There used to be a time when I thought voting on voting day was the way to go.  The whole communal experience of lining up for my turn in the voting booth and all that.  Then I realized that I really didn’t talk to anyone.  I had already made up my mind about who I was voting for and it would be just as nice to be able to whisk in and out.

So, this year I voted early in both the Primary and the General Election. What a difference!  In the Primary, I went on a Saturday (what a concept!) early enough to beat the crowds and besides having to run the gauntlet of candidate poll workers the whole experience was pleasant and quick.  FOr the General Election (the official date is still 6 days away), I went after my wife got off work and there was a little bit of a line.  My guess is that other people liked this early voting thing, too, and ran in after work to do their civic duty.

Still, it took all of about 20 minutes to get in and get out and that was with voting for a ton of offices, bond issues and ballot questions.  Not to mention all the freakin’ judges and clerks of the court and the like.

I’m Hooked

So now I’m a big advocate of early voting.  I’d almost be an advocate of mail-in ballots like they have in Oregon except I know I would probably lay my ballot down somewhere and lose it or forget about it. Although with all the TV, radio and mail ads it’s hard to forget there is an election going on.