Election 2008

- flickr user sanjaysuchak

Anyone who knows me knows that I am very happy with the outcome, but regardless of your politics you have to admit that we witnessed something special.

A quick story

My mom worked as an election judge in Montgomery County. She was at the polls from 6 AM to after 10 PM and said she’d never seen anything like it. 2 hour lines, people genuinely excited, 65% turnout. She shared a story that I think illustrates why yesterday was special.

When the polls opened at 7AM there was already a line. While waiting, a 74 year old black man fainted. An ambulance was called, and while they were wheeling him out on a stretcher he asked if he could vote before he left (Edit 11/13/2008: Apparently I misheard my mother’s telling of the story. She asked the EMT about letting the man vote. Still a good story in my opinion). The EMT said it wasn’t worth risking his life over. My mom promised him that if he made it back he’d go straight to the front of the line.

A few hours later he came back in a wheelchair and cast his vote.