Election Report from Rockford, IL

I got to polling place at 9 AM. First hint of large voting turnout was fact church parking lot was almost completely filled & 50 or so people were standing in line outside church school gym door. I stood in line for 30 minutes but weather was warm (65 degrees F.) and sunny and crowd was friendly. This is the first time I have encountered lines since I moved to Rockford in early '90's. Usually there will be max 5 or 6 people even voting in the gym & gym is used for 6 wards. Everyone was friendly, no one talked politics, everyone was patient. the comments I heard most were from cell phone users saying "You'd better get up & vote early, it's taking a long time;" and/or "Yes, its important, do it!" I handed in my ballot at 9:50 AM, not bad considering long lines.

Inside gym the system was very efficient, lines moved fast, everyone was patient & polite. I was pleased to see so many young (teen & early 20's) voting. There was another wait in long lines once you got your ballot until one of the voting cubicles was free. They usually have 5 or 6 cubicals. Today there were 37 and could have used more. Interestingly in a precinct & ward with many senior citizens, etc. only one poling cubical was at a table with a chair available. I saw several voters either having voted or waiting in line with wheelchairs, walkers, & canes.

I took my Obama button off-the one that's been on my purse since Feb. 07. I noticed they eyeballed people to make sure no one even was wearing buttons, etc. with candidate or issue publicity.

Many of the people had their Voter Registration cards with them & out for registration. That helped cut down time to find registered voter's names.

Election workers passed out a short notice to everyone that made voting for or against the new IL Constitution easier to understand=info sheet basically said vote "Yes" if you wanted new constitution & "No" if you didn't. Original wording was awkward and tended to give impression that a Yes meant retain Constitution & No meant get new one. I'm glad they made that simpler.

Nothing else to say except most of the people put their "I Voted" sticker on & kept it on so you knew who had voted.

PS: Just got a phone call from Joe ____, State's Attorney on my home phone. I canceled call before listening further. I hope he's saying to vote, and not campaigning. I thought that was not allowed on Election Day. What do you think?