I've voted in-person a total of three times in my life....with the other 30-odd times by absentee.
Of the three in-person voting occasions?
I actually went back to Alabama on one occasion and was there for the primary. I walked into the local townhall hall....presented my state license, and finished voting within 3 minutes of signing in.
The other two occasions? I voted in Arlington, VA. On both occasions....I got up at 4:30 AM....walked about 2 miles to the neighborhood station, and got into line at 6AM (there were approximately 350 people in front of me). The door opening? 7AM. In both cases, I didn't get out until around 9:15. I should add...on both of those....it was a computerized system.
Yeah, everyone was grumbling about the amount of time required. Helpers making it easier? Between the 20-odd people, I thought they were useless.
The 30-plus other occasions I've voted? Absentee. Early on (1978)....the Air Force made it blunt.....they had extra people at the post office to stamp the ballots and a cargo plane set for each day during the week prior....to fly ballots back to the states, but if it didn't arrive by Tuesday.....it was not their fault.
Having watched voting overseas? Well....yeah, I've observe close-up in Germany and Panama. Both required legit state form of ID....which is something you find a lot of...in Europe itself today.
