votes counted. At that point, it was the first week of early voting and voter turnout was at 16%. Even waiting an hour would be okay with me, at least I can vote and I did not have to walk several hours over mountainous terrain to vote, was not intimidated, was not shot at, etc. as has been reported in other countries. For the most part — we live a cushy life and complain too much — myself included.
I voted early at the Peoria Election Commission. There were no lines and I only had to wait until a person got done. I voted early to avoid problems on election day, and because I was decided. No reason to wait. A woman was there demonstrating how to use the machine for those who needed it. It was a very good experience.
I voted last Friday at West Peoria City Hall at about 9 a.m.–there were two vacant machines, so I was able to vote without any wait. However, I heard that there was a long line at other times.
The wait at both 2016 N. Knoxville and at Midstate College was well over an hour yesterday afternoon at 4.
I voted on the second day, of early voting at the courthouse, for and there was a small wait for count elections, but voting for the city election, I got right in.
I voted this week at the courthouse. It was very quick. Probably 15 minutes.
What a great country we live in-people can’t wait to vote but are willing to wait over and hour .
Diane, you really undecided? Wow I am shocked. There is hope.
(pssst- I think she was joking)
About a five minute wait last week. One lady didn’t have her I.D. with her and was astounded that they wouldn’t let her vote until she went out to the car and got it.
Voted early. In and out. No wait, no line, voted at County Courthouse.
I voted early for the same reason I have on other occasions in the past – a very common one – I will be traveling for work next Tuesday. I voted at Midstate yesterday afternoon and was done in about 30 minutes. Did it meet my expectations? I was able to vote, so yes, it did.
Regarding your primary question, Isn’t it impossible for people to know at this point whether voting early saved them time?
One thing I did hear from people was that they had tried to vote Saturday, but the lines were extremely long. So, they returned on Monday. Given that many people have work/childcare/health/transportation issues which will limit the time they have to vote, doesn’t this option make sense? Another way of looking at it is that Tuesday is the LAST day to vote, rather than the only one.
50 minutes at Midstate around 11:00 a.m. While seniors were averaging around 20 minutes with continuous babysitting at the booth, people under 120 required only about 3 minutes:)
no and yes
On Sunday my wife and I stood in line out in Dunlap for 40 minutes (most of it outside in the cold) only to get inside and hear that we needed our driver’s license to vote. That was my fault I should have known that though I’ve been voting there for 28 years and never had to show an ID. My wife had her’s, but I didn’t so that time was wasted. I tried again later Sunday and the lins was even longer so I didn’t even try. Then today I walked right in and the only hold up was some seemingly dense woman from East Peoria trying to vote in Dunlap and the judges didn’t seem to like the yarn she was spinning and they referred her back to EP. Otherwise I could have left my car running it was so quick! For the highlight of my day as a Republican I took great pleasure in voting for Colleen Callahan, thus canceling out Dr Strangelove Schock’s vote for himself!
Voted this morning…Nov. 4th @ 7:20 at Robein School, East Peoria, Il (10 Minutes at most)