Crowds at First Lutheran polls
Are you voting today, or were you among the more than 46 million Americans who voted ahead of Election Day?
The polling place at First Lutheran Church in Janesville was busy at about 10 a.m., but the flow was steady. The line was out the doors, but my wife and I quickly moved inside as a poll worker asked us which ward we voted in and told us which line to join in the hallway inside. Wards 14-18 vote at First Lutheran. We had a nice chat with neighbor Dave Peterson, and that helped pass the time. I was voter No. 391 in Ward 14 (Voting at about the same time in the April election, I was voter No. 175.).
We were back to the car in about 25 minutes. Maybe there’s a morning rush as people try to beat the rain and even a bit of snow that might come later today. Poll worker Roger Streich told me the line stretched toward the parking lot when they opened the doors at 7 a.m.
Polls will stay open until 8 p.m. If you’re standing in line by 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
Some reminders:
--Don’t wear political clothing and paraphernalia to a polling place, or the chief election inspector may ask you to remove or cover them up.
--You don’t need an ID to vote, though you will be asked to sign the poll list and provide your address.
--If you spot what you believe is voter fraud, voter intimidation, electioneering or misconduct by election officials, remain civil and contact the chief inspector. As Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler suggests, those in charge can’t solve a problem they don’t hear about.
--State law has changed, and you no longer can make one mark on a ballot to vote a straight-party ticket. Instead, you must vote separately for a candidate in each race.
--If you haven’t registered, you can do so today at the polls. You’ll need identification with your current address, such as a Wisconsin driver’s license, phone bill, utility bill or rent receipt. If you’re not sure if you’re registered or where to vote, click on myvote.wi.gov.
Please don’t let the lines or the weather deter you from doing your civic duty!
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Nov 8, 2012 at 7:53 a.m.
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Greg, the media does a disservice to the public by not emphasizing that a change of address or a change of names requires a re-registration.
Many voters yesterday thought because they had updated their name or address with the MVD or the Post Office that the voter list would be updated.
Nov 8, 2012 at 7:48 a.m.
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"Why were workers guiding newly registered voters to the front and middle of the lines at First Lutheran? I'd been in line a half hour when they put 2 people in front of me."
Bookerj, I'm a poll worker and what probably happened is those people had waited in line, got to the poll list table and then learned they had to fill out a new registration form, maybe for change of address.
The poll workers were only putting them back in line - they had already waited.
Nov 7, 2012 at 2:39 p.m.
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bookerj, when I voted at First Lutheran, they were directing people from 3 wards to the hallway down the left and people from one ward into another line. I just got in line with the the people waiting for the 3 wards and after a couple of minutes a poll worker came down the lines and informed everyone that there was no backlog for my ward. I got to leave the long lines and go directly to pick up my ballot.
That may have been what you were witnessing.
Nov 7, 2012 at 9:38 a.m.
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I waited in line almost an hour at Edison. 5 pm. 20 minutes in to my wait, my wife showed up, so I left my place and joined her at the back, which had grown longer by then. Loved every minute of it. I just snickered at the folks complaining about waiting. They have been told for months they could vote early. :)
Nov 6, 2012 at 4:24 p.m.
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Why were workers guiding newly registered voters to the front and middle of the lines at First Lutheran? I'd been in line a half hour when they put 2 people in front of me.
Nov 6, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.
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I voted at First Lutheran just before 8:30 am. About 450 people had voted at the Church by the time I deposited my ballot.
There was some turkey out by the corner of the church parking lot trying to glad-hand everyone going in. I didn't recognize him, but a voter in front of me declined to shake his hand and asked if he wasn't violating the electioneering law with his odious attempt to talk to voters outside the poll. I heard him reply that he was okay as long as he stayed 100' from the polling place.
Nov 6, 2012 at 1:46 p.m.
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"Don’t wear political clothing and paraphernalia to a polling place, or the chief election inspector may ask you to remove or cover them up. "
lol one girl to lazy to put on clothes. Pj bottoms,dragging on ground of course, and slippers with back of feet sticking out. COME on people! My guess pj top under the coat too. You look stupid.
A guy on wclo show smearconischs' friend said he wont wait in lines to vote. So vote absentee duh!
Nov 6, 2012 at 1:41 p.m.
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ward 13- library #281 at 10 am. Line was longer when I left than when I got there. Spouse was there at 7 am- waited 50 minutes.
Nov 6, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
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Great thanks!!
Nov 6, 2012 at 1:15 p.m.
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Sample ballots from the Gazette
http://gazettextra.com/news/specialsecti...
Nov 6, 2012 at 1:06 p.m.
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In past elections the gazette has posted links to view the ballot. I haven't seen this on the gazette website, or on the city website. Do you know if that is available?
Nov 6, 2012 at 1 p.m.
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I think those that are not on state or govt aid should get to vote twice.
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