Last night, Erci and I went down to a firestation off Yates Ford Road to attending training for how to be an election officer on election day. We've decided to help the county run the election this year. Every year pretty much every county in the state is short-handed for volunteers to work the election. It will be a long day (5:00 am until about an hour and a half after the polls close), but we'll be able to see our democracy in action and we get to vote absentee this year (I still don't trust the programming of the audit-less electronic machines).
If you are not willing nor able to give up an entire day, consider working some of the day as a poll watcher or precinct runner for your political party of choice. The hours are less lengthy, and you'll be actively helping to get the news of turnout and then results out to your party, and watchers help keep the whole thing fair. It's fun, and it sure beats hovering at your favorite political website and clicking the refresh button for results. If you can, help with getting people to vote.
Be involved. Take action. Work the system. Become a partial owner of the process. You'll feel better.
FYI - Prince William County will be using Sequoia's AVC Edge-« machines, pretty much exclusively this election. STILL no audit trails, I am so angry with the state legislature for dragging it's feet on this year after year. Audit trails and verified voting benefits everyone, that is all parties benefit from having transparent and verified voting processes. We need them NOW!
The short drive down Virginia route 28 from Reston to Manassas literally took two full hours. We desparately need an elevated train covering that same route. I'd slit my wrists sooner than drive that horrible commute every day.