Writer Dianna

Call me a nerd, but I’ve always really loved Election Day.

There’s something about people from all different walks of life coming together to vote – regardless of who their candidate is. The trouble is, in past elections, I was usually only sharing the experience with about 5 other people that bothered to go to my polling place.

The line to vote in Miami stretches around the proverbial block. Props to the lady who brought something to sit on.

So, maybe that’s why it didn’t bother me that it took 3 hours to cast a ballot yesterday. At least people care enough to show up!

I decided to try early voting because the lines are already hours long in Georgia and I assume they will only get worse on Tuesday. Despite the 3 hour wait, I found the whole experience pretty enjoyable. Here are the main reasons why I think it wasn’t so bad:

1) No annoying people next to me in line.
I actually chatted with about 5 other people the whole time and felt like I made some new friends by the time we left. I was afraid the conversation might go to politics – which can turn an otherwise civilized discussion with strangers into a nightmare – but it never came up.

2) Expectations
I had already seen local news reports about how long it might take, so I prepared myself for a few hours on my feet before I went to the polls. I also happened to attend a luncheon right beforehand where the guest speaker was Naomi Tutu, the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She told a story about waiting in line for days when they first got the right to vote in South Africa, so a few hours kind of paled in comparison.

Anyway, I know I may be the lucky one.

I’ve heard a few horror stories about early voting too.

Let us know what your experience was like! Tell us about it in the comments field below.

Writer Dianna

We all remember that high school English teacher trying to cram the rules of grammar into our brains. But an annual bad writing contest proves you don't have to use poor grammar to write horrible prose.

Here's the winning entry in San Jose State University's 26th annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest from Garrison Spik, who picked up $250:

"Theirs was a New York love, a checkered taxi ride burning rubber, and like the city their passion was open 24/7, steam rising from their bodies like slick streets exhaling warm, moist, white breath through manhole covers stamped 'Forged by DeLaney Bros., Piscataway, N.J."'

Other noteworthy submissions:

"'Toads of glory, slugs of joy,' sang Groin the dwarf as he trotted jovially down the path before a great dragon ate him because the author knew that this story was a train wreck after he typed the first few words."
– Alex Hall, Greeley, Colorado

"Like a mechanic who forgets to wipe his hands on a shop rag and then goes home, hugs his wife, and gets a grease stain on her favorite sweater - love touches you, and marks you forever."
– Beth Fand Incollingo, Haddon Heights, New Jersey

Okay, so can you come up with something better? Or do you have an example of some bad writing you've seen? Comment away below! We’d love to put them on the air!