I finally got to be that guy. You know, the one who has a story to tell about their voting experience.
We arrived late afternoon and had to stand in line - we would have been in and out in about 1 1/2 hours, which is great from what I’ve heard from others, but then came the issue.
Turns out that the official voter person’s laptop showed that I had already voted! Well, I hadn’t. They were using a Dell and probably knew I was a mac guy…so they were fighting back or something. Apple segregation is not often talked about openly but believe me, it’s real.
I asked who I voted for {thinking that if I liked my pick than I would choose to keep it - which would have been really convenient, like getting that front row parking space on the first try} but they wouldn’t tell me. They said they couldn’t but I think that is just what they tell people.
So after asking me 15 different ways if I was absolutely sure I hadn’t already voted, they decided to try and get it straightened out. Mind you, they were very helpful and polite - quite personable for having been there all day and having hours to go. The poor lady tried and tried to call the area office but they were either busy as well or didn’t like her because they wouldn’t answer. Poor lady called every 2 - 5 minutes for an hour and a half!
During this time Amy is hiding out in the truck with 2 to 3 of the kids {Ava floats between places} while they watched Surf’s Up on the laptop. It’s dark, rainy and should be miserable, but I was actually ok with it. They kept apologizing and I kept telling them that it is ok, I knew it wasn’t their fault - and besides, I’m just glad they were doing that job, I wouldn’t want to and it needs to be done. It was kind of nice to be the victim of something so impersonal at a critical time - dumb I know.
Finally - another 1 1/2 hours later, or so - they offer me the opportunity to vote a contested ballot. Basically I would fill out a paper ballot, they would turn it in and then I would have to go in today {Thursday} to make my case and tell them I had only voted one time and all that. I jumped at it. I figured I’d vote and then if the result were close or contested then I would go in and talk to them…turns out that wasn’t necessary. Good old faithful South Carolina…
Amy thought I should consider whether or not identity theft had taken place…nah, who wants to be me? Except me. I love my life. “My life is good.”
My voting experience didn’t go smoothly, but at least I finally got to be that guy.
Travis
UPDATE FROM APPLE: Before I was able to publish this I got the word from the Genius Bar…turns out the video card is bad and will need to be replaced. That’s better than it could be by far. And yeah, the store looks that great in real life.
