Places, Places, everyone!

Voting during the Presidential Election is quite the interesting topic as of late...

Here is a video explaining how polls work. 

(Don't mind the misspelling of "soup of the day" en français!)

Here is a recent clip of a discovered voting glitch for the machines in Colorado...technological error can transpire just as easily as a human mistake!

During the presidential elections, too, registered voters can vote on propositions, or proposed legal changes for a specific state, concerning a wide array of issues, from stopping sex trafficking, to educational funding, to food labeling.  Registered voters receive a packet in the mail with the information on the propositions, and one can vote "yes" or "no" on chosen props. Here is California's ballot for the Nov. 2012 elections. CA voter guide

This past Tuesday, the U.S. went to voting booths, or "polling places" as seen in the first video, at a local church, school, athletic facility. One must go to the polling place where one is registered. For example, if you are a registered voter in Florida, and haven't changed your registration, you receive an "absentee ballot" in the mail and vote by mail before election day. There is also "early voting," usually at a polling station or by mail, that encourages participation and helps decrease traffic at stations on voting day.

Here are also some common expressions thrown around during election period...especially created to get people to vote...

"Rock the Vote!"
"Get out the Vote!"
"Vote or Die!" (started by Puff Daddy in the 2004 Presidential Election)
"I Voted" (the sticker you receive after voting, which often gets you free stuff, like a donut at Krispy Kreme or patriotic bracelet at Starbucks)

How does this compare to France and the anticipation built before the voting day? Something to think about and explore...