Having only ever voted as a citizen of the sovereign nation of Cook County, as a Nutmegger, as a citizen of the former Taxachusetts, and a subject of NY state, my votes for McGovern, Carter, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Bush I, Dole, Bush II and Bush II have all been wasted.

But at the age of 58, I have been granted the opportunity to vote in a presidential election. Lines at Zion’s Crossroads (a mostly black district, Louisa County) and Kent’s Store (50/50 white/black, Fluvanna County) were record from 6am to 9am, but at 10 am it was faster than it was in 2006. Here’s my straw poll of those in line with me.

Middle-aged white lady behind me - she’s from a Democrat family and changed 20 years ago, and has furious arguments with her old daddy. But he’s not voting this year for the first time - won’t say why. She said, in a whisper, “Ah know why - he’s a racist.”

Behind her was another, younger woman, with pamphlets from the McCain and Obama people, reading with furious concentration. I pointed her out to the lady next to me and said “she’s cramming for the test right up to the last minute,” which she thought was funny. Then, as we watched, and moved up in line - the young woman suddenly looked up - noticed that she was third in line to vote - and moved herself back five places in line so she could have more time to decide.

A professional man reported to me from Charlottesville that the lines were very short before 9am - his guess is that no one there knows anyone who is not voting for Obama, so they’re not bothering. My guess is that the jello shots were too strong at Chipotle near UVA - and the martinis too strong in the gated communities - to let morning voting mean much in the lovely city of slackers.

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