Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Fighting 13th
Posted by David Winkler-Schmit on Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 3:01 PM
As in the 13th Ward in the 15th Precinct, aka Broadmoor. My daughter and I made it down to our polling spot, McMain High School (another reason I’m glad school officials have decided to renovate it ) at around 7 a.m. I’ve never encountered a line before for the ol’ 13th, but there was one today. I’m not sure if the polling commissioners have experienced this many hungry voters either, because there was some confusion, and for a while, the line just stalled out with two empty voting booths teasing the crowd. But it wasn’t too bad; we caught up with some of our neighbors, said “hello” and felt the surging anticipation of being able to truly participate in our democracy. Or maybe, I was just looking forward to my first cup of coffee. Soon, the commissioners started moving people through, and, despite there being 2,000 constitutional amendments to vote on, the line began to dissipate.
Anyhow, all together, it took us about 40 minutes to make it through the line, and, yes, it felt pretty damn good squeezed in the voting booth with my four-year old, deciding on the fate of our country. And I’m sure Cynthia McKinney appreciated it too.
Comments (1)
Showing 1-1 of 1
I was at the polls at International School of Louisiana in the LGD at 5:30am with 150 of my neighbors. I've never been so happy to be awake at 5:15 and walking thru the park. Once at the booths there was an 18-year old girl with her grandmother who declared that whoever won, it was a history making election (a woman or a black man) and her granddaughter would always remember this. When the 18-year old entered the booth the three of us practically hugged. She was so nervous. When I gave the commissioners my name tears came to my eyes as I watched the grandmother shuffle to the side to wait for her granddaughter with look of peace and pride on her face. It was a moment I'll not soon forget. All around New Orleans today we've heard the familiar southern cry, "Vote early & vote often!" I could just pinch myself. THIS is what elections are really about.
like
dislike
