Everything went smoothly earlier today at Nativity Lutheran Church in Commerce City, which, according to a sign affixed to one side of the double doors, is Adams County voting center number 37. A sign taped to the other door warns against bringing in cell phones, laptops, flash or thumb drives, cameras of any kind, PDA's or similar devices, as well as guns, knives and screwdrivers.
Just after 7:30 a.m. on election day, a small queue that began on the walkway in front of the church snaked its way through the lobby into an adjacent room, where the electronic polling machines are located. People began lining up at 6:30 a.m., and an election official reported that they'd already cast their votes.
Newly arrived voters waited patiently in line. Some made their way inside, while others shook off the cold as they filled out index-sized voter cards as instructed by the election volunteer who greeted them upon arrival. Aside from an elderly volunteer offering up pastries and coffee and a wife scolding her husband for being too talkative this early in the morning, most folks kept the chatter to a minimum.
After about an hour wait, those assembled made their way into the voting room to cast their ballots via touch screen. By the time they'd finished and headed back to their cars to embark on the remainder of their day, the line had thinned out considerably. In fact, nobody at that point was forced to wait outside. -- Dave Herrera
