Election Day Open Thread

Worried about turnout (0.00 / 0)

When I went to vote in Plainsboro this morning I was the ONLY person there.

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by: Jon Niola @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 16:46:52 PM UTC

Turnout in Berkeley Heights (0.00 / 0)

As of 1230PM there had been 81 votes cast out of 647 registered voters.

My district is more polarized then the others - only 1/3rd are Independents compared to 42% town wide - so my expectation of 30% turnout in Berkeley Heights seems reasonable...if sad from a democracy perspective.  

"We are the leaders we've been waiting for." - Paul Wellstone

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by: Stephen Yellin @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 17:59:31 PM UTC

Correction (0.00 / 0)

The above numbers are for my voting district, NOT the whole town - there are 9000 or so voters in Berkeley Heights.  

"We are the leaders we've been waiting for." - Paul Wellstone

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by: Stephen Yellin @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 18:00:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Somebody's gotta do it, huh? (0.00 / 0)

Challenger.

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 18:04:49 PM UTC

I was 92 at 1pm (0.00 / 0)

That's in my voting precinct, one of only 3 in my little town of Flemington. The ladies running the poll - love them - were projecting a lower turnout than we're getting.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 18:28:49 PM UTC

Backyard Blogging (0.00 / 0)

Election Day treat, blogging on the back deck. No excuse not to get out and vote today - it's glorious out here. View off my back deck:


It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 18:38:15 PM UTC

Camden and Gloucester Union GOTV is Huge (0.00 / 0)

A parking lot in Cherry Hill filled with white vans and hundreds of union workers has emptied and hit the streets!

After  rousing addresses by both State Senate President Sweeney and Congressman Andrews the South Jersey union workers are ready to bring out the vote.

The republicans have nothing to match this GOTV vote.

A similiar effort is set up for the 2nd District.

Not ALL unions are sitting this one out!  

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 18:50:11 PM UTC

Norcross has abandoned Whelan (0.00 / 0)

Norcross forced Whelan to vote on pen/ben, even though his vote was not needed for victory, as punishment for breaking with the Christiecrats on marriage equality and now he is ceding the seat to Christie as part of their ongoing business relationship.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 19:28:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Unions are out in the 2nd district (0.00 / 0)

Not all the unions, but they are on the ground.  

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

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by: tabbycat31 @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 19:55:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

FWIW (0.00 / 0)

Politicker reported that a Republican source thinks Polistina will fall short.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 20:24:21 PM UTC

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I hope so (0.00 / 0)

Whelan is the only decent Democrat in South Jersey.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 02:55:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Albano is better (0.00 / 0)

Voted against the pen-ben bill.  Whelan voted for it.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 03:06:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

on that issue (0.00 / 0)

Albano never had the opportunity to vote on marriage equality, so I have no idea where he stands on the issue. Whelan was the only State Senator in SJ to vote for marriage equality.  But I did not know that there was a SJ legislator who voted against pen/ben.

This proves my theory that Whelan was forced by Norcross to vote for pen/ben, even though it could cost him his seat, as penance for breaking with Sweeney on marriage equality and embarrassing him and the other neanderthals.  Albano on the other hand has been a loyal soldier from day one and was given a pass on pen/ben.  I wonder why Milam was not. It looks like it could cost him his seat.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 03:27:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Parking lot was full at my polling place (0.00 / 0)

High turnout? Guess again.
All the poll workers took up the good spots. I, the lone voter at 8:00am, had  to park across the street.

Blog: Pick's Place

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by: jeffpickens @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 20:40:24 PM UTC

Way to burst my bubble... (0.00 / 0)

I was all happy to see so many cars in the parking lot at my polling station but, after reading your post, Jeff, I'm now realizing that most of those cars probably belonged the poll workers. Oh well. I did have to chuckle when I saw big yellow signs saying "Support your Tea Party candidate" on the drive to the polling station. In my neighborhood? Not likely.

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by: Alex @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 21:57:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Election Party (0.00 / 0)

I wonder where my local Democrats will party after the election since the Democratic bar in town is under renovation by new owners. I find it hard to believe they'll party at the Republican bar.

