Archive for November 8th, 2006


Desperate to Vote

At our precinct, voting was standing-room only. Or, more accurately, sitting-room only. Turnout was so much higher than expected that people were sitting on chairs (as I did) and on the floor to vote, because there weren’t enough booths. People sure were desperate to vote yesterday:

READING, Pa. – Anna Urban has been voting since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and wasn’t about to miss an election.

When the 95-year-old Reading resident didn’t have a ride to the polls Tuesday, she didn’t hesitate. She dialed 911.

Dispatchers forwarded the call to the Berks County Election Services office, where it was considered a compliment.

“To call 911 and ask for help to vote really says a lot,” said Deborah M. Olivieri, election services director. “It meant a lot to everyone in this office; it made us feel what we do is worthwhile.”

County Commissioner Judith L. Schwank immediately picked up Urban, and Urban walked to the voting booth at Millmont Elementary School on her arm.

“All my life I voted,” said Urban, a Democrat, who cast her first ballot in the 1930s. “You need to vote to be a good citizen.”
Philadelphia Inquirer


Desperate to Vote

At our precinct, voting was standing-room only. Or, more accurately, sitting-room only. Turnout was so much higher than expected that people were sitting on chairs (as I did) and on the floor to vote, because there weren’t enough booths. People sure were desperate to vote yesterday:

READING, Pa. – Anna Urban has been voting since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and wasn’t about to miss an election. When the 95-year-old Reading resident didn’t have a ride to the polls Tuesday, she didn’t hesitate. She dialed 911.Dispatchers forwarded the call to the Berks County Election Services office, where it was considered a compliment.”To call 911 and ask for help to vote really says a lot,” said Deborah M. Olivieri, election services director. “It meant a lot to everyone in this office; it made us feel what we do is worthwhile.”County Commissioner Judith L. Schwank immediately picked up Urban, and Urban walked to the voting booth at Millmont Elementary School on her arm.”All my life I voted,” said Urban, a Democrat, who cast her first ballot in the 1930s. “You need to vote to be a good citizen.”-Philadelphia Inquirer

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