This year, the voting was conducted at the Salvation Army, 14917 Victory Blvd. Van Nuys.

We awoke early, in the rain, and when we arrived at 6:45am there were already about 20 people ahead of us.

By 7:15 I was done voting.

I had brought my cheat sheet, a liberal guide to voting on the propositions and which obscure judges to vote for.

As usual, I had to marvel at the moronic method used to record my vote. I speak of that card that slides into a double red holder and the little, bitty inky pen which one must use to aim for the smallest of holes.  I cannot imagine anyone older than 65 having the eyesight or dexterity to use this crude system, but that’s what we do here in California.

I don’t know that I “beat the crowds” by voting early. When I returned in the mid-afternoon, to snap this image, there were very few voters inside.