I don't usually get political on my Facebook page, but it's election day. Unfortunately quite a few people are taking this opportunity to show me they are angry. I'm afraid anger will motivate too many people to vote against Democrats.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 21:39:01 PM UTC

Bars belong to parties? (0.00 / 0)

I didn't know that bars had a party affiliation! Tonight's LD-7 Democratic victory party is in the same hotel that Jon Runyan used for his victory party last year. At least tonight, we'll have something to celebrate.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:00:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Small town politics (0.00 / 0)

It's not so bad now since the old man who owned the Republican bar passed away (may he rest in peace). But when he was alive and my dad was the lone Democrat on council in the 90's, my family wasn't allowed in his bar/restaurant.

When Democrats took control of things 8 years ago, the old man was still alive. We found a home at the other bar in town.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:04:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

southernbluedog (0.00 / 0)

What kind of anger?  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:08:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

anger/disgust (0.00 / 0)

Despite the fact I stopped myself from blindly endorsing ALL Democrats, I had one person tell me that I'm reckless for endorsing certain candidates in another town.

I have some fellow public employees that are upset that I continue to vote for Democrats despite me spending a significant amount of time criticizing them.

Most people just want this day to be over so they don't have to hear political ads for a while. There's a disgust with how dirty some campaigns are, especially in LD2. One coworker, who actually knows something about politics, is disgusted that Pollistina and Whelan are accusing each other of the same exact things and there's no way to tell the candidates apart.

Most of the disgust/anger comes from people who aren't totally educated/informed about politics. While some in politics want voters to be uninformed, it's not good for the overall good of society.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:14:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Electioneering within 100 feet? (0.00 / 0)

There was a person waving a sign across the street from my polling place shouting the name of the Republican candidate for Mayor of Washington Twp (GlouCo).
It was hard to gauge her exact diatance from the building but she was clearly audible, whether she was 100.1 feet or 99.9 feet away.

Blog: Pick's Place

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by: jeffpickens @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 21:48:05 PM UTC

100 feet (4.00 / 1)

If I knew how to post a picture, I'd show one of an orange line the municipal workers in painted in the sidewalk to mark 100 feet from the polling place. On the other side of that orange line? My grandparents house that is home to three different lawn signs supporting Democrats.

Did you tell Jill McCrea about the Murphy supporter?

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:01:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

write to me off line (0.00 / 0)

Send me your e-mail off line, and I'll reply with instructions on how to post pictures. deciminyan@gmail.com

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:03:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

email sent (0.00 / 0)

thanks!

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:15:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

southernbluedog (0.00 / 0)

I did not contact Jill McCrea. Murphy lost so it's moot at this point. However, this sort of thing is a common occurrence at the WT ambulance hall so I will be more vigilant next time, ready with my camera.
As for the parking thing, I'm not sure if there are any rules about that, but it sure is annoying.

Blog: Pick's Place

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by: jeffpickens @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 11:29:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Photo posted on behalf of southernbluedog (0.00 / 0)

Here's the photo he referred to - posting it on his behalf.


Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:37:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why would calls from Christie Democrats depress (0.00 / 0)

the Democratic vote?  If anything, I would think it would motivate them.  

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 22:48:31 PM UTC

That's why (0.00 / 0)

I want to hear what the call is. It would sure light a fire under me. Not that I don't already have a fire under me ...

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 23:01:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

NJ Weedman (0.00 / 0)

I was listening to 101.5 on my way home and Edward Forchion called in to the election night coverage.

Clearly, he did not listen to the wise words of Woody Allen, who said that eighty percent of success was showing up.  NJW missed his flight back to NJ from CA today due to being stoned and was unable to vote for himself in his LD7 Assembly run.  As supportive as I am of marijuana legalization, he is without a doubt the worst advocate for it that I have come across in my lifetime.

It is also interesting that he chose to run for the Assembly and not the Senate.  Had he run for Senate, he would have been Dawn Addiego's only opposition and probably would have received 10 times as many votes than what he got as one of three opposition Assembly candidates.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 04:01:46 AM UTC

Minor correction (0.00 / 0)

He ran in LD8, not LD7.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 05:16:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]