Going the way of the buffalo…
November 7, 2007 | City of Destiny, Civic Dooty
I’ve said it before, but I love my polling place. Sadly, as was reported in Sunday’s Tribune, yesterday was the last time I’ll ever get to use it.
I’m so sad! Sad, to lose my polling place, but also sad to lose the ceremony and ritual of voting. I like the official feeling of it all. Sitting at your kitchen table, filling out your ballot in spurts, eventually spilling something on it, does not on officious occasion make. Plus, I want my ‘I voted’ sticker, damn it.
So, yesterday, I took some scones to the poll ladies and thanked them for their service. I let them know how special it all was for me, how I loved that everything was exactly the same since the first time I voted there, way back in 1994. I also took some sneaky pictures for posterity’s sake. I wanted to document the whole thing more thoroughly, but I was afraid it would be against the law, or something.
Isn’t it so cute? It’s like walking into 1964 all of a sudden. The shiny floors and that yellow, gym-lighting are so charming and old time-y to me.
”…. Back in my day, kids, there was this giant official-feeling printed ballot, and we would use these always satisfyingly moist, and mysteriously capless pens to vote ‘No’ on stupid Tim Eyeman initiatives*.”
Farewell, dear Grange, nice old ladies, and always pleasurable civic duty. SB did say he’d rig me up some sort of voting booth in the house for the next one. I’m thinking the shower?
* Oh. Um. Hmmm. Well then.
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November 7th, 2007 at 10:45 am, Jen Says:
Nooooo! I love voting in person, even when my kids make it a stressful experience.
I have to remember to mail something?
This is the end of my democracy!
November 7th, 2007 at 11:36 am, Noreen Says:
I LOVE this post! It captures this so perfectly. I, too, am so sad to not be able to GO vote. My polling place was moved this time and it was packed. It was awesome to see so many voters, but I felt like they were trying to make it hard to vote there to encourage mailing in your ballot. Hmmph. I like the sticker and the bake sale that my old polling place used to have. Maybe we can have a voting party in your shower next year!
November 7th, 2007 at 11:49 am, jamie Says:
We must resist the move towards all-mail voting. If we really want to increase turnout, especially amongst traditionally low-turnout groups such as the young and low-income, voters should be able to register at the polling place on election day, with proper ID. If the polling places are closed, it’s going to be harder to make that happen.
The Waller Road Grange looks awesome. (They turn out a good fruit arrangement at the fair, too!) The church we vote at isn’t nearly so charming. Bummed you got no pictures of the election workers, but it was sweet of you to take them scones!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:38 pm, Edward Says:
Bye bye, Waller Road Grange. I voted there many times. It’s where I cast my very first ballot.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:01 pm, fontaine Says:
Thanks for the shoutout to my story! I blogged about your post here:
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/street/2007/11/07/more_on_voting_at_the_grange
November 7th, 2007 at 2:47 pm, Camille Says:
What a cool place, and how sweet of you to think of the volunteers. I’m sure they appreciated you thoughtfulness, especially on what looked like a very cold morning!
I hate to say it, but I am a mail voter. My polling place just…scares me…
November 7th, 2007 at 7:44 pm, dar Says:
Well, bust my buttons and god bless america, you could not look less like your (Rob) Zombie self!
I used to vote at a grange hall once, back in Charlton Mass. I also did step aerobics and had homeschoolers mtgs/classes there. Good times. Sorry you’re switching to mail-in, Tacoma. :hug:
November 7th, 2007 at 9:56 pm, Elizaebeth Nielsen-Sheller Says:
Your post was beautiful, Jenny. Such a nice tribute (but I’m a little jealous about the scones:).
November 7th, 2007 at 11:47 pm, dahli Says:
no more voting in person?! That seems a little bit crazy & a nice way to make it even harder to vote…hmph.
very nice post…my first ballot was cast at the fire station near my mom’s house..now I go down the street to the local Lutheran church. But voting in person on election day totally makes the entire experience of voting.
xo
November 8th, 2007 at 8:12 am, Jesse Says:
This has got to be my favorite ZE post, ever. Killer shots.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:17 am, Jenny Says:
Jen: I know! I’ll never get to take my kids to a polling place.
Maybe we should move. (Just kidding, Tacoma! Love you!)
Noreen: A voting party! I love that idea!
Jamie: Oh my god. You just totally made my day. The produce murals at the fair! THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE PART! And yes, the Grange always represents. Did you see their Pike Place themed one this year? – I agree with your polling place suggestions, also. How can we ever be sure of the integrity of one’s vote without polling places. A controlling spouse couls make their partner vot a certain way. You couls be paid to vote a certain way. Also, how can we ever be sure that our vote is counted after we just drop it in the mail?
November 8th, 2007 at 11:21 am, Jenny Says:
Edward: Me, too! Your parent’s must live near mine. I guess I should have said in this post that I never switched my registration to our Tacoma address because I love the Grange so much.
fontaine: Thank YOU for your shout out! Welcome News Tribune link clickers! I liked your story about the Grange. I’m glad I’m not the only on ewho loves it.
Camille: Yeah, I bet you were loving your LA address when you saw those pictures, eh? – You SHOULD be able to do mail-in if you PREFER. We shouldn’t be forced to!
dar: Yes, that’s my ‘on my way to Workplace’ look.
Elizaebeth: Thanks, Lizzie. They were pumkin spice…
November 8th, 2007 at 11:23 am, Jenny Says:
dahli: I know, right? Now it will just be something I need to make time for. I really like this idea of somehow making it a fun experience. I’ll have to think of some way to create ceremony before next year.
Jesse: Oh thanks! Photography compliments from you mean a lot.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:03 pm, Camille Says:
Yes, if was warmer outside I’d love my L.A. address. But our mornings look extremely familiar and I’m freezing cold at night. However, I can’t complain when the sun comes out in the afternoon and it’s 70 degrees out…even though I’m still cold!
November 8th, 2007 at 12:08 pm, Tacoma Friend Says:
Jenny, I really appreciate this blog – and you are so cute there in front of the grange. I thought of you when I read the TNT story. As a side note, this is a great reason for you to come with us the next time we contra dance – they’re usually at a grange or community building and make you feel all cozy and part of a community. -K
November 13th, 2007 at 12:03 pm, Jenny Says:
Camille: I hear you on the alwasy cold. Another thing Bikram is good for! Warming up!
Tacoma Friend: Dude, I am so with you. It’s Aaron that needs convincing. Does Alex go?
November 15th, 2007 at 4:42 pm, tacomachickadee Says:
Did you hear we might get another year at least of the polls? You might not be done with Waller Road!
November 21st, 2007 at 12:33 pm, Jenny Says:
Yes I did! I hope so. I’m not ready to be done!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm, Zesty Enterprise » The day the world changed. (hopefully for the better!) Says:
[...] minutes. But there was still QUITE a crowd as far as my cute little polling place is concerned. (Check out the deserted photos on my post from last November.) I don’t know what happened, by the way, but we got to vote there again. My county is one of [...]
September 9th, 2009 at 8:34 am, sandra407 Says:
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.