I voted today in North Carolina early voting. There's no secret who I voted for. So that's one for Team "O".
In line at 2:00 on a sunny Friday afternoon were several older African American voters, me, a nurse from the local hospital, and a very young looking girl who was worried that she might not be allowed to vote because she didn't have a registration card. We reassured her that it would be OK. The man in front of me was talking proudly about how North Carolina was going to have better turnout than any other state. All the voting machines were in use, and they remained in use the entire time I was there.
North Carolina has probably the best voting machines I've ever used. They are clear and easy to see, I have never had a problem with the touch screen recording anything but what I select, and my selections print out on a paper tape in real time so I can look down and see that yes, I voted for Jim Neal and that's what went on the tape.
In the time it took me to vote the waiting area had filled up -- a couple of youngish blonde guys, some middle-aged black women, an older white hippie lady who I had seen walking in from the neighborhood.
After voting was over I went to the local bakery to pick up some bread. Behind me was a young man on the phone telling his friend that he was going to the Obama rally this afternoon and that his friend would just end up feeling bad if he blew off voting so he'd better get his ass out and vote. I smiled to myself.
Now, my "I voted" sticker and I are off to rally with the future president.
Keep your cool. North Carolina's going to come through.