I did it, managed to get to the polls and fill in the bubbles on paper. (I kind of miss the old New York machines, they had levers and a big red handle that pulled a curtain closed and then back again to open, kind of good feeling to hear the clunk when you were done...but that had problems as they were over 50 years old in 1999 - i'll write about my experience in 1992 as a poll watcher in NY some day)
How it went is a bit long so if you want, go past the squiggle.
I was greeted at the parking lot with this sign:
http://images.dailykos.com/...
In New York you needed ID to show you were in the right place back in the 1990's but that included utility bills or library cards. Ohio wanted ID when you registered and then ID with your address on it at the polls unless you were voting by mail, then you returned the card the state sent to you with "identifying information" (last four of your SSN, Driver License number, etc) and they mailed the ballot to you and you sent it back.
Here you have to have a really good reason to vote by mail - military service, hospitalization, etc. Work is not a reason, because your employer is suppose to give you time off to vote - unpaid. (and since the polls are open 0600 to 1800, if you work 0800 to 1600 you have four hours to vote in, so that meets the law per at least one employer's lawyer)
Because I now have to change several decades of voting by mail (military service and then living in Ohio) I felt confused as to why I had to drive past two other voting places to get to the one I'm suppose to vote in. I could have walked, it was under a mile.
I parked, walked into the building and started following the signs. I know each place is different, but this was like walking in a maze (mostly because it was under remodeling) to get to the room they had cramped two polling stations.
At the door to the room was a greater, I don't know what drugs they have him on, but he was way to happy with a huge smile showing out of a beard that ZZ Top would be envious of. "Welcome! We are glad you came out to vote! What District are you in?"
I told him what street and address and with a quick (and happy) check of the chart on the wall, I was directed to the table on the far side of the room. There the four ladies running the books seem to be trying to get everyone through as fast as they can but also win the "who can get the most smiles" award. I had to spell my last name three times, the room was noisy but not that bad, and they kept going to the wrong first letter. It took two of them to find my name in the book, the third checked my ID to make sure I was in the right place, and the fourth gave me a paper with names on it and pointed to the far end of the room.
There were several "booths" little tables with dividers between sections for privacy. That is if the people on either side of you are under 5'5". The ballot was disappointing, only a few races were challenged, over 70% were unopposed, and most of those were non-partizan races for judge. I was also shocked to find that I was to choose the mayor this year.
Nothing on the radio, no ads', no mailings, no debates, nothing. Not even from the union. (called and asked my steward about it and he said the sitting mayor has pissed off all the unions with his poor treatment of unions after getting elected last time and the challenger is a guy who feels you should at least have a choice and has spent just enough to get on the ballot.)
Now this is not because i did not look, I knew the issues for the Soil Conservation Board and which three of the four running I wanted, The state reps, the Federal races, the coroner, and school districts. So some how I missed the Mayors race.
I filled out the bubbles, then went to the wall that says "Turn in Ballot Here". only to find out I was on the wrong wall, as that wall was for the other district. I was to turn it in at the wall without the sign. They tore off the stub at the top of the ballot and had me put the ballot in the machine that looks a lot like a shredder.
I turned down the sticker from the ZZ Top guy, accepted his jubilant thanks for coming out and when home to free the spouse so she could go vote.
I still feel this was more work and effort than should be needed to cast the ballot. I've already fired off a letter to my State Rep asking for her to support expanded mail voting.
The line was not very long, it only took about 10 min total to actually vote, but just under an hour to do it all and get home. (yeah, this is a first world problem)