Early Voter #8,213,342,865,234,287,32........

City of Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center - from the road.

Last Friday I spent my lunch break (and then some) putting my early vote in for the 2012 Presidential election.  I spent over an hour and half in a line that wrapped around the exterior before snaking through the interior of the City of Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray. 

 "This is the longest line I've seen out here, never seen it this long ever," commented one man, a sentiment I heard repeated many (many) times during my wait, which to me, a first-time Houston voter, didn't really seem that bad.

One official admitted they hadn't expected such a large turnout and were clearly understaffed.  As a result no one seemed to be abiding by the 'No Cell Phones' rule (posted everywhere).  About an hour in a guy behind me commented, "I turn off my phone when my wife is around but I don't when she isn't," and she wasn't, so he didn't.

The line when I arrived...

The line when I left.

 I was so excited to vote (for the first time! Yes, I've been a crummy, lazy American in the past and declined to vote in the last two presidential elections) that the line didn't really phase me.  As you can see below, I was very happy heading out:

Me, after voting :)

If you didn't make it to early voting today is Election Day 2012 so run, don't walk, to those polls!