Election night at the Multnomah County Election Office

November 4, 2008 outside of the Multnomah County election office the line of voters waiting to cast their vote strung along SE Morrison Street for two blocks estimated to take an hour plus to get through.  Multnomah County officials were on site with special forms for those in line to fill in previous to reaching the office, which expedites the process.  The same worker told us that this line was shorter than the one in 2004. 
My informal, non scientific survey of those in line informed me that many of these people had not received the ballot in the mail for unknown reasons.  None of those had moved recently and all had voted from the same address in the past.  One woman told me that she mistakenly recycled her ballot with the junk mail.  A few of had made a mistake on the ballot.  There were many new voters amongst them who were visibly excited to be casting their first ballot. 

Everyone was upbeat.

Along the sidelines an unknown juggler added to the jubilant atmosphere that was percolating even before the 8 PM results.

Inside the ballots were being counted.  Officials let me and my fellow KBOO reporters inside for a look at the counting process.  I recorded that tour and will post it here when I have it ready.