I was up early (for me) this morning so I decided to go over and vote. The voting place is in a church right down the street. At 7am, business was brisk at the polls. Short lines, but busy, busy, busy. The ballot was a single, large sheet. I believe there were five candidates for President/VP. Each race was separated by a thick, black line with a heading along the lines of "President/Vice-President Choose One." Fill in the bubble next to your choice with the provided black marker.

No ID was required. Just tell them your street and name to check in and get a ballot, fill it out, check out at the other end with the same process and put the paper in the auto-sucking machine - take your "I Voted" sticker, place on hat, leave.

Keeping fingers crossed.

Update: Blackfive didn't have such success. Disenfranchised in Chicago.

Update: To an emailer: I'm listening to a local radio guy - Jay Severin. Typical right-wing radio guy, but not a Bush stooge, much more of a Buchanan type (paleo-conservative). I'm in Massachusetts - solidly Kerry no matter what happens of course, so he has no reason - like a lot of others - to game the situation by being positive and getting people up to vote. He's full of shit on a lot stuff, but really knows his politics - political consultant for 25 years. Good analysis.

Hates Kerry, though doesn't love Bush.

He's been ready to slit his wrists all night listening to the polling, and particularly watching the HUGE voter turnout. In his opinion that's ALWAYS VERY BAD for the Republicans.

Update: But the blogs paint a more sanguine picture. My feeling is gloomy. Let's put it this way, I'm already pondering how my blogging is going to change over the next year without George Bush and the "neocons" to defend.

Update: The election-induced internet slog hasn't slowed the comment-spammers one bit. Despite having MT-Blacklist installed, I've been getting an inordinate amount today, and especially tonight.

Update: Feeling much better now (just short of midnight). I need this kind of excitement like I need to relive the 2003 Red Sox ALCS.

Update (12:10 am): Finally turned on the TV (I've been listening exclusively to radio and surfing the internet. This is the first time I've seen Lester Holt looking tired. He's human after all!

Update (12:58am): Drudge is headlining: BUSH WINS - (Even some of those mid-west states that were leaning Kerry are coming back closer to the Bush side now.)

Hey George Soros: "Ha Ha" /Nelson voice

Good night.