Discussion
I'm apparently really bad at voting. On the first day I was there too early for "early voting" (too early in the morning) so I came an hour later yesterday. I was shocked to see a metal detector. A very gruff securitymen went over me in great detail even asking me to take off my belt so I could walk through the scanner without making it beep.
I was astonished and annoyed once through. I'd never been security checked just to vote before in 20 years.
But this isn't going where you think.
In NYC there is never a security check to go vote, even if the building might have one otherwise.
I'd made up a whole story in my mind during the check about how possibly the city council were freaked out and had added a check and even started to wonder about if there were legal ramifications.
In fact, the real issue is that I can't be bothered to read the hours on the website.
I came back at 10 and voted without incident.
Well, except, not enjoying my choices very much. As always.
@futurebird I'm just glad my closest early voting place is a library, a rather unimposing location on a regular day!
I watched the little number on the counter go up by one after scanning my ballot and was pleased not to be alone in the voting hall as I have been on a few occasions.
Normally I vote on election day. But, I thought I'd go early this year so I could stop worrying about getting it done.
In the voting hall there are massive painted murals showing American historical mythology. It's an impressive and deeply earnest room.
It basically tries to explain why the Bronx exists and insists that everything is in order.
We promise.
If you could make a mural for your neighborhood what would it show? What do you feel is the defining historical event?
@futurebird the Berlin Wall went through in this area so probably something related to that
Tangential question: did they remove sample ballots from https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/ ?
I'm trying to find mine to research the races before I go vote and it's weirdly hard to find.
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I looked around once through the check as I didn't see any "vote here" signs.
"OK. Now, where is it?" I asked the securitymen.
"Where's what?"
"The voting."
He started laughing.
"No no no that's not until 10am, miss. You are here too early!"
In fact I think he was very confused about what I was doing there and that's why he checked me so much. I was in the line to go watch court proceedings, dressed rather like a lawyer, but not someone he'd recognize. And so SUSPICIOUS.