anecdotal: early poll attendance seems much higher than in 2002....

[mike_c]

In my small northern California town, K and I voted alone at 7:15 AM in 2002. This morning at the same time there was already a line of about a dozen people, with more arriving every minute. I'm getting the impression that the voter turnout will be high, at least based on my experience this morning. Given that the state is predominately Democrat, that bodes well for Davis, I think-- I don't believe Bustamante has generated much excitement, i.e. motivation to vote, so the high turnout is likely to be driven by opposition to the recall, IMO.

BTW, optical scan machines in my precinct. Love that paper trail!

[Brucey]

1. I think differently.

I believe voter turnout will be high because many people who never vote, those who are apolitical and uninformed, will turn out to vote for Arnie. Millions of young white men wearing baseball caps backwards will vote for the first and only time in their lives. They may even drag their girlfriends with to vote for the Termite-Eater too. Lots and lots of ignorant, celebrity-worshiping, macho voters, I think.

[fizzana]

3. I'm hoping that there is a silent majority of sane Democrats

who realize just how dangerous the Groper might be.

I voted early after taking my daughter to school. It was quite crowded but as they've rolled 3 voting precincts into one it's hard to tell. I live in Sherman Oaks which is a relatively affluent part of the San Fernando Valley. The population is largely white with a high Jewish concerntration and is solidly Democrat. The State and Congressional reps generally only get a token GOP candidate at best.

There has been little evidence of posters or anything in the area but that is normal for any election in this neighborhood.

[Bandit]

8. You could be right but my experience with the younger crowd is they

could care less one way or another. They have nothing invested so nothing to lose. It just is not worth their time.

[Julien Sorel]

10. Regrettably, I think you are right.

If Arnold wins, this will be another low point for democracy in this country. Not quite as bad as 02, but a product of the same amorality. In fact, that the recall got this far is a sign of that.

[Wickerman]

2. thanks for the update

I hope your anecdotal evidence and predictions stack up to a huge humiliation for Arnold.
:yourock:

[janekat]

4. Is your neighborhood Dem or Rep?

n/t

[mike_c]

11. mixed, probably about 50/50....

I'm guessing, but the town I live in is a mix of students, educators, settled hippies, liberal norcal types (the liberal dem/green portion) and loggers, quarrymen, millworkers, log-truck drivers, etc. (the conservative repub types).

[trivimp]

5. Huge turnout in Orange County

The line went all the way around the school library within fifteen minutes of the polls opening. I usually vote with maybe four other people there.

Of course, this is deep in conservative south Orange County, which is prime Ahhhhnold territory. But I did my part.

[uhhuh]

7. Me too

I voted at Tustin High School, and there were lots of people there. Central OC here. I don't like that big ballot where you fill in the boxes. It makes it very obvious who you voted for and the box they put the ballots in was made of cardboard. Still, it's better than those damn machines.

[rucky]

9. Isn't OC McClintock's Home Turf?

or am I getting him mixed up with Dornan?

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. The absentee ballotting has been huge, so this is no surprise

I am sceptical that the high turnout is a good thing for Davis. There may be a lot of people voting that usually don't vote, and that type of person isn't the kind that is usually loyal to either party.

[kiahzero]

12. Not to burst your bubble

But couldn't it be that there are less polling places, and that's what's got the lines so long?

[AP]

13. I think I heard that there are 3000 fewer polling places for

this election.

And if they get too crowded, people will walk away without voting.

And they usually get too crowded in Dem precincts.

[mike_c]

14. not here-- there's only one polling place in town anyway...

...so nothing's changed.